ARTIST TO WATCH IN 2014: Loston

"In May I started making music in my apartment. This whole project was a personal one that was never going to be released publicly but for the backing of my close friends. The first thing I finished (James Blake rework) just hit 20k plays on Soundcloud. I am truly thankful and surprised by the response."

These are the words of Perth-based producer LOSTON. Many musicians start their early rises in their bedrooms or lounge rooms, producing their own music on their laptops, but it's when people start listening and loving your music that things really start to happen and some people generally don't know how they feel about it.

LOSTON luckily, is thankful and with his work being recognised across the blogosphere, in 2014 LOSTON will definitely be one to look out for.

It all began with Mercury Prize-winner JAMES BLAKE. The man released a song called 'Retrograde' and LOSTON produced a remix that would put his name on the map whether he wanted it to or not. The track placed a nice beat over the top of JAMES BLAKE's cooing vocal track and then all of a sudden, the pace picked up, the vocals became louder and you are suddenly surprised by a loud burst of beaming synths.

The beaming synths keep true to the initial melody of 'Retrograde' and fit it nicely with the rest of the track. This was the first time most people had heard of LOSTON and was technically his 'breakout'. If you were looking for a pleasurable listening experience you definitely get it, just don't do what i did and expect the entire track to be soft and light, it packs a punch when it gets into it.

The boys over at Dim Mak records obviously thought there was something in LOSTON after he produced his JAMES BLAKE rework, and so they released a little production of his called 'Dinner At Panchos'. The track was a little more on the hip-hop side, and something totally different from what everyone feel in love with, but it shows that the producer has a variety of genres that he can master, and probably will in the future.

LOSTON has released yet another remix only a few weeks ago and it, again, blew everyone away. Being a fan of the soulful voice of SAMPHA would help you love this new remix all the more and it seems that LOSTON knew that before releasing his rework of SAMPHA's sweet track 'Too Much'.

The track has a similar skeleton to his 'retrograde' remix, a soft beginning and the a strong burst of bright synths with a lot of chopped vocals. The similarities are there and it seems LOSTON has found what works for him and it does work well. The SAMPHA rework received praise from our buddies Pilerats as well as many other websites and you can see LOSTON reworks are becoming wonderfully loved tracks almost everywhere you look.

LOSTON tends to post pictures of his new rework subjects on his Facebook page before the remix is released, so keep an eye out on his Facebook for when you can get another taste of LOSTON's work. The man on the "Death Coast" will definitely be around in 2014 so keep an eye on him because good things like this will travel fast.

Words by Lauren Payne

MORE ARTISTS TO WATCH IN 2014 HERE

SEE ALSO:

LISTEN: SAMPHA 'TOO MUCH' (LOSTON REWORK)

LISTEN: JAMES BLAKE 'RETROGRADE' (LOSTON REWORK)