What I’ve Been Listening To: Du0

Today sees the release of Du0‘s latest EP, “Float“, which is a five-song offering that showcases the way he is able to incorporate the elements of electronic virtuosity and a tranquil approach to production. The EP is a full-on soundscape that creates a liberating atmosphere, allowing you to feel untethered and carefree.

Du0 describes “Float” as a journey about the joy and innocence of living in the moment and not caring about what comes next. He wants the listener to forget about everything for the EP’s twenty-minute duration and just float.

“I wanted the listener to be able to forget about everything for its twenty-minute duration and just float,” Du0 says about the release of his EP. “I got to work with some incredible vocalists and some electronic heroes of mine in Tom and Ian from Icarus and I’m really proud of this body of work.”

The focus track of the EP is “Your Arms“, which starts with a pulsating kick and syncopated synth chords that lead to a neon-laden chorus with hypnotic vocals provided by Julia Ross. The second track, “Echoes” is a collaboration with renowned artist Reo Cragun and offers a placid side to Du0’s writing and execution.

“Overdrive” the EP’s midway point, is an exciting and radiant environment that showcases Du0’s production subtleties. The hook is a multicoloured accumulation of synth-funk and vivacious pop, elevated by Reo’s vocoded melodies. “Summer Nights” continues the momentum, uniting pensive piano and colourful
synth leads to create an incandescent composition that soars and glides with conviction.

https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/1433725504

“Float” ends with Du0’s take on Empire of the Sun’s “Walking On A Dream,” harnessing his trademark finesse to close out a sparkling body of work. Throughout the EP, DU0’s voice and instrumentals create a seamless flow that embodies innocuous themes of purity and detachment, inviting you to let go and enjoy the journey.

Du0’s “Float” is a captivating EP that showcases his impressive electronic production skills and features collaborations with some of the industry’s top talent. With its celestial soundscape and liberating atmosphere, “Float” is an EP that will make you feel untethered and carefree, inviting you to just let go and float.

To celebrate the release of the EP, Du0 took the time out of his day to answer a couple of questions for Eat This Music, which you can read in full below.

Who is du0 and how did the namesake come about?

I love writing vocals but unfortunately, I’m a shit singer. It was never going to be just me working on every song I write, hence the name du0 (with a zero in there as an attempt to be cool). The project is always collaborative, and I love teaming up with awesome vocalists and session musicians to achieve the sonic result I’m after.

What artists or bands are on your must-listen-to list lately and why?

I’ve had a laser-focus on the electronic genres at the moment, and I’m forever inspired by artists like Fred again.., TWO LANES, Lonely in the Rain, Sultan + Shepard, Tourist, Le Youth, Jerro, the list goes on.

When you go into the recording studio to work on new material, what are your must-haves?

My acoustic guitar (where all my songs start), laptop with a clean spreadsheet open on it, my phone with my latest middle of the night voice memos ready to be turned into songs and a glass of red wine.

Which song, or songs, of yours would you recommend to a first-time listener and why?

‘Come Home’ is chill and accessible so that would be the starting point. It’s meant to be super uplifting and comforting, and I feel it would be a perfect soft launch into my work. Start there!

Which song of someone else’s (artist or band) would you have liked to feature on and why?

I really love Fred again..’s ‘Kyle (I found you)’ so to have contributed to that, or even just sat in the room while he worked on it, that would’ve been awesome. It’d be a true bucket list moment to collab with him on a track with a similar feel (my DMs are wide open, just saying…)

What led you into using becoming a musician and why do you keep making music?

When I was young, I was first introduced to music by my neighbour who played electric guitar and his love for playing really inspired me to learn. Music has always been a big part of my life, from singing Broadway tunes in our lounge room, to being in bands throughout my adult life, and now being able to team up with awesome artists to pull together du0 tracks. It’s always been there, and it’s always enriched my life. Now my focus is on continuing to create for and with my kids, so they have the same opportunity to live a life enriched by music too.