HRMXNY isn’t content to ride someone else’s wave, so he’s crafting his own. The 20-year-old DJ/producer cut his teeth spinning at Toronto club mainstay The Hoxton, opening for the likes of Kaytranada, RL Grime, Flosstradamus, Cashmere Cat, and with the release of his brand new EP, he’s looking to go global.
With vocal assistance from Tylorj, Preme, Alcordo, and Jon Vinyl, Strange As It Seems carenes through different genres and styles, strung together with vocal samples and a throughline of contemplative synth progressions—it sounds like driving through Toronto in the middle of the night. There’s a little bit of everything on this mini opus, from the minimal synth-hop vibes of the title track, to the nu-garage flavour on “Play No Games.” The EP-closer, “Nightlife” featuring Jon Vinyl, plays with the quintessential Toronto sound, subverting electro-R&B with an ethereal sonic palette. Narration from Gil Scott-heron on the “Where It’s Coming From” interlude sums up HRMXNY’s sonic ambition nicely: “What I like about music, and the kind of music that I like, is the kind that’s like, hey, 20 seconds into the tune you know who this artist is, because there’s something unique about him and her.” In that respect, Strange As It Seems feels like a step in the right direction.
You can stream HRMXNY’s Strange As It Seems EP below, and download it here. If you’re in Toronto, catch him opening for Lidotonight at the Hoxton.
