Bio

New Zealand alternative electronic music act Substax are genre bending pioneers of electro soul and breakbeat. Based in Auckland/Tamaki Makaurau, they produce a unique fusion of soul, funk, breakbeat and deep house. Reviewers describe their sound as everything from "epic downbeat" to "achingly beautiful", "seductive" (Remix Magazine) and "speaker cone cracking breakbeat" (Waikato Times). They are renowned both for their downtempo epic downbeat as well as breakbeat influenced club tracks.

The act is the audio duo of producer, Nick Farrands and vocalist/producer Claudia Gunn. Farrands is the co-founder of a boutique club night in Auckland, Videotech, which features the work of VJ and co-founder Rachel Dreyer. Gunn, is an award winning children’s music producer in her own right and brings her singer-songwriter craft to Substax productions.

The act has been involved with numerous compilation releases, renowned music festival and club performances and had strong support from alternative radio and NZ dance music station, George FM, over the years.

As well as their own shows, Substax has played with acts such as Fat Freddy’s Drop, Pitch Black, Minuit, Rhian Sheehan and DJ Timmy Schumacher.

The Substax debut album Electro Soul Plane, now available on streaming services, was originally released (on CD) in 2005 through Sugarlicks Recordings Aotearoa and was critically acclaimed at an underground level.

Substax released two singles supported by visualizer style videos in September and October 2021: Space Drift; an atmospheric vocal breakbeat cut inspired by the cult classic film 'Bladerunner' and Red Balloon, a curvy and kinetic indie dance track also featuring vocals from Gunn. Both videos were produced by Claudia Gunn. The video for Red Balloon premiered on Newshub late on 22 October 2021 and the release featured an envisioned deep house remix by Auckland producer truthdk.

Substax are set to release their second album, Linear Shift, in 27 May 2022.

The album launch for Linear Shift begins with a retro visualiser video for downbeat atmospheric funk track Computer Seeks Computer,
The album will be released on all major streaming and download platforms via Substax distributor DRM NZ.

Band Members:
Nick Farrands (producer)
Claudia Gunn (producer, vocals)

Links

• Artist Website
• Facebook Page
• Instagram Page
• Bandcamp Page
• Spotify Page