Words: Dylan Murphy
The two-sided concept explores the spaces between stillness and restlessness.
Mark O’Brien aka Royal Yellow has shared his debut EP Still: Untill. Finding peace in the spaces between soul-cleansing keys and hypnotic loops that are the perfect ailment for any jaded nervous system, the 23 minute project is a huge statement of intent for an act whose mission for wellness through music shares the kind of healing powers found in the records of Nils Frahm and Jon Hopkins.
Speaking on the EP O’Brien said, “I like the music to feel somewhat imperfect, kind of clunky and clumsy.”
“When you’re making electronic music it’s so easy for it to be shrink-wrapped, sanitised, pristine. I grew up playing in punk bands, so I’ve always liked seeing the imperfections, the cracks. I like to start with some grit, then inject beauty through the melody and production. For over 10 years I’ve worked as a graphic designer, and ultimately I want these sounds to be just as visual; evoking a mini-film in your mind.”
“It’s important to me to always strike that balance between things that ground you in the moment, but also things that can fire you up and put fresh batteries in you. The things that make you feel alive.”
The EP comes ahead of a 12-minute documentary which lands on June 17 that explores the counterpoints of the album and its inception.
Last year, Royal Yellow’s track ‘Hazeldene’ featured in ‘Normal People’ and this was followed by the premiere of
‘May The First’, a piece that re-contextualised the vocals of Lisa Hannigan on Annie Mac’s ‘Future Sounds’ on Radio 1.
Click here to purchase on Bandcamp.
Listen to Still: Until below:
Elsewhere on District: Genesis Owusu is on a psychedelic voyage in ‘Same Thing’.