Live Review: Strict Face remixes Lorenzo BITW with noughties RnB flair

Ever prolific producer and DJ STRICT FACE has been a busy guy lately. Along with playing his first Boiler Room and jumping on support for BASENJI in his home town of Adelaide, the producer has just dropped a new remix of homie LORENZO BITW's new track featuring CHIKAYA, 'Chasing'. Stricty's re-imagining of the track sees his knack for complex percussion and grimey textures on full display.

Channeling mid noughties RnB and modern club fusion, this remix is dripping with intoxicating nostalgia. Chiyaka's stunning vocals are kept as is leaving Strict Face to pull out his best TIMBALAND-style percussion complete with repeated rising synth chords a la 'The Way I Are'.

On his last EP, we got a taste of his RnB chops but in this remix they're clearer than ever. It's particularly evident in the more stripped back moments, as layers of chords and twittering melodies become clear under syncopated drums and warm vocals. In the breakdowns, he plays off the unpredictable melody from the original, making it his own with a signature Strict Face synth warbling in its place.

With such great bones to work on for a remix, Strict Face really shines here as he pieces everything back together in his own way. In this re-imagining of 'Chasing' he manages to blend a reverence for club hits of the past with an excitement for what's to come.

If you're in Melbourne pop by the Boney tonight (April 20th) to catch Strict Face along with Swick, Lewis Cancut, Nina Las Vegas, Kota Banks and friends playing till the sun comes up for the very reasonable price of $15, nab your tix here.

WORDS BY HOLLY O’NEILL

WATCH MORE NEW MUSIC VIDEOS HERE

SEE ALSO

STRICT FACE ‘MURDERS’ NEW SINGLE WITH SOME HELP FROM K-MAJOR

STRICT FACE TURNS UP THE THERMOSTAT WITH NEW EP, ‘THIS HEAT’

STRICT FACE GUEST MIX FOR NLV RECORDS TAKEOVER ON PURPLE SNEAKERS RADIO