New Zealand production powerhouse, Montell2099 has returned with his debut EP, FORCES, on RL Grime's Sable Valley record label. The five track EP transforms 2020 into a 2099 future EDM vision, as Montell2099 embarks on his biggest career moves yet.
The new label announcement arrived after Montell2099 returned to New Zealand following a run of North American shows supporting RL Grime on his 2019 US tour, and multiple dates with fellow Kiwi producer, Quix. Montell2099's first international festival set after the release of FORCES will be his biggest milestone yet, playing two weekends at Tomorrowland Belgium.
FORCES’ third single, ‘Rusynth’ featuring RL Grime, is a stellar showcase of the musical chemistry between Montell and the American electronic pioneer, as they get lost in layers of surreal, shooting synths. The EP’s remaining four tracks mould a futuristic forcefield of experimental electronic, injected with subtle hip-hop inflictions.
“I’ve been following RL Grime for a long time now, so for him to mess with my music is an honor. Seeing the label come together has been dope to watch, it feels like a breath of fresh air in the electronic music landscape,” Montell2099 says. “I was in LA a year ago and we ended up linking up at his crib. We worked on ‘Rusynth’ from there. I think people can listen to the track and distinguish who did what. Henry just knows what works and what doesn’t - you only get that from experience.”
Montell2099 closed the last decade by dropping the project’s first single, ‘STARS’, leading on from his fated Charli XCX ft. Troye Sivan ‘2099’ remix. The astronomical new record reflects the emotion of a surging meteorite crashing into earth, leaving it’s listeners in a dizzying, hallucinatory headspin.
“It feels like the start of a new chapter for me. This EP is definitely a time stamp in my discography, I can look back on it and get a feel for where I was at musically. I’m excited to keep progressing and evolving from here.”
FORCES follows Montell2099’s triumphant run of summer festivals, seeing him bring his entrancing live show to the main stages of Northern Bass, Rhythm & Vines, Bay Dreams Pre Party and more - and before he embarks on his biggest festival look to date at Tomorrowland Belgium, and an Australian tour with What So Not. Montell2099’s debut EP grounds him as a force to be reckoned with on the world stage.