KOAN Sound is an electronic music production duo from Bristol, United Kingdom, consisting of Will Weeks and Jim Bastow.
Specialists in glitch hop and drum & bass, the pair are currently in the middle of a North American tour with Haywyre. Ahead of their appearance at 2020 Earth Frequency Festival (SE QLD), we have a chat with the duo.
How is the 'In Parallel' tour going so far?
It’s going well thanks. We had a three-week break in the middle of the tour, which was a good opportunity to recover and prepare for the second run of shows. It’s been really cool touring with Martin (Haywyre); he’s a lovely chap and a great performer.
Any wild stories from the road you can share with us?
Probably the ‘wildest’ thing to have happened so far was at our Philadelphia show on Halloween. The venue was outdoors, and although there was a tent cover it was very exposed. Right before going on stage we were told that there was a big weather system moving in. Minutes into our performance everyone in the local area received tornado warnings on their phones instructing them to take shelter immediately. Within minutes, the storm hit and we were battered by rain and wind. The PA system failed and we stopped the show, scrambling to protect our gear from the rain and take cover.
What have been some highlights of the year for you both?
Performing our show in Bristol earlier in the year, and then across the UK in September was really satisfying. Also, lots of fun getting to go on the road with the crew who helped us develop it all. Mastering and doing the artwork for our most recent EP ‘Intervals Above’ was new artistic territory for us both.
How are you feeling about performing at Earth Frequency Festival?
We’ve heard good things about EFF from friends who have played there before, so we’re looking forward to it.
What can audiences expect from your EFF set?
Musically, a mixture of all our own music from over the years. Visually, our Polychrome Live show that we’ve been building since mid-2018.
How will you guys be celebrating the end of 2019?
We have a New Year’s show in our home town of Bristol, which is cool. Hopefully catch up and celebrate with friends after being on the road for so long.
Also, what's on the agenda for 2020?
Coming back to Australia. Asides from that, we’re hoping to do more collaborations with other artists as well as working on our own material.
