‘Strange Beauty’ is the debut album from producer and multi-instrumentalist Louie Hemus AKA Hemai. A collection of stories of the love, spirit and balance of the universe, the hotly tipped 22-year-old experiments with the idea of movement and the present, bringing together some of his favourite sounds from around the world and melding them with his UK roots.
The release follows previous singles “Relight feat. Laura Roy & Woddy Green” which plays with shifts in tempo to accentuate the hidden depths of the track; Japanese Bossa Nova inspired “Noa Noa feat. Emilia Anastazja”; and the mystical and uplifting “Love Dancer feat. FiFi Robo”. These tracks have seen Hemai garner support from the likes of Lauren Laverne (BBC 6Music), Jack Saunders (BBC Radio 1), Jamz Supernova (BBC 1Xtra), Tony Minvielle and China Moses (Jazz FM), Papaoul (Worldwide FM), EARMILK, Stereofox and Clash Magazine as he cements his place in the thriving UK jazz and electronic scene.
Selling Points
- Debut album from 22 year old producer and multi-instrumentalist Hemai who has previously received support from Gilles Peterson, been dubbed a “one to watch” but BBC Radio 1’s JAGUAR and remixed Oscar Jerome.
- Album features, Ruby Wood (Submotion Orchestra), Maralisa (Space Captain), Layfullstop, Woddy Green, FiFi Robo, Laura Roy, Wallace and Emilia Anastazja.
- The album was pieced together during 2020’s lockdown with many of the collaborations occuring over zoom/crossing continents; from New Zealand, to London, to LA (via New York).
Tracklist
1. We Could Be Jaded feat. Layfullstop
2. Vertigo feat. Wallace
3. Noa Noa feat. Emilia Anastazja
4. Love Dancer feat. FiFi Robo
5. Awake Indigo feat. Ruby Wood
6. When Day Breaks
7. Bandit's Pockets feat. FiFi Robo
8. Brother's Shuffle feat. Maralisa
9. Relights feat. Laura Roy & Woddy Green
10. Gone Surfing
