phonewifey and CY AN merge for rapidly shapeshifting, kaleidoscopic 'WAIFAN' EP
Notable figure in the UK Hyperpop scene phonewifey has paired up with his old college friend CY AN to explore new artistic avenues on their debut collaborative EP ‘WAIFAN’. The EP is driven by unrestrained and uninhibited creativity: with phonewifey’s hyper bubblegum extravagance and CY AN’s intergalactic, minimalist solo work, their collaboration has resulted in a body of work like no other.
The pair have worked together in different contexts since they were at college, playing in several bands as teenagers before their paths diverged. Then in 2019 when they started to hang out together again, phonewifey and CY AN began sharing ideas and making music with no preconceptions for how it would turn out. With the freedom of having no time or financial constraints – using phonewifey’s home studio – their work grew into a rapidly shapeshifting, kaleidoscopic, and conglomerative character.
phonewifey explains; “Imo it’s quite reactive music, it’s the product of a strong creative rapport that’s been almost 15 years in the making but also helped by our individual practices having had time to progress and expand individually over the last decade.”
‘The EP’s six tracks range from sections that are likened to boy-band pop, intercepted by EDM, hyperpop, gabber, emo rap and alt rock They’re weaved together as if flitting between different dimensions, layered and then broken down to keep engagement levels high. ‘SPINNER’ features horror-stricken hip hop artist teenslasher91 and tracks ‘SUPER HOLLYWOOD’ and ‘THREE NIL, STILL SAD THOUGH’ welcome post-dubstep electronica artist ERSATZ.
On the EP, CY AN says; “Every time I listen to WAIFAN I’m reminded of the spirit it was born from: judgement free exploration, mutual spiralling, excitement and love. I hear the giddiness and shared pain, the friendly competition not to outdo the other, but to be as authentic as possible.”
‘WAIFAN’ is out now on NODUALITY via DMY. Listen on your preferred streaming service here.
For more like this, follow Dummy’s UK hyperpop Spotify playlist.
