Black Summer Double Edge Interview

Black Summer Announces New Single & Video Double Edge Ft. Aston

Electronic music wunderkind Black Summer has announced his new, heartwrenching single Double Edge, featuring Australian vocalist Aston, out now. The young artist, otherwise known as Rhys Toms, has also dropped a breathtaking video clip to accompany Double Edge, directed by Tim Maxx, and starring Aston herself alongside actor David John Craig. It's been a wild ride for Rhys, since he was Unearthed by triple j at the age of 11 as one of the country's most exciting young producers and Double Edge is yet another example of Black Summer's prowess as a producer, and leaves the listener wondering if this is what he's capable of at just 16 years old, there's no telling what will come next.

Double Edge is affecting, melancholy; the kind of song listeners will put on for comfort in the midst of a breakup or breakdown. Gentle piano plays calmly throughout the swooping, sparkling dance of synthesisers and percussion. Aston's heavenly vocal guides the listener as the song reaches its peak, resulting in a deeply poignant journey from start to end. Written alongside Aston and songwriter Starley, Rhys explains how the collaboration came about, "When I was in LA, I was lucky enough to have a writing session with Starley and Aston. Double Edge came from a session where myself and Starley really connected. We had so much fun, I've been a fan of hers ever since I heard Call On Me - it was a huge international hit with over a billion streams, so I was just fortunate to write with her." Double Edge is a deep, introspective track, Rhys enlightens, "The song itself is quite personal, but I feel like we've all been there – a situation where we may have been attracted to the wrong person or someone who wasn't good for us. From my interpretation, it's a song about a toxic relationship and how it can be damaging but you keep getting drawn in at the same time. Creatively, this song was so much fun to work on. Starley is an incredible writer, and Aston is an amazing vocalist and songwriter. I was lucky enough to be able to really enjoy the process."

The clip for Double Edge is epic, sharp and moving, as Aston sings to her wounded partner, a crow glides through the sky, a white wolf gallops through a forest, and the grey, snowy landscape threatens to overwhelm everything in its wake. The colour palette of deep, thunderous grey, white and deep blue reflects the mood of the song perfectly, and awe-inspiring drone shots of the snowy mountain landscape are sure to impress. Speaking on the meaning behind the clip, Rhys says, "I feel like the clip is quite symbolic, and can be taken a few different ways. I see it as being about a toxic relationship that has hurt the people in it. The crow and the wolf, to me, symbolise the struggle of chasing someone who is only going to damage you and make everything worse. Tim Maxx, who has been the creative brain behind my past video clips as well as this one, has done an amazing job communicating a message through this video that can be interpreted in many ways, which was exactly what I wanted this project to feel like."

Double Edge is just the first taste of the new Black Summer tunes that are yet to come, as Rhys spends all his spare time – between the pesky teenage commitment of school – writing and producing, both from his hometown in Canberra and Los Angeles.

Interview with Black Summer

Question: Can you tell us about Double Edge?

Black Summer: Double Edge is my newest single featuring Aston who I've worked with previously. The song came about from a writing session with Aston and Starley, (who has had amazing success with her song "Call On Me" which gained over a billion combined streams and literally broke Spotify) in LA. This was such an awesome studio experience. We all just clicked and it really flowed.


Question: How did having Aston feature on the track come about?

Black Summer: I first met Aston back in 2017 at Universal Studios in Sydney. We got along really well and had a lot of fun making some rough ideas but it was nothing we wanted to keep. Then earlier this year, Tek happened to meet Aston at an industry event and mentioned that I would be back in LA soon after that. So it was really just a cool stroke of luck that it all lined up, I'm really glad it did!


Question: What motivated the song, Double Edge?

Black Summer: The song is about a toxic relationship between 2 people and how it's like a double edged sword. It is quite haunting and powerful. We've all had an experience where we may have been in a relationship or had feelings for someone who isn't good for us. I really wanted to capture that feeling so I produced it with that contrast, the ballad piano and soft vocals against the aggressive drop. I really tried to match the heavy vocals with a heavy drop adding to the whole story and flow of the song. Much like a heavy heart.

Question: Can you tell us about the idea behind the video for Double Edge?

Black Summer: Tim Maxx did an amazing job at capturing the feeling between the couple (Aston and David John Craig) whilst using the wolf and the crow to symbolise them. It shows the angst between the couple. Aston singing the vocals with lots of emotion. Setting it in a bare room really shows the emotion between the couple. The colour pallet was perfect creating a haunting visual to go with the track.


Question: What motivates you most when writing music?

Black Summer: A lot of things can motivate me. For example, scenery can give me motivation to create a certain type of music based on the vibe of what I'm looking at. I'd have to say though, one of the biggest factors would definitely have to be emotion because emotion is something that really drives a song and takes it to the next level.


Question: Which music/artists are you currently listening to?

Black Summer: I really love to try listening to as many different types of music as I can but at the moment I'm mainly listening to HipHop, EDM and a lot of Jazz. My favourite artists to listen to would have to be Denzel Curry, XXXTENTACION, Skrillex and Japanese jazz artists like Say Yoshiko and Sergie Mantis who are not really known at all but make some really incredible music.


Question: What or who was your inspiration to go into the music industry?

Black Summer: I think just my love for music and creativity alone was my biggest driving force but I think seeing Australian artists like Flume and Hermitude making whatever they wanted. When I was 11 and Triple J Unearthed interviewed me, Flume sent me a video message, telling me to keep at the music, and then messaged me asking how my performance went at Grooin the Moo. That was so inspiring for me and gave me so much drive. I also received a message from DJ Snake saying that he had respect for me and what I was doing. To be acknowledged by people I admire like that really inspired me to keep going and do what I'm doing now.


Question: If you could collaborate with another artist, who would it be?
Black Summer: Probably Flume, Skrillex or Denzel Curry because I feel like working with them would be not only a cool experience but I reckon we'd make some mad stuff too!


Question: What's a typical day like?

Black Summer: When I'm not at school it usually starts with me having a coffee, going to the studio and working for like five or six hours and then going for a walk or doing a workout to stay active. Sometimes I have a music deadline and other times it's an assignment. I also like to chill out at the end of the day by watching some shows. I love Brooklyn Nine Nine and Supernatural.


Question: What has been your favourite part of becoming a music artist?

Black Summer: I feel like having the freedom to express yourself and have fun doing what could be considered as a job is one of my favourite things about working in music. I LOVE what I do, I also love traveling!


Question: Can you share your socials?

Black Summer: @edmblacksummer
www.facebook.com/edmblacksummer/
@EDMBlackSummer 


Interview by Brooke Hunter