Latest posts by Alaina Tennison
(see all)Eat Your Heart Out: Discovering Potatohead People
Lounging in a warm pool of honey — that is what it feels like listening to Potatohead People. The mellow and atmospheric vibe created by this Canadian hip hop and electronic music duo is comprised of cosmic sounds and futuristic instrumentals that create an otherworldly experience.
Hailing from Vancouver, British Columbia, Nick Wisdom and AstroLogical met during high school through a community baseball league and bonded over their common interest in music producers J Dilla and Madlib. Shortly after working together in the hip hop collective Elekwent Folk, the duo united to create Potatohead People in 2008, and focused on generating fresh and progressive instrumental music.
After releasing a handful of EPs, Potatohead People landed on New York music label Bastard Jazz, where their music has lived ever since. The two have come a long way, having worked with artists like Illa J. (J Dilla’s younger brother), De La Soul, Redman, Phife Dawg, and more. They now perform with a 10-piece-band, delivering performances known for displaying exemplary musicianship.
Potatohead People released their first LP, Big Luxury, in 2015. From that release to their newest album, Eat Your Heart Out, Potatohead People have maintained an individualistic sound while featuring other artists and blending elements of soul, funk, jazz, and electronic. Their 2020 album, Mellow Fantasy, is true to its name, with every track mingling to create a mellow, laid back, and groovy aura.
Nick & Astro’s Guide to the Galaxy, a 2018 project, is my personal favorite. It is a fusion of electronic and soul immersed in an intergalactic atmosphere that lifts me off my feet and transports me to a place of zero gravity. The tracks could be described as a musical journey through space, with their innovative instrumentals orbiting around one another in perfect synchronization. The album title perfectly embodies this auditory journey.
Potatohead People have effectively accomplished what they strive for: to create an experience that feels different from the world we live in. “As a musician, it’s so easy to get stuck in boxes, because my whole world is based upon these rules,” Wisdom told Cougar Microbes. “So when I started making beats, it was fun because it was so away from that world. I was just going by my ears, I didn’t have an instrument nearby to make a chord progression. But it helped to liberate me, that’s why I loved it so much.”
Lend an ear to Potatohead People and join us for more great tunes at Denver’s urban alternative station, 104.7 FM THE DROP.