KOAN Sound
{{Short description|English electronic music production duo}}
{{Expand Portuguese|topic=cult|KOAN Sound|date=May 2020}}
{{EngvarB|date=October 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2017}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = KOAN Sound
| image =
| alt =
| caption =
| image_size =
| background = group_or_band
| origin = Bristol, England
| genre = {{flat list|
| years_active = 2008–present
| label = {{flat list|
- Shoshin
- Owsla
- Inspected Records
- Open Outlets
}}
| website = {{Url|www.koansound.com}}
| current_members = Will Weeks
Jim Bastow
}}
KOAN Sound ({{IPA-cen|ˈ|k|oʊ|ə|n}} {{respell|KOH|ən}};{{Cite web|last=KOAN Sound|title=We're on Patreon!|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qJTGEclnoC0|url-status=bot: unknown|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220512162839/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qJTGEclnoC0|archive-date=12 May 2022|date=2020-07-02|access-date=2022-05-12|website=YouTube}} named after the word kōan) is an English electronic music production duo from Bristol, consisting of Will Weeks and Jim Bastow.
A track from the Max Out EP is titled "One Hand Clap" – a reference to a well-known kōan with the implied answer of silence. They initially gained recognition as dubstep producers, with earlier popular tracks including "Akira". Some of their many types of music includes glitch hop, neurohop, and Drum & Bass. The duo have since released music on various labels including Inspected Records and Owsla, and have worked with a number of other artists, including producer Asa and singer Ed Sheeran.
Career
The duo cite bands such as Rage Against the Machine and Incubus as early influences.{{cite web|url=http://www.bordermovement.com/bristol-to-bombay-an-interview-with-koan-sound/|title=Bristol to Bombay: an interview with Koan Sound|website=Bordermovement.com|date=17 December 2012|access-date=9 January 2013|archive-date=21 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180921193444/http://www.bordermovement.com/bristol-to-bombay-an-interview-with-koan-sound/|url-status=dead}} In 2005 the duo began to explore electronic music through artists such as The Prodigy and Noisia.{{cite web|url=http://low-life.ca/2011/11/28/koan-sound-exclusive-interview/|title=Koan Sound interview on Low Life|access-date=9 January 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130116012928/http://low-life.ca/2011/11/28/koan-sound-exclusive-interview/|archive-date=16 January 2013|url-status=dead}}
On 23 May 2011, KOAN Sound released the Max Out EP. The release was seen by many as a turning point in their production, gradually moving away from the dubstep template of their earlier music and displaying a wider range of styles.
On 1 November 2011, the duo released the Funk Blaster EP{{Cite web|url=http://www.beatport.com/release/funk-blaster/826947|title=Funk Blaster [OWSLA] :: Beatport|website=Beatport |date=3 November 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111103015943/http://www.beatport.com/release/funk-blaster/826947|accessdate=25 November 2020|archive-date=3 November 2011}} on Skrillex's label Owsla.{{cite web|url=http://www.owsla.com/artists/koan-sound/|title=Koan Sound |publisher=Owsla}} The EP reached number 1 in the Beatport releases category.
During 2012, KOAN Sound performed across Europe and North America. They supported Skrillex alongside Diplo and others on the Full Flex Express Tour in 2012.{{Cite web|url=http://thefourohfive.com/news/article/grimes-diplo-and-skrillex-announce-the-full-flex-express|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20130216212644/http://thefourohfive.com/news/article/grimes-diplo-and-skrillex-announce-the-full-flex-express|url-status=dead|title=Grimes, Diplo and Skrillex announce 'The Full Flex Express' | The 405|website=Archive.today|archivedate=16 February 2013|access-date=9 January 2013}}
On 4 September 2012, The Adventures of Mr. Fox EP was released. The release includes remixes from Reso, Neosignal and Opiuo.{{Cite web |url=http://www.koansound.com/releases/the-adventures-of-mr-fox/ |title=Archived copy |access-date=9 January 2013 |archive-date=30 September 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120930211621/http://www.koansound.com/releases/the-adventures-of-mr-fox/ |url-status=dead }} A remix of "Introvert" by Vexisle, a duo of KOAN Sound's frequent collaborator Asa and Kursa, was released soon after as a free download.{{Cite web|url=https://soundcloud.com/koan-sound/introvert-vexisle-remix|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20130216194420/https://soundcloud.com/koan-sound/introvert-vexisle-remix|url-status=dead|title=Introvert (Vexisle Remix) by KOAN Sound on SoundCloud - Hear the world's sounds|website=Archive.today|archivedate=16 February 2013|access-date=9 January 2013}} The EP track "80s Fitness" (music video by director Tim Hendrix and producer Filippo Nesci) featured on an advert for The Radio 1 Breakfast Show with Nick Grimshaw and received airplay on BBC Radio 1 and 1Xtra.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fzXU_U6f6vI|title=BBC Radio 1 Breakfast Show – Nick Grimshaw|publisher=YouTube|date=14 September 2012}} Their songs have been played by Skream and Benga, MistaJam and Annie Nightingale among others,{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/artists/0cc1935d-712d-40b0-b1a9-27e23777a302|title=BBC – Music – KOAN Sound|publisher=BBC Radio 1|accessdate=20 February 2014}} and they completed a Daily Dose: OWSLA After Dark mix for MistaJam.{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p01lfv5b|title=MistaJam, Childish Gambino joins MistaJam, KOAN Sound deliver your Daily Dose|publisher=BBC Radio 1Xtra|date=11 November 2013}}
On 22 October 2013, the duo's collaboration EP with Asa, Sanctuary, was released through OWSLA and Inspected.{{cite web|url=https://inspected.co.uk/pages/koan-sound|title=KOAN Sound|website=Inspected|language=en|access-date=2018-11-08}}{{Cite news|url=http://owsla.com/release/koan-sound-asa-sanctuary-ep/|title=OWSLA Koan Sound & Asa - Sanctuary EP|work=OWSLA|access-date=2018-11-08|language=en-US}}{{Cite news|url=https://dancingastronaut.com/2013/10/koan-sound-and-asa-release-breathtaking-sanctuary-ep/|title=KOAN Sound and Asa release breathtaking 'Sanctuary' EP - Dancing Astronaut|date=2013-10-22|work=Dancing Astronaut|access-date=2018-11-08|language=en-US}} This was considered to be another turning point in their production, where they began to incorporate more orchestral, organic and ethereal elements in their music, as well as releasing various tracks that sounded almost completely acoustic.
