Scrolling Through SoundCloud: keylo
On “Scrolling Through SoundCloud,” we profile up-and-coming artists and producers who should garner more attention based on the quality of their music. So do them a favor, and listen to their shit. You won’t be disappointed.
IF YOU’RE A FAN OF…
GRAVEZ
SLUMBERJACK
SAM GELLAITRY
NOTABLE TRACKS…
DJEMBA DJEMBA FEAT. KING HENRY – SAMURAI (KEYLO REMIX)
SNAKE EYES
The name keylo is a play-on-words of “low-key.” However, don’t assume that the description reflects the music; the 21-year-old producer’s tracks are anything but. A native of San Gabriel Valley, Ming Guo has rotated between rocking parties in Isla Vista and dropping quality bangers for the rest of the world. Take your typical dirty trap anthem and up the ante in all aspects—the schizophrenic snares, groaning basslines, and ethereal breakdowns. Makes sense that Djemba Djemba gave Guo props for his vicious remix of “Samurai.” A member of Nüsense Collective, Guo plans to pursue music beyond the confines of IV after graduation. Check out his thoughts below:
On rock ‘n roll culture:
I started playing music when I was a kid. I did piano lessons, but I just wasn't feeling it. Classical music, I didn’t really relate to it. Got to middle school, into the rock band program and picked up guitar. I was really motivated to play that because it was the complete opposite of classical music. You could do whatever you wanted.
Rock is all about breaking the rules. Heavy distortion on guitars, drummers playing ten minute solos and whatnot…but culture wise, I didn’t really relate to rock as much since it wasn’t something Asian people were doing a lot.
There’s that culture gap, you know? And I feel like there’s less of that gap in electronic music.
On making different shit:
I just like to mess around honestly. You know, I just want to make stuff that I haven’t heard before, because otherwise I’d just listen to whatever. I wouldn’t want to make something that’s already available to listen to. What’s the point of making it if someone else is doing it better? Or the same thing? Sometimes it’s not good; sometimes it’s terrible. But I just like to experiment I guess.
On IV collectives:
[Other than Nüsense], Sound & Society, which is run by Nick Johnson. The homie, Connor, runs Trippy Tree. They’re a house-based collective. Like tech house, Dirty Bird vibe. Groovy music. There’s a group called We Jungle; they throw crazy parties. That’s the main four, I would say.
We’ve done collaborative shows where we just all combine and do one show. It’s an unspoken rule to just avoid doing shows on the same day as another group. I think IV’s big enough for people to do their thing.
On balancing entertainment and art:
After the entertainment value, there is that other…you know, Porter [Robinson] can reach that sentimental kind of feeling. Flume has that feeling too. Like, I’m not even close to that. But that’s something after you can offer entertainment, you can offer that deeper thing that makes Porter different from someone like Diplo.
Currently listening to…
There’s a guy called Delamare; he’s a freshman right now. I hung out with him a couple times and he’s chill man. Dude’s chill and he’s very, very talented. [His music has] that future bass vibe right now, like Whethan, Louis the Child. And he’s a kid, so it kinda reflects where he’s at too. And he’s very skilled at producing; it’s just nice to listen to.
Calvin Harris is killing it man. You see that Future and Khalid song? That was dank.
