Prodigious Toronto Producer Harrison to Tempt Dancefloor Diehards at Modernsky Lab, May 29
He's been called "Wise beyond his years" for fusing "juicy, bubbly synths with dusty bass and lush melodies that warm the spirit." And he's done it all with amateur production software in his bedroom. Now, on May 29, he comes to Modernsky Lab to woo us with his rendition of vaporwave.
Yes, 21-year-old hotshot Torontonian Harrison Robinson, who on stage simply goes by his first name, has earned quite a name for himself in the Canadian city's increasingly crowded dance and hip-hop scenes (this is the city, after all, that birthed current stars like Drake and Kaytranada, leaving one to wonder if the town has any oxygen left for publicity hungry up-and-comers).
Yet Harrison has broken through his elaborate-sounding, yet lofi-in-execution instrumentals. Exclaim, Canada biggest national music publication, raved about his 2016 album Checkpoint Titanium before interviewing him about finding his favorite vintage earphones in an abandoned backpacked under an overpass, adding: "nearly all of Harrison's studio gear was scavenged, repaired or given to him secondhand by friends."
That article goes on to describe how much of that gathered equipment is older than its quirky owner by more than a decade, and yet their aged quality offers him far more than the most polished of new gadgets could muster. "I like sounds that [are] a little more shitty. Not too grimy, but when it purposely has that sort of vintage texture – it's more fun." He cites the Yamaha DX7 as one of his favorites because of its notes and noises ooze 80s vibes.
He has also talked to Complex about one of his biggest influences – not another musician, but a video game, of all things.The Super Nintendo classic Kirby’s Dream Land 3, to be precise. “It’s so gorgeous,” he says. “You'd never think a game soundtrack would make you feel emo, but oh it does, yo." Emulating such adorably earnest bygone synth music helped him gain tens of thousands of Soundcloud followers, which lead to his record deal and the release of Checkpoint Titanium as his proper debut.
An excellent Vice article, meanwhile, details how Harrison was born the youngest of three children in Toronto, raised by parents who “eloped when they were both in high school. His father was an occasional session drummer in big band jazz ensembles during the 70s; his mother played piano, and started teaching Harrison the instrument when he was seven years old – a practice he quickly abandoned, then picked up again when he was 16.”
It's a pretty humble beginning, but now he has the buzz in one of the world's hottest music scenes needed to really make things happen. You can see Harrison's potential for yourself at this can't-miss gig.
Harrison will perform at Modernsky Lab on May 29 at 10pm. Tickets are RMB 100 at the door, RMB 80 advance. For more information click here.
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Email: kylemullin@thebeijinger.com
Twitter: @MulKyle
Photos: Vice
