Banoffee
Set to lead the charge as one of Australia's most exciting musical exports, bAnoffee is the impressive new solo project of Melbourne based singer and producer Martha Brown (Otouto, Dreamy and Delicious). Seemingly as minimal and raw as her previous projects, bAnoffe’s recipe of new wave R’n’B, meshed with gliding synths, syncopated beats and textured, effected vocals make for nothing less than a musical staple with newfound attitude. With a fresh, nonchalant and non-committal attitude to any one musical style, the bAnoffee title is also the result of Brown’s complete submission to every part of her music until utter satiation. If self indulgence in one’s art was ever a negative thing, the creation of the bAnoffee moniker acts as a metaphorical shield against any such consequences of her music – be it her lyrics about love turned sour, or statements of empowerment lacquered in polite profanities – “I’m a fucking ninja now, I won’t let you bring me down”. The upcoming debut EP of five, honeyed tracks including leading singles ‘Ninja’ and ‘Reign Down’, co-produced by long term collaborator Oscar Key Sung (Two Bright Lakes), not only touches on themes of fighting inner turmoil and finding strength in self throughout, but is an expansion of her craft as she feels her way through the production process of the EP to completion. Coming from similar tastes and a youth of touring together, Key Sung and bAnoffee’s contrasting musical histories of folk and 90s’ urban soul such as Joni Mitchell and Erykah Badu, blend together to create a brand new sound that’s quickly becoming a signature. Heavy, layered synths, bouncing keys and deep, resounding bass in tracks ‘Ohhh Owww' and ‘I Got It’, are at times a battle of genres – smooth like caramel old school R’n’B, perfectly balanced with quirky, synth pop of the ‘80s and early millennium (think Paul Simon meets Lauryn Hill), while delicate vocals bring the fierce lyrics so that every one of bAnoffee’s songs become a vessel of empowerment for not only herself, but also the listener. An EP intent on being a metaphorical point of strength, each track comes accompanied by videos from like-minded local filmmakers and artists that share the common goal. Like her real-life foray into the art of kickboxing suggests that she is on a mission to be the strongest she can be without armor, bAnoffee is not only succeeding in kicking ass, but completely owning it along the way.