With underground dance music having firm POC and queer roots, Denni Longstocking Kindred, AKA Longstocking, was disappointed to see how house music had deviated away from its origins. In a bid to bring authenticity back into the genre, Longstocking, a Trans Femme/Non-Binary artist, set out to make a change. She created her own label, Feral One Records, to break those chains and create a solution for an industry that is predominantly led by cis-gendered, heterosexual, white men.
Her latest release, ‘Sunglow Pier’ is a creative collection of songs. Releasing the album through her own label, Longstocking has full control over her music, which is inspired by centuries of music from Romantic composers of the 1700 and 1800s, to 60s synthesizer pioneers and psychedelic rock, to 80s breaks and 90s house music. ‘Sunglow Pier’ will be released exclusively on August 5th on Beatport before releasing on all platforms on the 19th of August.
The sound of crashing waves welcomes listeners into Longstocking’s world in the opening track, ‘Doom DaDa’. As an electronic four-to-the-floor drumbeat makes itself known, vocal ‘oohs’s begin to stack, layered with experimental effects. The presence of hi-hats accentuates the song’s danceability, while the vocals continue to be playful, almost cheeky, yet completely carefree. Swooshing and sweeping synth pads bring ambiance, as glitching synthetic moments create intrigue and curiosity. ‘Doom DaDa’ surrounds itself indulgently in an aura of joy and delight.
With a funky house approach, ‘Come Out Sad One’ leans into Longstocking’s Chicanx heritage. Growing up in Southern California, this track captures the essence of having a good time. As the title may suggest, ‘Come Out Sad One’ is about friends dragging out other friends to cheer them up, depicted through the feel-good vibe and the sound of laughter in the distance. Afro-Chicano rhythms and playful beats are the core of the song, while melodic hooks are swapped between instruments, from brass phrases smothered in delay, to guitar riffs, bubbling bass lines and shimmering flutes that bring energy and spark.
Exploring themes of youth to adulthood, ‘Into The Current’, is a deep house anthem. Amidst the chattering of conversation and tremolo strings, a persistent beat and sub-bass lead the way, accompanied by brass riffs and repetitive synthesizers. Angelic vocals drift in the background, almost as an acknowledgment of the innocence of youth, while the frantic energy of the chorus is a nod to the emotions of adulthood. No doubt a track for the dancefloor, ‘Into The Current’ is a representation of the ebb and flow of life and the emotions that come with it.
Paying homage to her classical inspirations, ‘Fancy Dancer’ blends chopped-up melodies of Vivaldi’s ‘Spring’ with contemporary electro- pop styles, bringing Baroque to the dancefloor. The string introduction and percussive timpani drums sound as if an orchestra are warming up before the bass drum and synthesizers explode into motion, bringing the song to life.
Named after the childhood fictional feminist Pippi Longstocking’s home, ‘Villa Villekulla’ is a courageous track, emulating the spirit of the independent icon. Children’s voices are layered into the track, swimming on top of intense deep house drum beats, electric organs, atmospheric synthesizers and heavily effected vocals, glitching in a way that serves the song perfectly. The song also features KaiBu and AriaBaria.
The rattling sound of a spray can being shaken and sprayed is an innovative way to begin a beat, and ‘Spray Control’ implements all the sounds of a spray can to create textures, rhythms and dynamics. The song was inspired by the simplicity of a day in the sunshine, as Longstocking surfaced from a subway and admired the street art in China Town in Lower Manhattan on the day she got her first tattoo. The spirit of the city seems captured in the soundscape of the track, and it’s easy to imagine the joy Longstocking felt in that moment.
Conversations in the background, the sound of summer by the ocean, sets the scene on ‘Sunglow Pier.’ Dubbed ‘Swell House’ by Longstocking herself, ‘Sunglow Pier’ is less rhythmic than perhaps the other tracks on the album, but it has a lightness to it, embracing both an electric guitar and the organic sound of acoustic guitar strum, anchored by simple electronic beats, while ‘la la la’ vocals thread in and out. Surfing was a major part of Longstocking’s youth, escaping the troubles of life down on the beach. The sound of seagulls and crashing waves comes full circle, nodding at the opening song on the album, bringing this creative collection of songs to an artistic close.
