SF-bred/LA-based underground rave producer a.k.a. skips is further breaking out of his shell.
Under his previous, hyper-electronic alias Ducky, the creative polymath spent a decade building an impressive resume that included collaborations with artists such as Jauz and MUST DIE!; performances at festivals such as Ultra Music Festival, EDC Las Vegas, Bonnaroo, and Lollapalooza; tours alongside heavy-hitters like Anna Lunoe, Mija, Kayzo, and NGHTMRE; and releases on vaunted labels such as Deadbeats, Astralwerks, Dim Mak, Activia Benz, Spinnin, NEST (OWSLA sister label), and more.
Now, after retiring the Ducky project in 2021 and taking a two-year hiatus to privately transition as a man, the producer/painter/photographer/tattoo artist has reemerged this year with a gauntlet of new artistic ventures. In May, the artist launched the a.k.a. skips moniker with two throwback 90s-warehouse bangers: “F.T.N.U.” and “My Only Mistake,” two incendiary, queer-oriented electronic cuts that introduced audiences to the new alias in grand fashion.
These tracks were quickly followed by the release of his deeply personal, debut photo book, i want to rest and be held by someone who loves me (press release), and his inclusion in renowned Los Angeles art gallery La Luz De Jesus for their annual group exhibition Everything But The Kitchen Sink, where he displayed his original painting Mouse Trap!.
Continuing the project’s 2023 ascent, a.k.a. skips is gearing up to release Jawfiller – his debut EP under the new alias. Having already established a vintage, brooding rave sound, Jawfiller promises to showcase a diverse collection of tracks that push a.k.a. skips into new sonic directions while retaining his core mission: to push the boundaries of dance music through an unapologetically queer lens.
Listeners got their first taste of Jawfiller with the EP’s lead single, “I.T.C.T.M.,” – a playful club banger that is as infectious as it is subversive.
Today, a.k.a. skips unveils “If The DJ Let Me,” a gritty, propulsive house track that’s filled to the brim with dusty breakbeats, ethereal synth pads, and nostalgic chord progressions – a combination that further expands a.k.a. skips’ sonic repertoire.
“If The DJ Let Me” kicks off with atmospheric production containing otherworldly sound design and pensive, futuristic synth melodies. The track then builds with a heart-pumping riser and central vocal refrain, with the producer repeating, “I get high when the beat gets heavy/I don’t mind if the dancefloor’s empty/I just vibe if the DJ lets me” – lyrics that perfectly accompany the carefree energy of the song.
“If The DJ Let Me” then drops into a section filled with infectious, groove-inducing breaks before giving way to deep, trunk-rattling kick drums, electro-inspired bass lines, scintillating house high-hats, and misty synth layers. To close out the track, a.k.a. skips brings back the vocals, creating a circular structural environment that rounds out the song with a cathartic finish and entices the listener to play it back again.
Diverting from the harder techno aesthetic of his previous tracks, “If The DJ Let Me” is a dreamy, euphoric single that helps close out the summer with its magical, transcendent presentation.
