Autograf

Combining two art students and a derivatives trader into an all-encompassing art project was surely a novel concept. Autograf — formed by Jake Carpenter, Louis Kha, and Mikul Wing — craft a shimmery mix of futuristic electronica with a D.I.Y. ethos that melds the skills from their former day jobs. The trio put their talents together at a gallery exhibition, where Carpenter, a sculptor and painter who worked as a welder in a fabrication factory, and Wing, a street artist, created an installation that included a homemade robot. As the electronic music scene reached a certain peak in 2015, the group wanted to bring some sexy back to the genre. After remixing songs by a string of prominent artists like Lorde and Pharrell, they released their first original song, “Dream,” a languidly sensual track that recalled the most positive Avicii output. A month later, they dropped the electronic disco “Running,” another glittery jam, which featured original artwork to accompany the release. The third track in as many months, “Metaphysical” again featured Autograf-designed cover art, as well as vocals from sultry alt-R&B singer Janelle Kroll. Autograf’s future philosophy and artistic talents led them to create their own instruments and stage installations, which they hoped would revolutionize the electronic music scene. In early 2016, the trio released their debut EP, Future Soup. A handful of remixes occupied their time later that year before Autograf returned in early 2017 with a pair of singles. First to arrive was the WYNNE-assisted “Nobody Knows,” followed shortly by “You Might Be,” which featured vocals by Lils. ~ Neil Z. Yeung