Their fourth OWSLA release, the Dynasty EP, was released on 1 April 2014.{{cite web|url=http://owsla.com/releases/koan-sound-dynasty-ep/|title=Dynasty: Koan Sound|publisher=Owsla|date=1 April 2014}} One of the four tracks, "7th Dimension", entered the UK Indie Breakers Chart at number 12.{{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/independent-singles-breakers-chart/20140406/254/|title=Independent Singles Breakers Top 20 Archive|publisher=Official Charts Company|date=12 April 2014}}
Their fifth release, Forgotten Myths, was released in 2015 through Culprate's Open Outlets label and Shoshin.
Their sixth release, an album titled Polychrome, was announced on 1 November 2018 and released on 7 December 2018.{{Cite news|url=https://dancingastronaut.com/2018/11/koan-sound-announce-return-new-lp-polychrome/|title=KOAN Sound announce their return with new LP, 'Polychrome' - Dancing Astronaut|date=2018-11-04|work=Dancing Astronaut|access-date=2018-11-08|language=en-US}}
On 20 September 2019, they became a featured artist on the rhythm game osu!.{{cite web|url=https://osu.ppy.sh/home/news/2019-09-20-new-featured-artist-koan-sound/|title=New Featured Artist: KOAN Sound|date=2019-09-20|work=osu!}}
Discography
=Albums=
| class="wikitable" | ||
| Year | Release | Label |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Polychrome | Shoshin |
| 2023 | Led by Ancient Light | Shoshin |
=Extended plays=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" | ||
| Year | Release | Label |
|---|---|---|
| rowspan="3"|2011 | Free | Self-released |
| Max Out | Inspected Records | |
| Funk Blaster | Owsla | |
| 2012 | The Adventures of Mr. Fox | Owsla |
| 2013 | Sanctuary (with Asa) | Owsla / Inspected Records |
| 2014 | Dynasty | Owsla |
| 2015 | Forgotten Myths | Shoshin |
| 2019 | Intervals Above{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/intervals-above-ep/1473233505 |title=Intervals Above - EP by Koan Sound on Apple Music |website=iTunes Store |accessdate=15 September 2019}} | Shoshin |
| 2020 | Silk Wave | Shoshin |
| 2021 | Chronos{{Cite web |last=Raraport |first=Brian |date=10 May 2021 |title=Listen to Koan Sound's Colossal New Chronos EP |url=https://edm.com/music-releases/koan-sound-chronos-ep |accessdate=23 May 2021 |website=EDM.com}} | Vision |
| 2021 | Full Circle | Shoshin |
| 2024
|Shoshin | ||
=Singles=
| class="wikitable" | ||
| Year | Title | Label |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | "Clowny / Blessed" | Abducted Dub |
| 2009 | "Boo & Yarr (by TRiLLBASS) / Mafia (TRiLLBASS Remix) / Alchemy" | TRiLLBASS |
| rowspan="2"|2010 | "Coast To Coast / Hesitation (featuring Asa)" | rowspan="3"|Screwloose Records |
| "Jumpsuit Adventures / Blueberry Pie" | ||
| rowspan="2"|2011 | "Akira / Endorphin" | |
| "Garden of Buddha / Zappa Bomb Squad" | Dubsaw | |
| 2012 | "Risky Endeavours" | Unsigned |
| rowspan="2"| 2018 | "Chilli Daddy" | Shoshin |
| "Viridian Dream" | Shoshin | |
| 2020
|"Virtue" |Shoshin | ||
| 2021
|"Chronos" |Vision |
=Other appearances=
| class="wikitable" | |||
| Year | Track | Release | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | "Mafia" | TRiLLDigi 002 | TRiLLBASS |
| rowspan="2"|2011 | "Kaneda" (with Asa) | Sweeter Things EP | Screwloose Records |
| "Blue Stripes" | Dubstep Onslaught | EMI | |
| rowspan="2"|2012 | "Look Who's Back" (featuring Foreign Beggars) | OWSLA Presents: Free Treats Vol. II | Owsla |
| "Beyond the Shadows" (with Gemini, Culprate and Asa) | Beyond the Shadows | Inspected Records | |
| 2013 | "Cascade" (with Culprate, Asa and Reso) | Cascade | Inspected Records |
| 2014 | "Mosaic" (with Culprate, Asa and Sorrow) | Mosaic | Inspected Records |
| 2015 | "If You Hadn't" (with Culprate, Asa and Opiuo) | If You Hadn't | Inspected Records |