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Skrillex, Four Tet, and Fred Again.. unite on “Baby Again..”

Skrillex, Four Tet, and Fred Again.. unite on “Baby Again..”
The new single arrives following their recent Madison Square Garden performance.

By David Renshaw

March 17, 2023

Photo via publicist

It seems like Skrillex, Four Tet, and Fred Again.. run as a trio these days and yet, despite performing at Madison Square Garden in New York last month, the three producers have never officially released a song under all three of their names. That changes today with the arrival of “Baby Again..” Scroll down to stream the track now.

“Baby Again..” arrives following a busy period for Skrillex, who released two albums (Quest For Fire and Don’t Get Too Close) in February. Fred Again.., meanwhile, released his latest album Actual Life 3 (January 1 – September 9 2022) late last year while Four Tet’s most recent full-length release, Parallel, arrived in 2020.

Four Tet shares new Ellie Golding remix and new song under his broken text alias

Four Tet shares new Ellie Golding remix and new song under his broken text alias
A new version of Goulding’s “Easy Lover” plus a track called “(̸̢̛̼̞̭͋ͅ)̸͚̰͛̔̾̀̿͒͂v̴̢͚͚͎ȯ̶̞̮͖̑̈́)̸̳̥̰̜̥̺̐ͅ)̴͎̜͍̱̋̌͋̓̾̚ ̷̨ʅ͡͡͡͡͡͡͡͡͡͡͡(۝ʅ͡͡͡͡͡͡͡͡͡͡͡(Ɵʅ͡͡͡͡͡͡͡͡͡͡͡(̸̢̛̼̞̭͋ͅ)̸͚̰͛̔̾̀̿͒͂:̴͓̞̑̌̂̆̊͋̀:̸͎̟̯̂̓̌:̶̢͙͙͕̠̩͆(̷̮͍͚̫͚͂̍)̵̳̗̊(Ɵʅ͡͡͡͡͡͡͡͡͡͡͡(̸̢̛̼̞̭͋ͅ)̸͚̰͛̔̾̀̿͒͂v̴̢͚͚͎ȯ̶̞̮͖̑̈́)̸̳̥̰̜̥̺̐ͅ)̴͎̜͍̱̋̌͋̓̾̚ ̷̨ʅ͡͡͡͡͡͡͡͡͡͡͡.”

By Jordan Darville

August 19, 2022

Kieran Hebden’s choices of how and when to release his music are always fascinating to watch. This year he’s released two singles under his most popular alias Four Tet (“Scythe Master” and “Watersynth“) while revitalizing his KH moniker in May for the Songs You Need-playlisted “Looking At My Pager.” On Thursday, Hebden released a new song as ⣎⡇ꉺლ༽இ•̛)ྀ◞ ༎ຶ ༽ৣৢ؞ৢ؞ؖ ꉺლ. The title is written in broken text that overlaps other words and sentences, so I’m going to give it its own line. The song is called:

“(̸̢̛̼̞̭͋ͅ)̸͚̰͛̔̾̀̿͒͂v̴̢͚͚͎ȯ̶̞̮͖̑̈́)̸̳̥̰̜̥̺̐ͅ)̴͎̜͍̱̋̌͋̓̾̚ ̷̨ʅ͡͡͡͡͡͡͡͡͡͡͡(۝ʅ͡͡͡͡͡͡͡͡͡͡͡(Ɵʅ͡͡͡͡͡͡͡͡͡͡͡(̸̢̛̼̞̭͋ͅ)̸͚̰͛̔̾̀̿͒͂:̴͓̞̑̌̂̆̊͋̀:̸͎̟̯̂̓̌:̶̢͙͙͕̠̩͆(̷̮͍͚̫͚͂̍)̵̳̗̊(Ɵʅ͡͡͡͡͡͡͡͡͡͡͡(̸̢̛̼̞̭͋ͅ)̸͚̰͛̔̾̀̿͒͂v̴̢͚͚͎ȯ̶̞̮͖̑̈́)̸̳̥̰̜̥̺̐ͅ)̴͎̜͍̱̋̌͋̓̾̚ ̷̨ʅ͡͡͡͡͡͡͡͡͡͡͡.”

I pray copying and pasting that doesn’t break our website.

But that’s not all! Today, U.K. pop star Ellie Golding shared a Four Tet remix of her new song “Easy Lover.” Peak Robyn-vibes kick the song off with strobing synths and heart-starting four-on-the-floor beat, but Hebden keeps things in white label territory with his stunning lattice-like treatment of Goulding’s vocals. She expressed her enthusiasm for the track in a tweet this week: I’ve been a fan of @FourTet forever and I’m so happy he’s remixed Easy lover for your listening pleasure, coming this Friday. Particularly obsessed with this one x.”

