Tiana Khasi - Meghalaya (The Remixes) (2020)

Making a radiant return with her first new music of 2020 - Brisbane-born, Melbourne-based future soul artist, Tiana Khasi is set to drop her latest project, ‘Meghalaya - The Remixes’; the follow up to her critically-acclaimed 2019 debut EP, ‘Meghalaya’. Featuring some of the artists favourite producers and collaborators from across Australia and New Zealand, ‘Meghalaya - The Remixes’ is out 02 Oct via Soul Has No Tempo.

Titled for Meghalaya, India – the land of the Khasi people whose name Tiana proudly bears and one of the few matrilineal societies on planet Earth – ‘Meghalaya’ was originally released in March 2019, co-written and produced by Sampology, and stands as a powerful statement of intent that honours Tiana’s Samoan and Indian heritage. A rich tapestry of styles and influence, the EP quickly gained support at home and abroad, with debut single ‘Nuketown’ catching the ear of UK tastemaker Gilles Peterson, earning a spot on the 13th edition of his renowned compilation, Brownswood Bubblers. The EP also received warm support from Complex UK, Rolling Stone US, Worldwide FM, Germany’s C-Heads Magazine, EARMILK and The Guardian’s Best Australian Tracks.

Finding herself in lockdown along with the global music community at large, Tiana put the call out to some of her favourite producers, with the simple request to bring their own unique style and breathe new life into her songs. The result; a beautiful, eclectic collection of music that marks an uncertain time in our history but represents community and collaboration at its core. On the project as a whole, Khasi explains “This remix EP represents a full spectrum of time; retrospectively, key collaborators and influential styles of the original EP are playfully explored, whilst offering a glimpse into my broader Australian & global musical community.”

Alongside Sampology’s driving, disco-dub remix of ‘Whole Lotta Shine’, Melbourne bass wizard and producer, Horatio Luna (The Jazz Diaries) delivers a dusty, dance-floor-ready, house remix of EP-titled track, ‘Meghalaya’. Also from Melbourne, SO.Crates (beat-maker Skomes & MC Cazeaux O.S.L.O) share a Hip-Hop flip of ‘Georgia’s Track’ while drummer/beat-maker Best Foot Forward (Vulture Street Tape Gang/Moreton) gives ‘They Call Me’ the experimental/psychedelic treatment.

The EP features remixes from 3 Kiwis, including 16-year-old Benny Salvador - son of Fat Freddys Drop trombonist Joe Lindsay - who brings his techno-inspired, club-ready flavour to ‘Nuketown’. Finally, ‘Bitterness’ receives two reworks - the first one from Auckland-born, London-based musician and producer, Street Rat - who played guitar on the original EP - and a flip from choicevaughan, a beatmaker and nu-soul producer also from Auckland, who leans on his Hip-Hop and sample-based background to give Bitterness a fresh new look.

Khasi reflects “I feel every remix showcases the personal backgrounds and strengths of its respective producer, highlighting the reasons why I, personally, love their work. These remixes have respectfully honoured the origins of my songs and uniquely transported them to new worlds.”