Their debut release is the result of many years of soul searching for songwriter/drummer/singer Hugh Rabinovici and his right-hand-lady, vocalist Audrey Powne (Au Dre). The two met some years ago in the drab corridors of jazz school and bonded over a shared love of Erykah Badu and a desire to spread their creative wings. The combination of Hugh’s writing and Audrey’s vocals immediately gelled and before graduating they’d assembled a gifted cohort of musicians that went on to become Leisure Centre. One Plus One is equal parts performance and programming, drawing from a broad palette of live instruments and electronic sounds. At the front, Hugh and Audrey alternate lead vocal duties, supported by harmony singers Maddie Otto and Tiaryn Griggs. Backing them, the guitar sound is classic soul but the plethora of synthesizers and 808 kick drums is definitely not, nodding equally to Vangelis or Hiatus Kaiyote. The more you listen, the more intricacy is discovered. The writing uses jazz elements and odd rhythmic devices, but it’s all tucked away - there’s nothing that intrudes into the foreground or interferes with the song’s abilities to speak to an audience. Hugh’s writing is a reflection of a unique musical development. A child of piano, cello, self-taught guitarist and now drummer, his influences and abilities stem from an early life in music that moved to jazz school and a trip to South India to study Carnatic music. One Plus One is only the beginning for Hugh and the members of The Do Yo Thangs. With a new partnership at local label HopeStreet Recordings, anything is possible for the swooning soul collective.
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