O’Flynn x Frazer Ray - Shimmer (2022)

O’Flynn and Frazer Ray - two much-celebrated UK producers and DJ’s - announce their collaborative forthcoming album ‘Shimmer’, out 21st October on Ninja Tune imprint Technicolour. The record arrives as a result of O’Flynn and Frazer Ray’s (FKA Soundbwoy Killah) love for the UK dance music scene, from speed garage to breaks and hardcore, their vast knowledge and respect for underground cultures and genres shine through as a direct influence. Overall it’s a heartfelt and nostalgic homage to iconic UK nightclubs and the escapism they provide, even during their absence throughout the pandemic - “making music for those spaces during lockdown was a form of escapism for us - kind of like playing a video game or reading a book, we just wanted to be transported to another place”.

Escapism lies at the core of ‘Shimmer’. Channelling euphoric, big-room club energy, the record see’s both producers explore new musical territories, escaping their usual sonic spheres to experiment with new genres and techniques whilst still nodding to the past. “We wanted the album to be a fusion of musical styles. A big mixing-pot of all our favourite genres” Frazer comments.

The collaboration came about naturally after an admiration of each other's music. “I was digging for samples one day at Sounds of the Universe and the store suddenly played this big breaksy dance tune with a Reese bass. I bought the record there and then and started to play it in my sets” O’Flynn remembers. “One of my friends heard me play it once and said ‘you know I used to live with this guy’ - I couldn’t believe it because I imagined whoever made that record would have been about 50 years old and living through the rave era. Anyway it was Frazer’s record under his Soundbwoy Killah alias and so we connected online and started sharing music”.

With the announcement of ‘Shimmer’ comes a brand new single “You Need Me” which arrives ready for a high energy club environment. “You Need Me” sets lofty ambitions as the pair wanted to write a track “that would stand out and be a track people went home and remembered for weeks afterwards”. This lively dynamic follows similar themes displayed in recently released single “Satyr” - a slick, shimmering dance anthem fit for clubs and summer festivals alike which has already gained notable BBC Radio One support. Speaking on “Saytr” O’Flynn and Frazer say, “Satyr started as a super-stripped, dark 2-step garage track. It then went on to have about 3 completely different versions before we settled on the final mix that you can hear today…it was written in the midst of a rare UK heatwave, when we spent our time reconnecting with friends, congregating at various local pubs and parks. Simple pleasures you indulge in when you get that blissful feeling of London in the sun”.

O’Flynn has become a household name within the UK electronic dance scene over the past few years and has garnered support with plays on Four Tet’s Boiler Room, James Blake’s BBC Radio 1 Residency and an inclusion in Bonobo’s mix for London nightclub Fabric’s esteemed compilation series, whom he collaborated with on ‘Fragments' album track “Otomo”. He released his critically acclaimed debut album ‘Aletheia’ in 2019 for which he embarked on an 18 date UK tour and led to The Guardian citing him as their ‘One to watch’. Frazer Ray also released his debut album ‘Halcyon Daze’ (as Soundbwoy Killah) in 2019 which quickly sold out on vinyl.

Throughout July, playing 5 sold-out Fridays, O’Flynn hosted a standout residency at London venue Phonox, featuring weekly shows, showcasing all sides of his musical influences which infamously set dancefloors alight. Upcoming dates for O’Flynn include various Warehouse Project shows, the first being the sold-out Return To The Depot with Disclosure and embarking on a US tour supporting Bonobo this Autumn. O’Flynn and Frazer Ray will play an album launch show at London’s EartH on the 29th October.

‘Shimmer’ is out on the 21st October on Technicolour, with a special coloured vinyl out 18th November.