Alphabethead returns with ‘Kirby’s World’
Alphabethead is the musical project of David Morrison (he/him), a producer and turntablist based in Whanganui.
At any point in time Alphabethead finds himself adrift in the musical cosmos, somewhere between the constellations of Hip Hop, Electronica and Experimental Rock. At the age of 18 Morrison won the 2002 New Zealand DMC DJ Championship and this title sent him performing across the globe. In the next twenty years he would go on to make six albums as Alphabethead, five albums as one third of cult genre-shredders The All Seeing Hand and two records as half of the psychedelic Hip Hop duo Bad Taste alongside Young Gho$t. Morrison also contributed production or turntable scratching for Home Brew, Tourettes, Benny Tones, Death & The Maiden, The Etymologists (featuring Richard Nunns and David Long (The Mutton Birds) and The Village Of The Idiots (a modern jazz ensemble led by Anthony Donaldson (The Front Lawn, Six Volts, Primitive Art Group)). His musical prowess has led to tours through Aotearoa, Australia, UK and China and performances at festivals like WOMAD, Splore, Laneway and Camp A Low Hum.
Following his breakout single I’m Lucy Lawless Alphabethead returns with Kirby’s World. The track is another example of Alphabethead’s fresh process for creation starting with sound design and synthesis before finishing with turntablism and vinyl sampling.
STREAM – ALPHABETHEAD – KIRBY’S WORLD
Inspired by Alphabethead’s deep love for a good “Woo,” Kirby’s World fuses trap production and Kalimba (a recreation using FM synthesis) for a song designed to put pep in your step and diminish the pull of gravity, even if just for a few minutes.
“As my album was taking shape I realised it was trending towards the dark and misanthropic,” notes David Morrison. “I was yearning for something with a bit of bounce and levity to offset the doom and gloom. So I created Kirby’s World.”
“From as far back as I can remember I’ve been flying in my dreams. Not gracefully soaring like the Kāhu or Kererū but sucking in a deep breath and doggy paddling the air until I levitate. It can take some time to get off the ground which is just dreadful if I’m being chased… I wonder what seeded this mode of dream flight? I think it was Kirby, an early video game fave, whose ability was to take a mighty gulp of air, flap arms and ascend! In the Kirby’s Adventure games you could simply fly above the perils awaiting you on the ground, choosing a pacifist option to enjoy the scenery and not engage foes.”
“I didn’t have a console as a child so all my Kirby experiences come from visits to friends’ houses. I think this makes the memories doubly potent cause it was fun on fun on fun! I played a fair bit of Kirby’s Adventures 1 & 2 but feel I did my best work cheering encouragement and barking tactics from the sideline.”
With the track out Morrison reflects “I’m super excited for people to have this lil tune in their pocket! It’s a track that has been appearing in my live performances all year but always scratched or woven into the preceding or following track. Now it can be heard in it’s true form and for people who have recently come to a show I hope it will evoke some pleasant past party memories.”
Photo Credit: Abby Stewart
