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.
HUMANSbring 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 ce...
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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.
HUMANSbring 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 released Noontide, their first album Feb 24 2015 on Hybridity. Produced by Nik Kozub (Shout Out Out Out Out) the album received critical acclaim from the likes of Billboard, Vice, MTV, Thump, Daytrotter and Flavorwire. Humans went back in the studio in Sept 2015 and have a brand new release ready for the world stage, set to come out on Haven Sounds and NYC hero label, Mom + Pop Music in 2016.
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