11 November, 2015
-For immediate release-
RED BULL SOUND SELECT ARTIST HIGH HØØPS SHORT VIDEO DOCUMENTARY.
"Musically, I think... [I'm inspired by] a lot of the early 80s Japanese electronica stuff like Riuichi Sakamoto and
Yellow Magic Orchestra," explains Auckland-based vocalist, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, producer and Red Bull
Sound Select artist HIGH HØØPS (real name: Jordan Arts).
"These guys were pioneers who wanted to push the envelope. It's the merge of human error and electronics... It's got the
retro factor, but it's also modern. It's going backwards to come forwards. But then I'm also a massive sucker for these
big eighties RnB hooks, which are almost to the point of cheesy. But if you twist them and manipulate them, then you're
in. I reckon that's a really nice pocket to be in, and it makes me feel really nice."
Within that statement, Jordan encapsulates the central tenets that underscore the nostalgic sun-kissed dance-pop he
creates as HIGH HØØPS. Although the project began several years ago as creative escapism while he was one-half of late
2000s electro-pop duo Kids of 88, lately alongside his membership in hotly-tipped band LEISURE, it's been front and
center.
"I sometimes think about what it's like to be a musician full-time, and it's a little bit freaky," he admits. "I just
want to make sure everything has been taken to the next level. It doesn't have to be a quick thing, but it has to be a
very assured thing. I feel a very strong ethos is the keyword of momentum. I think if you don't have momentum it's so
hard [as a musician]."
In this video documentary, Jordan gives us a window into his past, present and future plans. We met his parents, close friends and collaborators
Spycc, Jaden Parkes and Connor Nestor, and get a greater sense of his creative process and what informs, inspires and
drives him to continue to pursue music. Collaborative or solo, for Jordan it's all about the atmosphere, feeling and
vibe.
Click here to watch the short doco. @RBSoundSelect. @HIGH_HOOPS.
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