‘EP’ by MaiKu is available on all Major digital download stores

A self-proclaimed ‘AudioChef’, ‘SoundSculpter’ and ‘WaveShaper’, producer Maiku’s stance regarding his own work is no overstatement. It is difficult to pin down or categorize Maiku’s exact style into one, or even several genres, as it is a true amalgamation. Aside from the obvious influences of mainstream EDM, off-beat pop, psychedelic Hip-hop and Glitch; it’s the Blaxploitation era of music that has predominantly been the biggest impact on his work, most notably heard in the starting track ‘Ai’ from his latest (untitled) “EP”, or ‘Geodesic’, a previously released session recording, with artist Jemimah Canegrati.

A classically trained musician, after graduating, Michael O’Brien began picking up session work, becoming an instrumentalist for local producers and frequenting several bands on the Manchester music scene throughout the 00s. Eventually tiring of the stagnation and constraints of ‘band – life’, the Salfordian along with fellow producer and friend; Remain Nameless, set out to start a record label, where the artist known as Maiku would begin its inception. The label underwent several evolutions before eventually becoming Queasy Limbo Records.

An artist almost obsessed with modernity and incessantly seeking the new, Maiku harbored a vision to pioneer a new genre of music, while unearthing the lost talents of Manchester’s underground and suburban musical obscurities.

Setting up a ramshackle studio in his front room, Maiku began honing his skills as a producer, scooping up guest vocalists wherever he could find them to lay down the tracks that would eventually make up his first release, 2016s ‘Ology’. Around the same time, Maiku began working with fellow Mancunian Jim Adama to create the electronic/blues crossover single, ‘Malversation’.

‘EP’ by MaiKu is his most current offering. A welcome injection of color, surging into the clogged Indie vein of the Manchester music scene – rupturing to allow his own sound to flow. He creates a unique, complex philosophy of madness, executed with Maiku’s distinct precision to detail and slick, well-crafted sound. Take ‘Plus’ as an example of 90’s turntablism, trimmed into complex rhythmic geometry or ‘Loki’ for the subtle, sporadic kick drums under trancing steel flutes.

Whether it be the thumping rhythmic bass reminiscent of hip hop’s roots or the alien-tones and pacific-pop of his last single ‘Mana’, all seemingly made in Maiku’s lab; not a note, beat or break is out of place. Every track is cut with precision and is often equal parts genius and horror.

‘EP’ by MaiKu is available in digital stores from the 3rd June 2016.

OFFICIAL LINKS: ITUNES – SPOTIFY – GOOGLE PLAY