Ekali (DJ)

Last updated

Ekali
Birth nameNathan Shaw
Born (1991-09-22) September 22, 1991 (age 32)
Vancouver, Canada
Genres EDM, electronic music, trap, hip hop, bass, future bass
Occupation(s)
  • DJ
  • music producer
  • musician
Years active2013 (2013)–present
Labels

Nathan Shaw (born September 22, 1991), [1] known professionally as Ekali, is a Canadian electronic music producer, DJ, and musician based in Los Angeles, California. To date, he has released one studio album, A World Away (2020) via Big Beat Records and two EP's, Crystal Eyes (2018) via OWSLA and his most recent, Alinea on June 23, 2023, through his independent imprint, Awakening. [2] [3]

Contents

Over the course of his career, Shaw has collaborated the likes of ZHU, Denzel Curry, KRANE, ILLENIUM and performed at a series of high-profile music festivals, such as Coachella, The Grass Is Greener, and Shambala Festival. [4] [5]

History

Originally hailing from Vancouver, British Columbia, Shaw's first experiences with music started from a young age, learning the violin and branching out to other contemporary musical instruments as he grew up. He would initially gain recognition in the music industry as the bassist for Vancouver-based indie rock band, Said the Whale which he joined in 2011. Concurrently in-between touring, Shaw also began to learn music production and started creating sample-based instrumentals, as he didn't feel confident enough to perform vocals on his own material. He quickly broke into the local underground music scene as a DJ and would become a member of Vancouver electronic music collective, Chapel Sound. [6] On November 20, 2013, Shaw released his debut single, "Unfaith" via SoundCloud. [7] [8]

In 2014, Shaw attended the Red Bull Music Academy in Tokyo, Japan as the only Canadian participant of that year, to workshop and collaborate with musical peers and contemporaries from around the world. A collaboration during the program between Shaw, American Grammy Award-winning producer/songwriter Om'Mas Keith and RBMA alumni, Austrian producer Dorian Concept called "On Me" would be released Jan 13, 2015 via RBMA and highlighted as a single for their "Various Assets – Not For Sale 2014" compilation. [9] [10] [11]

The following month, Shaw quickly rose to prominence after Canadian rapper and singer, Drake sampled "Unfaith" for his surprise mixtape, If You're Reading This It's Too Late released February 13, 2015 via OVO and Young Money Entertainment on the songs, "Preach" and "Wednesday Night Interlude" both featuring Canadian R&B singer, PARTYNEXTDOOR respectively. Soon after, "Unfaith" was officially re-released to streaming platforms on March 31. 2015. [12]

Following the mixtape's release, Shaw's profile was significantly raised internationally as a producer and DJ. In 2016, Shaw would officially leave Said the Whale to focus on touring his own music and producing full-time [13] and relocated to Los Angeles soon after, to sign a recording contract with American producer, Skrillex's label, OWSLA in 2017. Shaw would go on to release several singles through the label including, "Babylon" featuring Florida-based rapper, Denzel Curry on Aug 18, 2017 alongside the announcement of his signing. [14] [15] Shaw's debut EP, Crystal Eyes was released on Oct 21, 2018 via OWSLA. [16] preceded by lead single, "Leaving" featuring Malaysian singer, Yuna released Aug 24, 2018. [17]

On Jan 24, 2020, Shaw released his debut studio album, A World Away via Big Beat Records, featuring guest appearances by Au/Ra, Elohim, Kiiara, ILLENIUM, Wafia and Reo Cragun. [18]

On June 23, 2023, Shaw released his second EP, Alinea via his independent record label, Awakening Records. [19]

Discography

Studio albums

Extended plays

Playlists

Singles

TitleYearAlbum
"Unfaith"2013Non-album singles
"I Won't Lie"
with Falcons (feat. Vanessa Elisha)		2016
"Akira"
with KRANE [20] 		2017
"Babylon"
(featuring Denzel Curry) [21]
"Past Life"
(featuring Opia) [22]
"Blame"
(with ZHU)		2018
"Blood Moon"
(with TYNAN and Hekler) [23]
"Helios"
(with SLUMBERJACK)		Crystal Eyes EP
"Leaving"
(featuring Yuna)
"Forgot How To Dream"
(featuring K.Flay)		2019
"R U I N"
(with 1788-L)		Non-album singles
"Jundo"
(with YOOKiE)
"Runaway"
(with Reo Cragun)		A World Away
"Be Fine"
(featuring Wafia)
"Back to You"
(featuring Kiiara)
"Hard To Say Goodbye"
(with ILLENIUM featuring Chloe Angelides)		2020
"Drown"
(featuring Au/Ra)
"Remember Me
(with RemK)" [24] 		2022Non-album singles
"Purity"2023Alinea EP
"Kindred"
"Fool"
(featuring Bloom)

