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Last week the Happy offices received a package, the kind of package that you’d wait by the mailbox for, knowing that your best friend has made especially for you. Including stickers, a polaroid, a handwritten note (in colourful gel pens) and their latest EP Paradise, Perth duo GRRL PAL know how to make a blog feel spec! We wouldn’t expect anything less from a band called GRRL PAL, who are literally made up of two pals; vocalist Jay Le Kat and producer Danny K, who began jamming together in 2013 by experimenting with synth-pop in their bedrooms.
True to their name, GRRL PAL are best buds Jay and Danny and their ability to create intoxicating synth-pop is something that leaves a hell of an impression.
Their first single in 2013 Amazon sparked the interest of producer Parker Ighile, who the pair flew to the States to work with. Together they produced their new EP, including the first single off it, Dare. Jay’s high register vocals swirling around with textured beats make Dare a sophisticated pop tune, reminiscent of heavyweights SBTRKT and Purity Ring. “We wrote [Paradise] all over the place, over about 2 years on and off” Danny said of the track. “We did part of it in Atlanta in the USA with Parker Ighile but only one song from that is making it onto this EP. The other ones are coming out throughout the year.”
In 2015 they’ve vowed to release a new track every month on soundcloud, and so far kept to their word. The track Paradise has clocked up over 180,000 listens already, no mean feat, and it’s no wonder they’ve supported the likes of Rufus, The Jungle Giants, Willow Beats, Clubfeet, Miami Horror and San Cisco.
The second track of their EP NGHT is as equally intoxicating; think Grimes meets witch house vibes. The latest track on their soundcloud, Radar, overlaps Kat’s vocals with an upbeat hook; a tropical ambiance which makes you forget we’re not moving into summer right now and you’re not playing beer pong on an island. Considering how tight the tracks are, you’d never guess where they were recorded. “We made most of them in this dark room under my house and some in my bedroom, even recorded vocals in my wardrobe” says Danny. “Even if it was with Parker we didn’t record any of it in studios, it was all done in DIY setups at homes! Songs tend to take a while to write but we are always working on at least 10 tracks at once.”
Paradise as an EP manages to combine equal amounts catchy pop vocals and layered beats to create something incredible. Their releases are welcome anytime at here, and they don’t even have to be wrapped in brown paper and stickers (but it helps).
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