Hermitude
/By Wal Reid
Sydney-siders Luke Dubber (aka Luke Dubs) and Angus Stuart (aka El Gusto) have over a twelve year career as Hermitude have established themselves as one of Australia's premier live acts with a mix and match of vocals, beats and a full live AV show.
After winning multiple awards for their record Hyper Paradise, the duo returned to the studio to complete the eagerly awaited follow upDark Night Sweet Light, the new album was released in New Zealand this month with their new single Raise the Roof currently doing rotation on the radio airwaves. A diverse album musically Dubber is quick to single out. "It's the shade of the music. This record in particular went to such extremes on both sides of the spectrum and we wanted to highlight that in the title somehow. Dark Night Sweet Light was the clear winner".
Supporting Hermitude for both NZ shows is rising Kiwi prodigy fresh faced rapper Young Tapz, who recently collaborated with the electronic guns on their single Raise the Roof and is a future talent begging to be discovered their Kiwi connection almost as mysterious as their name Hermitude.
"It comes from a Ren and Stimpy cartoon" explains Dubber. "We were massive fans as kids growing up of John K (John Kricfalusi creator) and that cartoon and in one episode Ren leaves Stimpy because Stimpy is driving him crazy so he goes and lives in Hermitude in a cave and makes imaginary friends" he laughs.
In 2011, Hermitude released two new singles, Get in My Lifeand Speak of the Devil, from the album Hyper Paradise, which was released on 3 February 2012. The title track of the album peaked at number 38 on the ARIA Singles Chart in February 2013 while Speak of the Devil won the 2011 J Award for Music Video of the Year, a song that came about suddenly from out of the blue, which in turn led to the duo supporting and touring with international acts such as, Dizzee Rascal,RJD2, and DJ Krush.
"The vocalist (on Speak of the Devil) is Chaos Emerald" recounts Dubber. "She's a friend who isn't really a singer but more of a visual artist. But she has a great voice and we knew she could sing and would be perfect for the track so we bagged her up".
Talk swings away from the music as the new Mad Max: Fury Road movie surfaces into conversation. Dutch EDM artist Junkie XL handles the sound track duties for the high paced action film of the classic Aussie cult figure, a "dream" the fresh-faced duo are keen to pursue in the future. For now the pair are getting ready to hit our shores and expose the Kiwi masses with their new album.
"It's like the title" says Dubber. "There are some darker more moody moments and then there's some really high energy bright moments. We tried to show a bit of both of our sides of writing on this record".
Touring on the back of their brand new album Dark Night Sweet Light, EDM duo Hermitude return with their energy infused live show on Thursday July 9th at the University of Otago (students only), Friday July 10 at Wellington's Bodega and Saturday July 11 at The Studio in Auckland, according to Dubber they can't wait to get back here fast enough.
"They seem to like us [NZ], the people are so chilled, so friendly and welcoming, and the scenery is so beautiful. New Zealand is one of our favourite places".
Hermitude
Thurs July 9th: University of Otago, Dunedin - Open to students only
Friday July 10th: James Cabaret, Wellington - Tickets via www.nonstoptix.com from Tuesday 5 May
Sat 11 July: The Studio, Auckland - Tickets via www.nonstoptix.com