Auckland, New Zealand multidisciplinary rap collective 0800’s 2021 debut EP Attention For a Second established the supergroup both in Aotearoa’s local hip-hop scene and internationally, with viral breakout single ‘DONDE’ reaching almost 2.5 million organic streams (and featuring on Louis The Child’s radio show). Returning with their feet hard on the gas, 0800 have dropped their eagerly-anticipated sophomore EP, SAY LESS.
After molding the eclectic solo influences of each of the group’s five members into a cohesive synergy on their debut EP, on SAY LESS EP 0800 find their perfect formula in the organic magic of mutual understanding and trust between friends - resulting in authentic art where no further explanation is needed. A real-time snapshot of 0800’s natural collaborative chemistry and multidimensional dynamics, the boys challenged themselves to write the majority of the six-track project during a short weekend writing trip in Kaeo, Northland during April 2022 before completing the songs throughout the rest of the year.
Consisting of five producers, rappers, and singer-songwriters between members Josh Strand, Matt Leslie, Tino Nyangoni, Johann Frauenlob, and Daniel Keller, SAY LESS EP finds 0800 leaning deeper into the diverse identities and soundscapes that tie together the groups collective brotherhood. Lead single ‘VAPOUR’ grooves with smokey bass guitar licks, trap 808’s, and addictive hook earworms, while second single ‘YOU SAID’ is a sultry R&B/rap crossover fusing introspective and emotionally-charged verses with smooth melodies. Third single ‘COME MY WAY’ explores new territory on an alluring dance-driven track radiating sultry Afro-pop rhythms, while focus track ‘RANGER’ finds 0800 embodying the raw atmospheres of a freestyle rap cypher, with it’s confronting tag-team verses taking aim at critics and doubters atop heavy bass, cinematic sirens, and gritty old school backspin samples, alongside two more new tracks, ‘PICK IT UP’ and ‘TWO OF US’.
SAY LESS EP arrives alongside a new music video for the project's opening track, ‘RANGER’, directed by Jodo Valley (lilbubblegum, JessB). Reflecting the single’s gritty underground cypher soundscapes, the eerie black and white visual follows 0800 as they perform in dark, sinister Auckland street scenes complete with surreal SFX and drones.
“Shortly before starting this project, we came to a realization that the charm of what makes an 0800 song work was the six of us hanging out, enjoying each other's company, and not overthinking what we were trying to say,” 0800 says of the background behind SAY LESS EP.
“Our process involved recording a lot of freestyles and rough takes and keeping the best bits of what felt intuitively good to us. We moved quickly and kept starting new rough ideas until we felt like we had enough to narrow it down and finish a project.”
The group adds, “I think we’re most proud of the way we have learnt to accept the learnings in the process and embrace each of our differences to create something that feels genuine and authentic to us. The best part about making music together is we don’t have any judgment in the room, we feel so accepted and comfortable talking about any tough subject or being emotionally vulnerable because we are all experiencing it together. It’s a lot easier trying to understand our perspective on the things that happen in our lives when we can share them with each other.”
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