Something particular arises when two artists find sonic synergy which pivots their respective sound into something else entirely. You’ll probably know Josh Riley as one of the energy-fuelled frontmen of Grassy Spark – these days he goes by his solo musical moniker of Yoshe – while Thor Rixon’s infectious house beats, which saw him move across continents to conquer Berlin, need no introduction.
The two reunited in early 2022 in a humble garage studio in Muizenberg and dreamed up a two track EP, Romancin, which saw Yoshe pushing the envelope of his own sonic comfort zone and Rixon putting his progressive production to fresh AF vocals.
The title track just dropped alongside a vibrant music video and there’s no denying these two have cooked up something good. “Romancin” is laden with clean, pillowy house strains, hinged on a progressive beat which gradually bleeds groove as the track unfurls. Yoshe delivers striking, half-spoken, half-whispered vocals, laying out a narrative of an obsessive lover.
But it’s the music video which really flexes just what these guys have created together. Directed by Rixon himself, it’s a colour-soaked, fashion-forward exhibition of vibrant energy and personality. Yoshe cuts a striking figure in bell-bottom cargo pants on the beach, sprawled art nouveau style in a red suit, while Rixon lurks in the background intermittently.
It’s a forward thinking, creatively liberating offering, packed with the trademark verve of two artists who have tirelessly contributed to our scene, pushing the parameters of what they do.
Feature pic supplied by artist
