Blisschix is a Blisspop series inspired by the spirit of #womencrushwednesdays. Our goal with Blisschix is to highlight talented female artists and curators who are having a substantial impact in the music industry, particularly in electronic music. Â This week we feature King IV, an Australian purveyor of dark electro music; Peach, a London-based DJ curating a flawless blend of bass, house and techno dance music; and Avalon Emerson, a music producer influenced by her surroundings.
King IV
Contributor: Justin Barini Rivers
King IV is an Australian purveyor of dark electronic music. Triple J, Australia’s national radio station, and Stoney Roads, an Australian-based notable dance music blog, can’t get enough of her. King IV continues to impress and she is just getting started.
It is hard to pin down her sound, but that’s a good thing. Her vibe is infectious and I can’t get enough! King IV has her own style that permeates through everything that she does. From her clothing to the artwork, it is all pointing to one thing: King IV is the future. She is impossible to forget. King IV makes properly dark music, but it is way more than that. She offers a modern mixture of sounds that all bang.
Her lastest single, “Bump,” was premiered by Red Bull Music and she garnered success for this song by becoming a finalist in the Vanda & Young Song Writing Competition. “Bump” is the perfect example of what King IV brings to the table; it has everything you need. Her vocal lines are delivered with such style and she plays with the space and timing like a skilled technician. The lyrics are powerful and catchy; I found myself singing them aloud without even realizing. The production has big drums and a dirty bass line while the arrangement allows for both her voice and the production to shine.
This month, King IV announced that she had finished a new single. Once it drops, I am more than excited and looking forward to playing it on repeat forever. Give “Bump” a listen and check out her mix for Purple Sneakers for some dope vibes. Make sure to follow her on social media for her latest updates.
Peach
Contributor: Aeron Premo
The star of Toronto born, London based DJ Serena Pasion, better known as Peach, is fast rising. She began DJing in 2011 and has performed as Peach since 2015. She has one of the sharpest ears in the game, blending house, techno and bass tracks with incredible ease in her flawless mixes and showcasing her tastes via her shows on Radar Radio and NTS Radio.
In February 2018, she released her first original production, “Silky,” on Midland’s new Intergraded imprint and she currently has a two month residency at the Warehouse Project in Manchester. Cultivating a sound that combines both an airy euphoria and a hard hitting toughness, Peach has had no trouble winning over new fans and setting dance floors alight with her outstanding live sets and infectious energy. Take a listen to her latest mix (put together for Discwoman’s mix series.)
Avalon Emerson
Contributor: Patrick Blinkhorn
Last May, we covered Avalon Emerson’s remix of Slowdive’s “Sugar for the Pill.” I will take some time to appreciate three more of Emerson’s productions starting with her track “Pressure.†“Pressure†is the first track off of Emerson’s debut single on Icee Hot. The bassline in “Pressure†is enormous and I can’t get enough of that distorted snare sound! Emerson makes tasteful use of vocal samples and percussion in the track as well. This track is 4 years old, but it still does the trick.
Emerson exhibits enormous growth as an artist between “Pressure†and her Whities 006 release. The entire release is terrific, but my favorite track off of it is “The Frontier,†so that’s what I’ll focus on. In her bio, Emerson says she’s from the desert, and that really shows in this track. It’s hard to explain, but that Eastern sounding synth melody sounds to my ears like an oasis amidst rugged terrain; the latter could easily be imagined after hearing that rough, rolling bassline. “The Frontier†manages to show aggression, yet at the same time, it expresses vulnerability; this is a great artistic feat.
Last, but certainly not least, I’ll highlight “One More Fluorescent Rush.†The arppegiated synth in this track is the highlight for me, giving the track a very big sound. This track is a guaranteed party starter — well done, Avalon!
Emerson hasn’t had a full release in nearly a year, and if you ask me, that’s a sign that we can expect something big soon. Artists of Emerson’s caliber normally don’t stay quiet for this long, and when they do, it often suggests that they are sitting on something big. I have a hunch Emerson has an upcoming album — if my suspicion is correct, I can’t wait to hear it!