Friday, October 19, 2012

Steve Aoki, Knife Party Collaborate on Track


(MTVKnife Party and Steve Aoki have big news (though virtually everything the hard-electronic music stars do tends to be): They've got a "phat" collaboration and video on the way.

"I wrote probably my phattest banging record with Knife Party:'Pile Driver,' " Steve Aoki told MTV News recently.

While it may not be a complete revelation to those who have attended Aoki or KP shows this summer (they've been giving the track a healthy test run), the coming together of these two explosive dance music brands is something to relish.

We predicted 2012 to be a game-changing one for the electro-house and bass kings Rob Swire and Gareth McGrillen (Knife Party). And with subsequent performances, including euphoric frenzies at Ultra Music Festival and Electric Daisy Carnival that were soundtracked by their banging bass gems, "Rage Valley," "Sleaze," and "Centipede," perhaps even that was an understatement.

In the last two years, Steve Aoki has developed into one of the most successful touring DJs on the planet, evidenced by his feature-packed album ("Wonderland" features the likes of Rivers Cuomo, Wynter Gordon, LMFAO, Kid Cudi and Travis Barker). "Turbulence," with Lil Jon and Laidback Luke, "Tornado" with TiĆ«sto, and "No Beef," with Afrojack, are some of his set staples that have seen him taking the biggest electronic stages around the world — even bringing his boats and cakes to themtvU Woodies. And so, the coming together of the three gents is a dance music culture event worth relishing.

"We did two studio sessions in their Pendulum Studios [Knife Party formed from a band called Pendulum]," Steve recalled. "And their studio is sick. They have so much analog. The setup is incredible. And we did two 12-hour sessions, straight."

"Working with them is like working with gods of producers," Steve chuckled. "I love working with Rob and Gareth, and we really turned out a phat record."

The trio plan to shoot a video for "Pile Driver" next month, and fans can expect the song to drop in early 2013. In the meantime, fans across the country can catch Knife Party on their Haunted House Tour, which kicks off at New York's Pier 94 on October 26 and wraps up in Los Angeles on November 3. Aoki will be performing for New York at dance music mecca Lavo Thursday night (October 18).