NYC-based experimental electronic artist Ela Minus and Miami-based DJ-producer Nick León share a Colombian heritage, and last year they teamed up on "Ghost Orchid," a single from León's debut album A Tropical Entropy. Now they've gone and made a whole EP together, much like Minus did with DJ Python back in 2022. “It was so free,” León says of his creative chemistry with Minus. “There were unspoken understandings of what we wanted to do. That’s not normal." Minus adds, “We immediately felt this kinship."
The Minus x León EP qué les pasó a mis amigos? will be out in August on the Domino imprint Smugglers Way, followed by a phyiscal edition in November with remixes by Loidis, Brenda, and Guedra Guedra. Today we get a preview in the form of "espiral." It's a darkly gleaming electronic pop track that manages to be slinky and subtle at points despite hard-hitting staccato synths that never relent. Spiral along with it below.
In addition to the EP news, Minus and León have been announced for Smugglers Way's first label showcase Sept. 3 at London's ICA. Also appearing will be the duo of Alexis Taylor & Mike Simonetti and Guedra Guedra. Check out the qué les pasó a mis amigos? tracklist below.
SIDE A:
01 "qué les pasó a mis amigos?"
02 "lose my cool"
03 "espiral"
SIDE B:
04 "espiral (Brenda Remix)"
05 "qué les pasó a mis amigos? (Loidis Reconfiguration)"
06 "lose my cool (Guedra Guedra Remix)"
qué les pasó a mis amigos? is out 8/7 on Smugglers Way. Pre-order it here.
