Belfast’s F.R.U.I.T.Y. released his debut EP last week after a couple of scattered singles since last year. Across the four tracks Dan O’Rawe melds genres and queer identity into a sound that’s hard to pin down. Lo-fi beats and often less than smooth synths whir around under O’Rawe’s colloquial vocal style, with his accent shining through on words with his idiosyncratic and often half rapped delivery. The unique sounds F.R.U.I.T.Y. has honed here divulge influences from across the musical spectrum. ‘Pigeon Heart’ found on last year’s Bangers N Breakups compilation has a lazy beat and rap, while last track ‘Baby Blue’ gives the EP its uptempo moment, a tongue in cheek track that could only be born out of Belfast.
Below O’Raw sets out some of his musical inspirations, from personal notes to loved sounds.
Playlist:
Björk – Jóga
Key words: Surreal, Haunting, How?, Genius
I picked this song because it is hauntingly beautiful. I remember hearing this song in a car when I was about 7 and it still hits the same. Björk uses words and sounds like paint to make this surreal landscape of the world she lives in. I definitely have a season pass for that journey.
The Knife – Pass This On
Key words: Scandi, Sexy, Video, Wowzer
There’s a real pleasant simpleness to this song that really lets you vibe along to it. The percussive synths add a real strange twang to the track, and I just love it. The hook, ‘I’m in love with your brother’ is just infatuating paired with them breathy vocals. There’s also a class short film to this as a music video in a bar with a solo singer. It fits perfectly. 100% recommend plz watch x
Public Transportation – Home, Again
Key words: I, Heard, It, First, Sorry, I’m, A, Hipster.
I listen to some obscure stuff but I genuinely must be about 500 of the 1000 plays for this track haha. Came across this song a few years ago in the depths of Spotify and its just so right. It’s got that real Scandi electronic feel paired with some cool and relatable lyrics and a real chill atmosphere. The whole E.P. is class too.
Röyksopp – The girl and the robot
Key words: Robyn, Story, MTV, Dance
Röyksopp are a giant in electronica tbf, and this song shows why. That scandi dance hall sound but with a story telling narrative sang by Robyn (who is also amazing) was a revelation to me.
Penelope Scott – Cigarette Ahegao
Key words: Chaos, Calm, Collected
I love the vocal style in this track, and the toy like synths. There’s so much going on, but it reads really well. It’s chaotic calmness and I love it, it’s like hearing thoughts.
Micachu and the shapes – Golden Phone
Key words: Amazing, Sample, Mouth noise, wow
This is another song from the vaults, think I heard this one day before school when I was like 17. They use loads of found sound to make their tracks, there’s even like broken plates in this song.
SuperParka – Skip
Key words: Lazy, Bass, That’s Cute, Oops
I always thought he said ‘That’s Cute’, even though the song is called ‘Skip’ haha. I actually started ‘U.P.S.’ the single on my E.P. under the name ‘That’s Cute’. The drums to it are really inspired by the lazy beats in this track, and the kind of spoken sung vocals.
easy life – Ice Cream
Key words: Contemporary, lyrical, Hyperreal
Easy Life are so relatable, their lyrics and sound are really contemporary and contextual. There’s a lyric in this song that says ‘lose her loose change down the side of my sofa’. I think that that little lyric brings you in and makes it relatable. It’s such a trivial part of life and it really brings you in and grounds the track in reality.
Tierra Whack – Unemployed
Key words: Flow, Coca-Cola, Potato Video
‘Don’t push me bitch I am not a stroller’. Is this track the River Lagan? Because it has some flow. (Genuinely Sorry for that) Think I first saw this on a Colors sessions which are just banging. To be able to say this many lyrics should be a medal worthy achievement.
Lil Nas X – MONTERO
Key words: Queer, Finally, Dort
At last a song that gives the energy I need. Them lyrics are notorious, and pure dort, it’s delicious. Queer rap has never reached such heights.
HMLTD – Pictures of You
Key words: Queer, Techno, Punk, Is, THE, Genre
When you break up with someone and all you have is pictures left, It’s weird. Do you delete them? Keep them as treasured memories? Or write a techno punk song the likes of which the world has never seen? The premise for this song is great and Techno Punk as a genre can never not be inspiring. (Especially if as Queer as This).
Ashnikko & Grimes – Cry
Key words: Bad AF, Metal, Noize, CRY
The ENERGY this song has, honestly get some. Ashnikko Is known for her noizey aggressive sound and lyrics, but with the pixie like quality to GRIMES’ vocals in this it really slaps. That metal guitar sample is a revelation and I would love to steal it.
Jazmin Bean – Yandere
Key words: Club, Metal, Horror, Fantasy
It would be so fair to say that Jazmin Bean is one of my fav people about atm. Genuinely must listen to this track every day. It is metal AF and so electronic. It hits like Horror Noize Club music? I don’t know but I live on it.
Alice Glass – NIGHTMARES
Key words: Emo, Techno, Party
Loving the NOIZE of this. Does anyone remember The Venue in Belfast? This song would def fit in. Big 100 gecs kinda vibe, but heavier. The kind of song you would see in a Kingdom Hearts AMV.
TOBACCO – Street Trash
Key words: Lo-Fi, Fuzz, Samples 4 Days
This song is both uplifting and aggressive, so so fun. I want a club night themed around this.
Joni Mitchell – A Case of You
Key words: Story, Joni, Beauty, The Best
I can always listen to Joni Mitchell. And I always enjoy it. She brings an enormous sense of peace and clarity. There’s such honesty in her work and such depth its unreal the artistry she can achieve with a dulcimer and her voice.
‘You said, I am constant as a northern star And I said, “Constantly in the darkness. Where’s that at?
If you want me I’ll be in the bar”
Recently someone asked me in a bar who my favourite musician was and I didn’t say Joni Mitchell. That’s truly gonna haunt me because she really is my fave.
