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London's MJIRI ups the house-ante with SWEAT
After previewing the absolute belter of a lead single “GLORYHOLE” late last year, dance visionary MJIRI steps out with an eighteen-minute debut showpiece, deftly displaying her artistry.
A singular blend of future and past dance genealogy, at only three songs deep, SWEAT abounds with disco, electro, funk and soul influence. The EP explores both the darker and playful aspects of disco, moving through post-punk guitars to driving electro-tinged bass lines.
The EP deals with covid-induced claustrophobia by lusting for the dance floor while splicing Nina Simone and a power preacher over heavy hitting tracks, purposefully giving the black voice power and prominence.
We had a chance to talk to her, so enjoy your reading and check out his latest releases from her.
Can you tell us a little about your experience? Where are you from / how did you get into music? I hail from Nottingham but passed through manchester for a bit then ended up in London. I started writing songs at around 16 but really started performing them once I moved to Manchester. Shortly after, I started messing about with Reason, then onto Logic but it finally clicked with Ableton Live. I feel like the underground scene will continue to persist. Do you think we can go back to "normal" events and festivals? We’ve got to! But clubs feel such a long way off. I can’t really be bothered with polite, distanced parties so just let me know when the rave is back. How is your sound evolving? What artists and genres do you enjoy mixing right now? My sound constantly shifts. I’m either building lots of layers or stripping things down to the bare bones. Depending on my mood, the project or a piece of gear that I’m buzzing off. I’m listening to a lot of jazz and just really fell in love with Sun Ra’s lanquidity. Angel Bat David has my heart too. I’m also stuck on the Futureangelics EP. Pure niceness.
How do you feel your music influences or impacts your listeners? I always try to stir emotion. Sometimes melancholic, sometimes raw and charged, sometimes euphoric. Hopefully this translates to whoever’s listening! What projects are you working on at the moment? I just finished a project where I sang in a track with Matthew Herbert so I’m back in song mode! I’m working on a couple of new projects. One’s called Bones. We have a fierce philosophy of stripped back to essential elements. The other project, No:id, is completely the opposite. Lush textures, dissonance, the common thread is my voice but they’re complete contrasts. How would you define your last project? What is the concept behind it? disco/ electro/ funk/ punk What pisses you off? Noisy eaters What makes you happy? Pepper soup Do you have any final words of wisdom? Don’t listen to me
Artwork by Ioanna Pantazopoulou.
Title: A.F. (Absolutely Fabulous) 2019
Materials: Paolita bikinis, tassels, studs, wooden frame.
Photo by Studio Vaharidis.
