Jian Kellett Liew, known professionally as Kyson, is an Australian singer, songwriter, and producer.[2]
Kyson | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Jian Kellett Liew |
| Born | Adelaide, Australia |
| Origin | Berlin, Germany[1] |
| Genres | Electronica |
| Occupations |
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| Instruments |
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| Years active | 2011–present |
| Website | kyson-music |
Early life
editLiew was born in Adelaide, Australia.[3] He later moved to Sydney, Australia where he went on to study a degree in audio engineering. After graduating, he spent the next several years in Berlin working as a musician and sound artist under the name Kyson and various other monikers.[4]
Career
editIn 2012, Kyson gained attention for his remix of Bon Iver's "Holocene" on 4AD Records.[5] On 29 October 2012 Liew released his "Blackstone EP" on Moodgadget Recordings.[6] He was signed by Friends of Friends Records and released his first studio album The Water's Way.[7][8]
In 2015, Kyson, alongside Italian musician and producer Matteo Pavesi, co-produced the debut album of singer-songwriter Alice Phoebe Lou, which was released on 13 May 2016.[9] The same year, Liew founded the art and music collective Average Negative with musical collaborator Chris Hill.[10]
In April 2016, Liew released his second album, A Book of Flying, with Friends of Friends Recordings.[4][11]
In 2018 Kyson released a series of AA singles, "Every High / Clear Air" and "Have My Back / Forest Green", in collaboration with B3SCI Records and Majestic Casual Records. The two releases were also part of a limited edition white vinyl record, with artwork by B.D. Graft.[12]
Pitchfork has described Liew's style as, "combin[ing] soft touches of electronic keys and rickety, pinprick rhythms, with his half-whispered lyrics and drifting melodies wrapped in sheets of textural field recordings."[6] Liew has also been described as having an, "enigmatic sound, a blend of indie, acoustic and electronic music."[13]
Collaborations
editIn 2014, Liew collaborated with Detroit-based musician Shigeto on the track "Water Collides".[14] In 2017, he collaborated with Australian artist Amber Cronin to create the spatial installation "Sawaru" at the Nexus Gallery in Adelaide, Australia.[15][16]
References
edit- ^ Zara Golden. "Kyson Sets The Pace With "A Song About The Future"". The Fader. Retrieved 21 September 2018.
- ^ Jamieson Cox (15 July 2013). "Friends of Friends signee Kyson shares hazy 'Missing Things'; download it now". FactMag. Retrieved 21 September 2018.
- ^ Daniel Prior. "Kyson: A Book Of Flying". The Brad. Retrieved 20 September 2018.
- ^ a b Jack Mahoney (3 October 2012). "FvF Mixtape #101 — Kyson". Freund von Freund. Retrieved 21 September 2018.
- ^ Erik Thompson (3 October 2012). "Bon Iver announces winners of remix contest". Citypages. Retrieved 21 September 2018.
- ^ a b Patric Fallon (25 October 2012). ""Ocean Tides" by Kyson". Pitchfork. Retrieved 20 September 2018.
- ^ Jamieson Cox (27 April 2013). "How Long by Kyson". Citypages. Retrieved 21 September 2018.
- ^ Anthony Obst (26 August 2013). "Friends of Friends beatmaker Kyson on his debut album". Red Bull Music Academy. Retrieved 20 September 2018.
- ^ Norman Fleischer (16 December 2016). "From The Streets To The Stars: Alice Phoebe Lou, A Role Model for Modern Musicianship". NBHAP. Retrieved 21 September 2018.
- ^ Average Negative - Artists, 11 June 2018
- ^ Michelle Laggan (9 March 2016). "Kyson – "You" Video (Stereogum Premiere)". Stereogum. Retrieved 21 September 2018.
- ^ "[B3SCI Records] Kyson - Every High / Clear Air". 24 August 2018. Retrieved 21 September 2018.
- ^ "Kyson - Every High". 13 July 2018. Retrieved 11 October 2018.
- ^ Evan Minsker (18 September 2014). "Friends of Friends Five-Year Anniversary Compilation Features How to Dress Well, Baths, Nicolas Jaar, More". Pitchfork. Retrieved 21 September 2018.
- ^ Tim Watts (27 April 2017). "Six Art Shows to See in May". Broadsheet Adelaide. Retrieved 20 September 2018.
- ^ "Six Art Sawaru: Amber Cronin Opening Night". CityMag. 15 May 2017. Retrieved 20 September 2018.