UK duo Sad Night Dynamite might just be sampling wizards. Taking their influence from the likes of The Avalanches, as well as film soundtracks of yesteryear, they're combining hip-hop, jazz and electronic sounds to take listeners on a journey through different times and places.
Band members Archie and Josh grew up together near Glastonbury, but started Sad Night Dynamite while separated from each other at university. It was a way to stay in touch, and gave them an outlet to express their worldviews.
Earlier this year, the band released a short film to introduce themselves to the world. Speaking to Complex about the production, SND says, "The short film for (their debut EP) SND 001 serves almost as preface to us as a band.
"We had written these relatively sparse beats which show glimpses of our first singles, so wanted to reflect that in the films: the narrative is open-ended, but hints at a larger story to come."
Next came Icy Violence, which combined ominous electronica with a glorious Spaghetti Western-inspired breakdown. You'll catch a different sample or sound every time you listen to the track, which is all part of the fun.
Speaking to HYPEBEAST about Icy Violence, the pair says the song is about moving on. It's a great continuation of their debut EP, and is just as mysterious as SND 001 was.
SND says, "We wrote Icy Violence in the midst of a really hot summer, it was actually one of the first songs Archie and I had finished together. So it was kind of the song that began the whole project. It has a loose narrative, with a scene playing out on a beach.
"I think the overriding theme in the lyrics, is one of moving on. There are also definitely parts of the song which remind us of where we grew up in the countryside."
They've just dropped their latest single, Mountain Jack, while also teasing their debut mixtape, which is set to drop early next year.
Mountain Jack sees the band embracing the sounds of modern pop, with a healthy dose of funk and punk mixed in. It also comes with a music video directed by Will Cooper, and might just be nightmare fuel if you watch it alone late at night...
Speaking about the track, the duo says it's all about being somewhere and letting your mind wander. “Mountain Jack was written at the top of a really, really high mountain. I think the song is about being stretched in lots of different directions.
"Although your body might be in a studio, your head is somewhere else. In this case up a mountain.” Check out Mountain Jack below, and stay tuned for their debut mixtape. It promises to be one of the most experimental releases of 2021 - as well as one of the most exciting.
