Some Very Good Reasons to Head to this Week's Red Bull Sound Select
In case you were planning a quiet night in this week.
When Kiwi's head overseas and eventually return, we all benefit from the luggage of ideas and inspirations that they bring back with them. Red Bull Sound Selector Connor Nestor is an exceptional example, who has spent the past year in LA plying his trade and sourcing inspiration to bring home. And Red Bull have already put him to work.
We put to him a few questions about the upcoming shows he has put together in Auckland and Wellington this week. And of course, with his bubbling enthusiasm for life and impeccable taste in music, it looks like there is some bad news for music lovers who wish to have a quiet one this week. Let Connor tell you why below.
Concrete Playground: Welcome home Connor. Red Bull have put you straight to work. Talk us through Red Bull Sound Select and why it is so shit hot?
Red Bull Sound Select is a music platform for breaking music. Redbull offered me this opportunity to work with some of my favourite artists who are tight and put on some shows for music fans and nice humans to come and see what they do in a live setting with great production. The platform is in a constant state of growth globally too, it's starting to launch in more countries which means it'll help to step into other markets with insight of what's happening locally. For now it's working with the artist's who've been curated by Tom Scott, Haydn Middleton, Scott Bullock and myself, aiding them in any way we can and putting on these events.
CP: The move to LA. What inspiration did you pack into your suitcase?
LA was cool for learning man. I went in expecting to nab up a rad job straight away and got shut down seriously like 50 times so that was pretty humbling. I started do more music management and publicity, that lead to Taste Nasa's second EP being released on LA label Vitalic Noise. My time in New York was probably a bit more inspiring on a personal level, just getting thrown in with a mixed bag of cultures and people. That was tight.
CP: Talk us through some of your artists you have chosen and why they are in the Connor Nestor mix?
In terms of the roster, it's cool cause there's a fair amount of press out there now about each artist but I guess I really dig them because individually they've each gone down their own rabbit hole and created not only great music but a lifestyle that supports everything they want out of life. They're aspirational, and that's what a fan wants from an artist.
HIGH HØØPS
HIGH HØØPS is sitting on all this new music that he's nearing finishing off so hopefully we can expect an EP or if we can persuade him maybe an album (fingers crossed) later this year. He flipped fellow Sound Select artist Taste Nasa on his head and delivered the above slammer of a remix. Keep Your Love has been out almost 2 years and its buzz still hasn't worn off.
Spycc
Spycc is about to drop his EP following these two Sound Select shows, he's put out the first two tracks which feature David Dallas and HIGH HØØPS which are winners. Did it.
Laptop Speakers
This round will also see a new artist join the roster, Laptop Speakers. We became close friends while I was away - he was in San Fran and we became digital pen pals sharing music, design and general cool things. He started sending me his tunes and I really resonated with it and what he wants to do with it, so asked Laptop Speakers to come play these shows and help to develop him as an artist.
People can RSVP for free entry before show day or you can pay $15 at the door. You do the math. To RSVP, click below:
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