Listen to both songs below.

Hagop Tchaparian to release debut album on Four Tet’s Text Records

Hagop Tchaparian to release debut album on Four Tet’s Text Records
Bolts is out in October.

By David Renshaw

August 09, 2022

Hagop Tchaparian by Kieran Hebden

British-Armenian producer Hagop Tchaparian has announced details of his debut album, set for release on Kieran Hebden’s (Four Tet) Text Records later this year. Bolts is scheduled for October 21 and today’s announcement is accompanied by new song “Round,” which can be heard below. Last month Hagop shared “GL” and “Raining,” both of which also appear on Bolts.

During the ’90s a teenage Hagop, who prefers to go by his first name, played guitar in grunge band Symposium, opening for Red Hot Chili Peppers and Metallica as well as playing Warped Tour before splitting. He then embraced the club culture in his native London, working as a tour manager for both Hot Chip and Four Tet.

The artwork for Bolts was curated by music and skate photographer Atiba Jefferson. In a statement Hagop said it is “a crazy dream to be able to work with someone who provided so much of the inspiration throughout my life.”

Bolts artwork

Four Tet shares new song “Scythe Master”

Four Tet shares new song “Scythe Master”
Kieran Hebden is back with another banger.

By David Renshaw

July 14, 2022

Jim Dyson/Getty

After debuting the track in his recent BBC Radio 1 Essential Mix, Four Tet has officially released new song “Scythe Master.” The track follows “Looking At Your Pager,” released under Kieran Hebden’s KH moniker in May. Check out “Scythe Master” below.

Last month Hebden revealed that he had been triumphant in a legal dispute with former label Domino over streaming royalties. Hebden will receive roughly $70,000, plus his legal costs, after Domino agreed to backpay a 50 percent rate on streaming royalties generated by albums he released on the indie label. During the dispute, Domino removed some of Four Tet’s music from streaming platforms. The records have since returned to their rightful place.

Song You Need: “Looking At Your Pager” is Four Tet at his most festival-ready

Song You Need: “Looking At Your Pager” is Four Tet at his most festival-ready
The 3LW-sampling track, released under Kieran Hebden’s KH moniker, is an early contender for song of the summer.

By Shaad D'Souza

May 23, 2022

Animation by Trevor Jackson.

Every acclaimed producer of intricate, thought-provoking dance music has a pop side. When Floating Points isn’t devoting his time to getting legendary jazz musicians out of retirement, he’s turning tracks by Thundercat and Headie One into monstrous, humid house bangers; Kelly Lee Owens counters her climate crisis-inspired club music with witty collaborations and inspired covers of tracks like Aaliyah’s “More Than A Woman.” And when Kieran Hebden doesn’t want to be Four Tet, he unlocks KH — a cheeky, sample-flipping alias that he used in 2019 to release “Only Human,” an almighty banger that turned Nelly Furtado’s “Afraid” into a shimmering, festival-conquering dance track.

Now, KH has returned with “Looking at Your Pager” — a song that, like “Only Human”, feels as ready for Coachella’s Sahara Tent as it does the NTS airwaves. Featuring a sample of 3LW’s “Baby I’ma Do Right”, “Looking At Your Pager” is one of the tracks Hebden says he’s fielded the most questions about since he started playing it in DJ sets. You can understand why: Fast, dirty, and deeply weird, it’s a perfect mix of both sides of his electronic sensibilities.

Watch Trevor Jackson’s animated visuals for “Looking at Your Pager” below.

Four Tet flips a 3LW sample on new KH tune “Looking At Your Pager”

Four Tet flips a 3LW sample on new KH tune “Looking At Your Pager”
“More people have asked me about this track than for anything else I’ve ever made,” Kieran Hebden.

By David Renshaw

May 20, 2022

Trevor Jackson

Four Tet has revived his KH alter-ego for the official release of “Looking at Your Pager.” The song features a sample of 3LW’s 2000 single “Baby I’ma Do Right” and has been a staple of Four Tet DJ sets in the past year. Sample clearance takes time, however, with Kieran Hebden confirming he has received permission to officially release the song just five weeks ago.

In a statement, Hebden said: “This track was made in the summer last year just before my first festival set in a long time. I wanted something new to play that would feel universal, positive and futuristic and this is what I came up with. Since then I think more people have asked me about this track than for anything else I’ve ever made and I’ve had amazing times playing it to the best crowds you could ask for. It took quite a while to get approval for the vocal sample but it finally happened recently and now the music is out in the world for everyone.”

Hebden previously used his KH moniker to release “Only Human” in 2019. That track was also built around a prominent sample, Nelly Furtados “Afraid.”

