Cubicolor
A powerful sense of alchemy is at the heart of Cubicolor; a fusion that finds its own unique sweet spot between the intimacy of your headphones and the introspection of the dance floor. Somewhere between a band and a producer, between old fashioned song-writing and cutting edge studio innovation, between electronica and indie.
Ariaan, Peter and Tim. A Dutch/Anglo trio hailing from differing backgrounds, all neck-deep in disparate disciplines, all with successful creative endeavors behind them; each artist brings an entirely different perspective, talent and set of inspirations to Cubicolor’s unique melting pot.
It’s a pot that overflows with emotions and textures, so far resulting in two beguiling albums and winning the hearts of fans, along with support from a diverse range of tastemaker artists such as RÜFÜS DU SOL, Tale Of Us, Dixon, Diplo, Jordan Rakei and Keinemusik. Released on respected independent label Anjunadeep, their debut LP ‘Brainsugar’ landed in 2016 and became a cult success. Soul-searching, warm and engaging, it was described by DJ Mag as “a startlingly accomplished debut” and galvanized the trio’s inimitable presence on the electronic landscape.
2020’s ‘Hardly A Day, Hardly A Night’ followed and developed the Cubicolor sound further with bolder moments of drama and deeply personal songwriting. Heralded as “a diverse, colorful, widescreen experience” by Clash, the album came with a new live performance for which the band recruited eminent jazz drummer Richard Spaven. Taking their repertoire into new areas, Cubicolor found a unique way of bringing their fusion to life, translating it from the personal experience of a record to a dynamic and acclaimed live experience.
Their third LP, ‘Sometime, Not Now’, is due out late 2022 once again exploring their unconventional sonic space. Lightyears away from trends, bandwagons and electronic fashions, it’s a timeless space where subtle references and influences are coded deep into the mix from Debussy to Cormac McCarthy, Aphex Twin to Philip Larkin.
This is all down to the trio’s unique dynamic and their rich histories; Ariaan and Peter were previously known as 16BL, an accomplished and respected act in the house and techno world. They’ve been writing and performing together since their early 20s and spend an unhealthy amount of their time modifying, hacking and manipulating studio gear, playing piano and listening to 60s Indian radio on a cat-friendly houseboat in the centre of Amsterdam.
Londoner Tim comes from an equally artistic background; a poet and playwright with a background in folk music, his distinctive falsetto countering the warm, dreamy soundscapes and arrangements with a haunting sense of tenderness and yearning. Tim also plays a role in the production just as much as he does as a singer. Such is the magic of Cubicolor; a disparate range of ingredients and souls overlapping at just the right points to create shapes and shades that would never exist without each individual’s input.
Somewhere between a cooperative and a collaboration, complementary and contrast, contemporary and customary… The Cubicolor alchemy continues.