The Keep, which is the solo project of Gothenburg-based Oliver Knowles, is sharing his new single “Cub” online today. It’s taken from his upcoming debut EP ‘Primer‘ set for release Dec 6th via Houndstooth.
Speaking about the track, Knowles said “‘Cub’ was inspired by an illustration by a friend of mine. It consisted of two tiny figures standing on a platform in space, surrounded by enormous floating cubes. To me, the cubes represented intrusive thoughts, anxieties, and a lingering sense of dread. But in this context these tiny figures are together and taking in this spectacular view of the universe and these inexplicable objects.
So I guess the track is about how acceptance and companionship helped me deal with anxieties, but on a surface level it’s a soundtrack to helplessly floating through the void and trying to enjoy the view.”
Listen to Cub here:
Primer is a collection of drones, noise and rhythms influenced by the vibrancy and excitement of Spanish and Catalonian street festivals that take place in Barcelona each year, where the record was written.
As well as the location, Knowles also marks other inspirations as films and literature saying “With this EP, the tone of films like Under the Skin and Annihilation, and reading The Southern Reach Trilogy that Annihilation was adapted from was very influential.” Although the tracks on the EP are instrumental, they were created by Knowles as a means to express intense personal feelings of anxiety or sadness. He used the four tracks on Primer to manifest these ideas in a positive way, allowing a sort of personal catharsis.
Born in Singapore, Knowles then lived in Indonesia until he was 6 and pays heritage to his Indonesian heritage on this EP by using samples of traditional Indonesian instruments, including a small Indonesian hand drum that his mother gave him years ago.
See The Keep live:
12th Feb – Paper Dress Vintage, LONDON
Primer track list:
1. Tinto
2. Fatberg
3. Cub (stream)
4. Gammalane
5. Barry Manny Drone (stream)