Four Tet denounces Domino Records as albums are removed from streaming

Four Tet denounces Domino Records as albums are removed from streaming
Much of Hebden’s Domino Records catalog is no longer streamable, and the artist is pointing to his royalty lawsuit as the reason.

By Jordan Darville

November 23, 2021

Kieran Hebden a.k.a. Four Tet. Photo by Jason Evans via Domino Records.

Kieran Hebden, the electronic music artist known as Four Tet, posted a series of tweets on Sunday speaking out against the removal of three Four Tet albums from streaming platforms. Pause, Rounds, and Everything Ecstatic are no longer available to stream, and Hebden blamed Domino Records, the label that released the projects, for their removal.

Hebden is currently suing Domino Records over streaming royalties for the three albums. In his tweets, Hbeden claimed Domino removed the albums “to stop the case progressing.”

I’m so upset to see that @Dominorecordco have removed the 3 albums of mine they own from digital and streaming services. This is heartbreaking to me. People are reaching out asking why they can’t stream the music and I’m sad to have to say that it’s out of my control.

— Four Tet (@FourTet) November 21, 2021

I have an ongoing legal dispute with Domino over the rate they pay me for streaming that is due to be heard in court on the 18th of January. It was in the press a little while back: https://t.co/yxQwHolgw2

— Four Tet (@FourTet) November 21, 2021

Earlier this week Domino’s legal representative said they would remove my music from all digital services in order to stop the case progressing. I did not agree to them taking this action and I’m truly shocked that it has come to this.

— Four Tet (@FourTet) November 21, 2021

Hebden signed to Domino in 2001, long before music streaming platforms existed. His lawsuit claims that he is owed a streaming royalty rate of 50%, while Domino believes his contract entitles him to 18%. Hebden is asking for £70,000 as well as a judgement on the correct royalty percentage.

I signed with Domino over 20 years ago, in a different time before streaming and downloads were something we thought about.

— Four Tet (@FourTet) November 21, 2021

I considered the people who ran Domino to be my friends and to be driven by trying to create a great musical community. As a result Domino own 3 of my albums forever. Music I created that’s important to me and to many of you too.

— Four Tet (@FourTet) November 21, 2021

I believe there is an issue within the music industry on how the money is being shared out in the streaming era and I think its time for artists to be able to ask for a fairer deal.

— Four Tet (@FourTet) November 21, 2021

It’s time to try and make changes where we can. I’m not driven by the money, but I have to make a stand when I am experiencing something that’s simply unfair.

— Four Tet (@FourTet) November 21, 2021

Shout out to everyone out there enjoying my music and supporting the stuff I do!! I hope we can get this music back soon…

— Four Tet (@FourTet) November 21, 2021

An additional perspective into the case was provided by Dan Snaith, who records as Caribou and has released music with Domino in the past. As Pitchfork points out, Snaith placed the blame solely at Domino’s feet, saying that the label was engaged in “a desperate and vindictive act” against Hebden.

“[Hebden’s] decisions throughout this have been consistently motivated by settling a fair precedent for other artists in similar situations rather than by his own self-interest,” Snaith wrote, adding “It’s often assumed that independent labels have the same interests at heart and are benevolent actors in the current music industry climate… it is clear from their actions, that the management at @dominorecordco are not.”

Please read this thread from Kieran @fourtet. Kieran is my musical mentor and I've never met anyone as committed to the betterment of musical culture and being an advocate for independent artists as he is. 1/ https://t.co/UJNJM1k2dR

— Caribou (@caribouband) November 22, 2021

His decisions throughout this have been consistently motivated by settling a fair precedent for other artists in similar situations rather than by his own self interest. 2/

— Caribou (@caribouband) November 22, 2021

It's often assumed that independent labels have the same interests at heart and are benevolent actors in the current music industry climate. Many are – 👋 @mergerecords, @cityslang – but it is clear from their actions, that the management at @dominorecordco are not. 3/

— Caribou (@caribouband) November 22, 2021

Knowing more about what is going on behind the scenes with this case only makes me more sure of this opinion 4/

— Caribou (@caribouband) November 22, 2021

Taking down Kieran's albums rather than allow a precedent to be set for musicians to receive fair share of streaming revenue can only be seen as a desperate and vindictive act. /end

— Caribou (@caribouband) November 22, 2021

In a statement to The FADER, Domino said the label is “just as saddened about this current situation,” and confirmed that they had removed the albums. “We were advised to do so as a necessary consequence of Kieran’s litigation at this time.” Read the statement in full below:

Domino are just as saddened about this current situation. The decision to temporarily remove the three Four Tet albums from digital services was not taken lightly. We were advised to do so as a necessary consequence of Kieran’s litigation at this time.

