Metermaids are readying the release of a brand new mixtape, HELLO, in advance of the duo's new EP - titled Rooftop Shake which was produced and recorded entirely by Grammy-award winning producer 9th Wonder.The nine-track project is hosted and mixed by hip-hop's own avant-garde DJ, DJ Rob Swift - also a contributor on Rooftop Shake, providing cuts for the EP. Known for his turntable expertise and genre mashes, Rob Swift mixes and cuts across HELLO, bringing with him a heightened level of fluidity to the project.
While the collaboration is a first for Metermaids and Rob Swift, it's not just the two parties coming together that's newsworthy; it's the product of their collaboration. Featuring remixes of popular indie rock songs, the concept mixtape stands unique against its contemporaries as Metermaids treat each of the original compositions as sample material, chopping and layering the indie rock tracks into instrumental beds for their own original compositions.
To celebrate the unique and exciting elements of the project, HELLO will be released in two formats: first, the mixtape will be released in it's true form with DJ Rob Swift's cuts and mixes, while a subsequent, DJ-free version will be made available for fans who want to enjoy the tracks individually.
The first single off HELLO is the mind-bending remix of "My Girls" by Animal Collective. Newly titled "Girls And Music", the Metermaids take this bubbling synth indie rock anthem and turn it on its head, giving the track a decidedly hip-hop aesthetic. With a new set of lyrics and a drum-beat laid over chops of the original synth melody, the remix easily stands on its own; while there's enough there to instantly recall the original for those familiar with song, the added elements allow the remix to be original and exciting, whether one is familiar with Animal Collective or not. In crafting their own lyrics and direction with the remix, Metermaids show off the group's lighter side with the song's message. Group member Sentence explains, "With this song, we were trying to infuse some levity into the heavy and sometimes negative aspects of life we all have to deal with."
HELLO drops June 22nd, and will be available on the band's website.