Remixes

TitleYearArtist(s)
"Bloom"
(Ekali Remix)		2014Dpat
"Days In The West" (Drake cover)
(Ekali Remix)		 Tinashe
"Sorry"
(Ekali Remix)		 Ciara
"Orphan's Son"
(Ekali Remix)		Eli Muro
"Stupid"
(Maximus MMC & Ekali Remix)		 Gucci Mane
"Good"
(Ekali & Gravez Remix)		 Sonny Digital
"Needy"
(Ekali Remix)		Pat Lok
"Know Yourself"
(Ekali Remix)		Drake
"Prestige"
(Ekali Remix)		2015 Tre Capital & Sean Leon
"Gemini (featuring George Maple)
(Ekali Remix)		 What So Not
"Threatz"
(Ekali & Gravez Remix)		Denzel Curry
"Long Time No See" (featuring Atu)
(Ekali Remix)		 Ta-ku
"Can I"
(Ekali Remix)		 Alina Baraz & Galimatias
"Weight In Gold"
(Ekali Remix)		 Gallant
"Smoke & Retribution" (featuring Vince Staples & Kučka)
(Ekali Remix)		2016 Flume
"I Can't Stop"
(Ekali Tribute)		 Flux Pavilion
"Mind" (featuring Kai)
(Ekali & Gravez Remix)		 Jack Ü
"Meet In The Middle"
(Ekali Remix)		2017Ta-ku & Wafia
"Language"
(Ekali & QUIX Tribute)		 Porter Robinson
"Don't Leave"
(Ekali Remix)		 Snakehips & MØ
"Floating" (featuring Khalid)
(Ekali Remix)		2017Alina Baraz
"When I Look At You"
(Ekali Tribute)		2022 Emalkay

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References

  1. ↑ "Ekali profile at MusicBrainz". MusicBrainz. Retrieved 16 October 2022.
  2. ↑ Raphael (27 March 2024). "Ekali – Above Us (Interlude)". HipHopMood. Retrieved 27 March 2024.
  3. ↑ "Dance Music Star Ekali Announces New Label". TFword. 17 January 2023. Retrieved 27 March 2024.
  4. ↑ "NGHTMRE Remixes Zhu & Ekali's 'Blame' With Emboldened Beats: Listen". Billboard. Retrieved 11 March 2021.
  5. ↑ "Coachella 2018: Ekali Announced As Second Surprise Performer Of Day 1 At Do Lab Stage". Billboard. Retrieved 11 March 2021.
  6. ↑ Michaels, Genevieve (12 September 2014). "Chapel Sound Introduces Vancouver's Own Boiler Room Style Webcast". Vice. Retrieved 27 March 2024.
  7. ↑ "Ekali – Artists". www.insomniac.com. Retrieved 27 March 2024.
  8. ↑ "When did Ekali release "Unfaith"?". Genius. Retrieved 27 March 2024.
  9. ↑ "Introducing the Participants of Red Bull Music Academy Tokyo 2014". daily.redbullmusicacademy.com. Retrieved 27 March 2024.
  10. ↑ "Premiere: Ekali, Dorian Concept & Om'Mas Keith - "On Me"". Complex. Retrieved 27 March 2024.
  11. ↑ "EKALI". www.bowerypresents.com. Retrieved 27 March 2024.
  12. ↑ "Drake Knows Who Ekali Is And It's Time You Did Too". Cool Accidents Music Blog. Retrieved 11 March 2021.
  13. ↑ "Said the Whale Bassist Leaves Band to Focus on Drake-sampled Ekali Project | Exclaim!". Said the Whale Bassist Leaves Band to Focus on Drake-sampled Ekali Project | Exclaim!. Retrieved 27 March 2024.
  14. ↑ "Ekali & Denzel Curry Drop Wild New Collaboration "Babylon"". This Song Is Sick. 18 August 2017. Retrieved 27 March 2024.
  15. ↑ Harrison (2 August 2017). "Ekali Joins OWSLA, Announces Single and EP". EDMTunes. Retrieved 27 March 2024.
  16. ↑ Contant, Steph (2 October 2018). "Ekali Impresses With His Versatility On 'Crystal Eyes' EP". FUXWITHIT. Retrieved 27 March 2024.
  17. ↑ Powell, Karlie (26 August 2018). "Ekali Drops Stunning Single "Leaving" from Forthcoming EP". Your EDM. Retrieved 27 March 2024.
  18. ↑ Meadow, Matthew (24 January 2020). "Ekali's Debut Album Is Finally Here [MUST LISTEN]". Your EDM. Retrieved 27 March 2024.
  19. ↑ Ease (26 June 2023). "DOWNLOAD Ekali - "Alinea" [EP] » SAHipHopZA". SAHipHopZA. Retrieved 27 March 2024.
  20. ↑ "Ekali & KRANE - Akira [Free Download]". Your EDM. 10 January 2017. Retrieved 11 March 2021.
  21. ↑ "Skrillex Drops Hard-Hitting Trap Remix of Ekali's 'Babylon'". Billboard. Retrieved 11 March 2021.
  22. ↑ Karakolis, Konstantinos. "Ekali's Productions Shines on "Past Life" feat. Opia". EDM.com - The Latest Electronic Dance Music News, Reviews & Artists. Retrieved 11 March 2021.
  23. ↑ "Ekali teams up with Hekler and Tynan for single 'Blood Moon'". Dancing Astronaut. 2 July 2018. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  24. ↑ Salafia, Zach (11 March 2022). "RemK, Ekali release highly anticipated trap collaboration, 'Remember Me'". Dancing Astronaut. Archived from the original on 14 March 2022. Retrieved 26 April 2022.
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