New York – London production duo Snakehips, consisting of Oliver Lee and James Carter, played two back to back NYC shows including a date at Music Hall of Williamsburg. They have already amassed extensive press and acclaim for both their original tracks and remixes featuring the likes of Bondax and The Weeknd. The duo are still yet to release their debut album, but have shot straight to the top of the blogosphere in a relatively short period of time. “Borrowing from the past to make music for the future”, Lee and Carter’s dreamy synths and dancefloor-ready melodies have already made them internationally recognized and highly in demand within the club and festival circuit across the globe.
Supporting acts Louie Lastic and Pomo opened the show. When Snakehips took the stage around eleven, that effervescent ambiance of a successful club night in full swing immediately took over the crowd. Dropping heavy bass-laden tunes alongside vintage favorites like “Days With You”, the duo stayed tuned in to the responsive audience, and kept up the momentum and unwavering interest of an eclectic young crowd. In 2015 it seems like anyone with a laptop can remix a song and produce beats, but Lee and Carter’s innate ability to transform already good tracks into their own well-crafted aesthetic of upbeat, summery vibes confirmed they have a rare and special quality as artists.
Snakehips brought out Canadian rapper and special guest Tory Lanez to perform their collaborative single “Dimelo”, a well-executed surprise that added an extra intensity to the hyped up crowd late in the set. The duo seemed to be having too good of a time to leave the stage, and it was clear the crowd was in agreement. They had managed to attract the kind of audience club promoters hope for- one that was there purely to experience the music and to ride the good vibes the DJs were spinning. Thanks in part to that audience, Snakehips continued to project a golden glow where they could do little wrong.
Playing a set that lasted well after midnight, the chemistry between Lee and Carter was flowing and totally in sync. Their dynamic enthusiasm for the show demonstrated why going out and listening to house tracks can be just so much fun. If half of a successful gig is showing up, Snakehips upped the ante with their deft precision in knowing the right track to play at the right time. They molded a showcase of shimmering electronics and toed the line between mainstream club classics and thoughtful vintage disco that it impossible not to lose yourself in.
Considering the large following Lee and Carter have already accrued with their tracklist full of star-studded vocalists and prominent figures in both the electronic and hiphop world, it’s apparent they’ve already earned the respect of many in the industry. With this gig, it was clear they deserve the hype, and will only continue to move up on festival bills and lineups, ingraining themselves as an undeniable breakout act in both America and around the world.
If you’re in Europe this summer you can catch Snakehips at varied festival dates, before they return home to the UK to play Reading and Leeds at the end of August.
Ruby Hoffman
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