Kieran began his claim about contractual provisions in his original 2001 agreement with Domino, on the 16th of December 2020. Since then, we have offered both in correspondence and in open court to mediate, but have been rebuffed by Kieran and his legal team. We have continued to re-engage with them to find a solution to this dispute: one that is fair to both sides, but so far to no avail. Through all of this, we have been and continue to be open to discussion and mediation.

While we are equally as disheartened to have to take these steps, we remain hopeful that an amicable solution can be reached in the near future. Our door is, and will always be, open for further discussion with Kieran.

Four Tet launches legal challenge against Domino Records over streaming royalties

Four Tet launches legal challenge against Domino Records over streaming royalties
He’s asking for £70,000 in damages over streams from four Domino-released albums.

By Jordan Darville

August 09, 2021

Four Tet. Photo by Jason Evans for Domino.

Kieran Hebden, the electronic music musician known as Four Tet, is taking Domino Records to court over streaming royalties, according to a report in Music Week.

The case covers Hebden’s discography released as Four Tet on Domino between 2001 and 2005. The dispute hinges on an interpretation of a certain clause in Hebden’s contract; Hebden believes that his royalty rate for streaming platforms based outside of the U.K. is 50%, while Domino claims it is 18%. Hebden is asking the court for “£70,000 plus costs over the claim for historical streaming and download royalties” plus a judgment on the court on the royalty percentage.

Read the clause as it appears in the contract below:

In respect of the exploitation of the Masters and any videos embodying the Masters and received by us from our licensees outside the UK we shall credit your audio and audio-visual royalty accounts respectively with 50% of all royalties and fees arising from such exploitation.

Because the contract was signed before platforms like Apple Music and Spotify became commonplace, Domino argues that the contract’s clause should not apply to streaming. In a court filing, the label wrote: “Streaming was not, as at the date of the 2001 Agreement, a mainstream method for the lawful distribution of recorded music and was not as at that date within the contemplation of the parties.”

A judge at the Business and Property Courts of the High Court of Justice will hear the case after both parties were unable to come to an agreement. The FADER has reached out to Domino Records for more information.

J Balvin and Skrillex share new song “In Da Getto”

J Balvin and Skrillex share new song “In Da Getto”
Featuring a video with guest star Khaby Lame.

By David Renshaw

July 02, 2021

J Balvin and Skrillex have joined forces on new song “In Da Getto.” The track, produced by Skrillex alongside Tainy and featuring a sample of “In De Ghetto” by David Morales and The Bad Yard Club, is accompanied by a video in which both artists hit a number of parties across one wild night. The video also features cameo appearances from TikTok stars Khaby Lame and dancer Mustafa. Check it out above.

Skrillex recently began dropping solo music again, sharing Four Tet collaboration “Butterflies” and teaming up with Swae Lee on “Too Bizarre.” J Balvin, one of reggaeton’s most prolific artists, has continued to flood the market in 2021, sharing “Otra Noche Sin Ti,” “¿Qué Más Pues?,” and more.

Skrillex shares “Too Bizarre” featuring Swae Lee and Siiickbrain

Skrillex shares “Too Bizarre” featuring Swae Lee and Siiickbrain
It’s the electronic artist’s second single of the week.

By Jordan Darville

May 13, 2021

Skrillex is keeping the comeback rolling with “Too Bizarre,” his second single of the week after not releasing any new solo music for about two years. The latest track is experimental pop that, at first glance, seems to fit comfortably within the “rockstar rapper” trend of the moment — the song opens with a distorted bassline straight out of Death From Above 1979 tune, as well as vocals from Swae Lee, chart-topping solo rapper and one half of Rae Sremmurd. The song is a texture of different elements richer than any trend, though, with Siiickbrain’s throat-rending screams keeping the song on the edge of overdrive. Watch the punk rock show-recreating music video above, and listen to Skrillex’s previous single “Butterflies” featuring Starrah and Four Tet.

Skrillex shares new song “Butterflies” featuring Starrah and Four Tet

Skrillex shares new song “Butterflies” featuring Starrah and Four Tet
It’s the dubstep producer’s first new track since 2019.

By Jordan Darville

May 10, 2021

Skrillex. Photo by Coughs.

It’s been a relatively quiet three years for Skrillex. After helping bring dubstep to forefront of electronic music production, he conquered pop as one half of Jack Ü with Diplo (yes, “Where Are Ü Now” still holds up, as does “Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites.”) The drought ends today with “Butterflies,” Skrillex’s new track with features from Starrah and Four Tet. It’s a real collision of some of the three artists’ strengths: Skrillex’s ear for creating catchy melodies out of vocal chops, Starrah’s pitch-perfect pop vocals, and Four Tet’s house music mastery. Have a listen below.