Various Productions - Hater

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Whether you hear them perfoming remix duties on the new Ian Brown single 'Sister Rose' or witnessed them play live at Sonar, Triptych, Roskilde Festival and any of the miriad of London's top dub-step club nights, once experienced, VARIOUS' sound is difficult to miss. Rising up, seemingly out of nowhere, with their critically lauded 7" Hater/Biker Walk, the production company left journalists, fans and critics baffled as to the origins, intentions and meanings of their unique style. They could be billed as a kind of eclectic fusion of electronic beats, soulful, melodic lyrics, and folkish introspections. But even this broad NME-friendly description doesn't really capture their essence. Those who have heard them know that each release will bring something different. VARIOUS' subsequent 7"s Sir/In This and Bruk/Home attracted much critical acclaim, stirring up a storm in independent reviews and fan blogs, but passing quietly under the mainstream radar. In a modern age obsessed by categorization, VARIOUS are unwilling to play ball. VARIOUS don't want to be a nice box of clear definitions delivered to your 'myspace' doorstep. They want you to discover their music without preconceptions,

'We make music so we don't have to articulate what it means to us. We want you to take from it what you want.'

This attitude has been handled awkwardly by some interviewers, frustrated at the difficulty of finding an angle on the smooth surface of the band's exterior. However, VARIOUS are not hostile. They are actually very friendly. They understand people's need to know more about them, and they apologise for their failure to provide those interested with their inside leg measurements. VARIOUS' intention is to create an aural experience that is inclusive, rather than exclusive, a band that can be approached from any angle the listener wants. And, it is this freedom that their growing legion of devoted fans have come to embrace.

This freedom of interpretation stems from a freedom of expression. Orbiting around the central partnership of members Ian and Adam one finds an eclectic mix of musical satellites. From Cat Power to Missy Elliot, no genre or movement is out of bounds for a VARIOUS production.