2013 was the year synth-pop quintet The Other Tribe burst onto the music scene. Formed in 2009 in Bristol, The Other Tribe have been steadily increasing in exposure on the dance music circuit but still remain a comfortable distance under the “mainstream” radar.
2013 has been a huge year for them, playing to packed audiences at countless festivals such as Boardmasters, Strawberry Fields, Ibiza Rocks and the big one: Glastonbury. Their infectious melodies punctuated with tribal beats means they have almost created a music genre all of their own.
I first came across The Other Tribe in 2012 when I heard ‘Skirts’ and was promptly hooked on their upbeat, clubby sound. ‘Skirts’ instantly conjures up visions of a hedonistic beach party in some far-flung, exotic location. This imagery is mirrored in the accompanying video for ’Skirts’ which depicts a tribal-themed dance party which a lone girl stumbles across during an otherwise uneventful walk through the woods. The tribal theme is continued through into the band’s attire and styling: Aztec prints, bandanas and tribal face paints are integral features of The Other Tribe’s aesthetic and it’s this unique identity they’ve carved themselves which really sets them apart. ‘Skirts’ is the epitome of the perfect electro-pop dance track and has retained its place at the top of my “party/night out” playlist for over a year now, accompanied by ‘Businessman on Diazepam’. This is an altogether more aggressive-sounding track: harsh synths and heavy, pulsing drum beats juxtaposed against the gentle taps of the xylophone. When the beat drops you’re caught up in a psychedelic whirlwind which I can imagine is even more exhilarating when the song is experienced live. Add ‘I Don’t Need No Melody’, another upbeat, electro hit featuring what sounds like synthetically created trumpets, and ‘Sing With Your Feet’, an intensely tribal and drum-centred tune, into the mix and we have the beginning of what is arguably an extremely enviable and original repertoire of club-night floor-fillers.
2013 was the year some fresh new tracks burst onto the scene. The first of these, ‘Your Kisses’, has more laid back vibe whilst still retaining the synth-heavy disco beat. This is not your typical love song. There’s no mention of cheating, angst or plotted revenge, rather this is an overall more light-hearted take on what remains the most popular subject of songs. The video is comprised of a montage of stock footage from an era when love was less complicated than it is today and this compliments the song beautifully. Capturing the summer vibes of 2013 perfectly is ‘My Girl’ another track which has major club hit credentials. I was able to experience the making of the video for this song, starring as an extra in the underground gig scene. We had to dance continuously as the band performed for the cameras, which they did like pros, expressing boundless energy which shows through in the video. Their newest song, ‘Nobody Else’ is insanely catchy and demonstrates trance and house leanings, highlighting their indisputable aptitude at mixing tracks. Their Soundcloud page comprises of myriad remixes of their tracks combined with massive club hits, most notably Cool by Le Youth which was undoubtedly one of the biggest tracks of summer 2013.
The Other Tribe have hailed 2014 as “The Year of The Album!” and this is something both I, and their ever-growing fan base, are waiting for with baited breath. Until then, The Other Tribe’s Soundcloud page is a must-visit to re-awaken memories of those carefree summer days and to discover some new tracks to press repeat on…
[soundcloud params=”auto_play=true&show_comments=true&color=0ac4ff”]https://soundcloud.com/theothertribe/nobody-else-edit[/soundcloud]