So it’s not entirely true that opposites attract, but it is true that when two opposites get together, things become a lot less mundane. This is certainly what has happened between Robbie Slade and Peter Ricq, the musicians behind Vancouver indie-electro-pop dance duo, HUMANS.
Their debut EP, Avec Mes Mecs, which translates into English as “with my friends,” or “with my bros,” is just one facet of HUMANS’ sound, which the two say is never going to be the same twice. “Just when you say I think we found our sound, we find something else,” says Ricq. This state of flux is essential to HUMANS’ sound, as much as it changes it.
HUMANS bring together the big beats of Ricq’s past as a warehouse party promoter/performer and the melodic sensibility of Slade’s days as a firefighter-turned-folk musician. The title track, written after what Slade calls “many days of absolutely brilliant partying” following New Year’s Eve, is a celebration of being together. With the refrain, “who knew that all we had to do was party?” serving as the clarion call for all those looking to come together in a mess of bodies and smiles. HUMANS capture the blind, full, captivating joy of letting everything go for a while, and giving into the fun. After these debauched days, which Slade says were “about as tame as you can be spending three days drinking without clothes on,” Ricq taught him how to use a 505 Arpeggiator and side by side, the two wrote out their experience to the beat.
Both are most comfortable in a state of flux, leaving when the party reaches its peak, and always trying to break into something new. The duo did that well with their highly anticipated follow up to Avec Mes Mecs entitled Traps, released in April 2012. The EP saw critical acclaim and huge radio success on the collage level. Traps was #1 on the Earshot Electronic charts for 6 weeks and hit #5 on CMJ RPMS. Resident Advisor awarded Traps a 4/5 and the record was featured in XLR8R, Prefix, Indie Shuffle, Spinner, Interview Magazine, Rcrd Lbl and on the cover of Beatroute Magazine.
Always listening for new songs, styles and sounds, Slade and Ricq hope to expand from a duo to a full band to take on the road in 2014. Last year’s tour stops included feature slots at Osheaga, Squamish Valley Music Festival, Bass Coast, SXSW and CMJ.
The boys have a brand new album in the pipe. Produced by Nik Kozub (Shout Out Out Out Out), the self-titled LP is set for release Feb 24 2015 on Hybridity Music

Press + Chart history
Featured on: Prefix, Indie Shuffle, Spinner, Rcrd Lbl, NME, Interview Magazine, XLR8R, RA, YVYNL, Nylon Magazine, Winnie Cooper, Exclaim, MTV, Ion Magazine, Georgia Straight, Cover of Beatroute Mag, DJ Mag, Hilly Dilly, CBC 3, AUX TV
#1 Earshot
#4 Hype Machine
#5 CMJ
#7 Hippo Honk (2013 SXSW artist ranking)
#18 We are Hunted

Sync history - the highlights
Entourage (HBO), Redbull, Google, C.S.I: NY, MTV, A&E, Warner Bros, NY22 (CBS), Clue (HUB), Rookie Blue (ABC), Birth (ABC), Necessary Roughness (USA), Aldo Shoes, Orphan Black, Motive, tons of skate and snowboard movies from US and Europe.

Festival history - the highlights
Osheaga, SXSW, CMJ, CMW, NXNE, Halifax Pop, Montreal Pop, The Great Escape, Rifflandia, Basscoast, Whistler Ski & Ride, Crankworx, Shumbalala, Two Acre Shaker, Big Time Out, WEMF,

Sponsorship history and relationships
Redbull, Scion, Jameson, PBR, Sitka