Russian-born, New York-based electronic artist known by the internet as YAA! KOALA (and by his girlfriends as Kale Daddy) is releasing his debut project, CHOIR BOY, on May 29, 2020. Koala began the project shortly before Cardi B’s coronavirus post brought the world to its knees. As country after country went offline, Koala was wrapping up his trip to Cape Town, South Africa.
With borders closed and flights cancelled, he had no choice but to finish CHOIR BOY from his airbnb in a sleepy beachside town of Camps Bay, with a laptop and a pair of headphones for equipment.
Luckily, all the vocals had already been tracked and instruments recorded. Better yet, the airbnb came with three cats, who provided endless inspiration and purring.
CHOIR BOY is early Marshmello for house purists, San Holo for the club, and Habstrakt for the house party. It is joyful, optimistic, and endlessly danceable. Bass house drops and hip-hop vocals have enough urgency to inspire the 4:20 generation to hit the dancefloor. Meanwhile, the velvety verses and pad-drenched breakdowns serve up feel-good escapism for these trying times. Think bear hug from a friendly koala (marsupial, not a bear by the way). For those wondering about the meaning of YAA! KOALA, the artist behind the project is available for interviews in English, Russian, and Mongolian.
CHOIR BOY was released on May 29, 2020 on all streaming platforms. The name is an homage to Koala’s a cappella group best known for its Nirvana and Carly Rae Jepsen covers.