Snow Strippers Take Inspiration From Skrillex, Lana Del Rey, and Hedonistic Abandon in 'Night Killaz Vol. 2'
The future of dance music has never looked betterr. Everyone's favorite party monsters, Snow Strippers, keep the night going with the release of their latest EP, Night Killaz Vol. 2. The project sees Snow Strippers dive further into their trademark sound without risking their integrity or core identity. The duo maintains a fantastic balance of going hard and exercising emotional catharsis. With the incredibly tasteful house influences and the increasingly sexual and drug-obsessed imagery surrounding this album's rollout, the eight-track collection explores wildness, unhinged thoughts, being of oneself while tackling relational apathy, and the desire for pleasure no matter the consequence.
Starting with "Chained Up," the record kicks off with a witch houce intro, super open and synth but dirty at the same time. These odd, almost goofy spoken-word vocal samples then appear, which guides the track into the main beat drop. It's so dense and packed full of noise but so emotionally cutting and profoundly affecting. Tati's vocals then appear and reappear as an interpolation of Skrillex's "Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites" sinks in and out of the track, culminating in one hell of an opening track.
The record then takes a slower tempo take with the next track, "Favorite Lifeline." The drums are more accentuated here, giving the listener enough room to feel the hugeness and deepness of this killer production. The synths are pushed to the back, giving the vocals room to breathe. And from a melodic point of view, Tati does a blowout job. Her vocals are super cut-up on this song, giving it a choppy effect as they constantly slide in and out of focus with the music.
"So What If I'm a Freak" opens with a kaleidoscopic array of synths and beats, ushering the listener down the rabbit hole and out the other side amid a mesmerizing party and ready to trip. Perez's spectral vocals croon over the production, "Push onto my pulse / I can see your face / Behind the smoke / Sometimes I wonder if / You like it when I'm dyin' for it." Embracing their "freak," the track intensifies to a tipping point before a sample of the viral Youtube video "im with the suicide squad" braces the listener for the sonic impact of the chorus. The sound of guns cocking and firing away intertwines with the throbbing vibrations of the hook, teleporting us all to a sonic plane that feels reminiscent of the Spring Breakers soundtrack.
Other standout tracks include "Draw A Heart" and "Throw It Back Away." The former is quite interesting thematically, exploring the topic of desperate validation. In the second verse, Tatiana acknowledges, "I don't like anyone, even us… I just wanted to feel seen," repeating that final sentiment multiple times before fading to a muted hush. Meanwhile, "Throw It Back Away" is a psychedelically pulsing song about loving another despite the repercussions.
The record's closer, "Video Games 2," featuring PurpleSparklyBentley, repurposes the sounds and imagery of Lana Del Rey's iconic "Video Games." The entire track is restructured, and the vocal melodies are touched up. The project pulses with extreme ferocity, giving the listener not much time to do anything else but dance.
Night Killaz Vol. 2 is an enigmatic and explosive project that shows off Snow Strippers's niche electronic form. The duo is one of the internet's best-kept secrets and one of this year's most vital acts, pulsating with unapologetic anarchic abandon that is undeniably trashy yet hauntingly evocative.
Listen to Night Killaz Vol. 2 below:
