Music
Press
The pursuit of fun has proved to be a successful artistic method for Thunderheist. Grahm lived in Montreal and Isis in Toronto. They were MySpace friends. “He accidentally sent me a remix he made for Spank Rock,” tells the lady on vox, “and I spit over it.”
“Anywhere there were gaps in the vocals, she was like, ‘Mwew, mwew mwew,’” Grahm says, using his disposable coffee cup as a mic. The chemistry was clear. “So I started cranking out beats and sent them to her.” They went into their first show having never played in the same room.
Earning a rep for her onstage antics, Isis trades shots for lap dances, gets the crowd hyped and provokes dirty dancing by showing how it’s done. “Our live shows got people talking,” Grahm explains contently.
- Daiana Feuer
Exclaim Concert Review
Thunderheist @ Sneaky Dee's
Toronto, Feb 10/07
Fuckfaces is a popular monthly party in Toronto that has been going strong for over two years. Hosted by the DMoney crew with DJs Barbi, Cryo, DougieBoom, Fistfight and various guests, they play the latest in electro, ghetto-tech, Baltimore club, tech-house, booty, Baile Funk and even some rock and hip-hop. February’s edition started filling up early with a music-loving crowd anxiously awaiting Thunderheist’s first Toronto appearance. The Toronto/Montreal duo are fairly new to the “party rap/B-more” scene, but both Isis (Toronto hip-hop MC) and Grahmzilla (super producer/musician from Montreal) have been rocking stages for years under different guises and in different genres. The duo are steadily gaining interest and popularity from the blogosphere and their MySpace page, as well their legendary live performances at some of the dopest parties around. But could they rock the “screwface capital”? From the moment they took the stage with Grahmzilla’s B-more flip of AC/DC’s “Thunderstruck,” it was a sure sign that indeed they could as they had the crowd totally hyped and ready to party. Hands were high in the air as Grahmzilla played their signature B-more/electro beats and Isis started rapping. They began the show with unreleased tracks “Anthem,” “Red Whine” and “Nothing2Step2” (a memorable joint as Isis sang off key in that Biz Markie kind of way). The room was packed and sweaty, people were dancing and singing along as Grahmzilla and Isis dropped their internet hits “Bubblegum,” “Horny” and “Suenos Dulces” (the Spanish-tinged cover of the Eurythmics’ “Sweet Dreams”). Isis kept the dance floor bumpin’ with some high energy and hilarious antics; joking for people to buy her drinks (yes, some obliged), she displayed a wicked sense of humour and brilliant interplay with the crowd. Grahmzilla makes sick beats and is a multi-talented producer and musician, and Isis is a fierce MC that has instant star quality — together they destroyed Sneaky Dee’s and had Toronto eating up every yummy mouthful. - Dalia Cohen
"...these self-proclaimed “electric funky stars” are making waves and shaking asses everywhere they go...creating the most exciting club music I've heard in years. With so many mediocre vocalists fronting electronic music projects, it's about time killer synth hooks were paired with a rapper who can really rhyme." - Denise Benson
Got to have those sticky hands when your ass is broke. And when your ass can't get any ass...Canadian electro-rap duo Thunderheist seem to mean 'Jerk It' as a sort of synonym for "work it", so to get too hung up on potential double entendres would be ultimately as clueless as saying you'd need a third hand to clap to "Hey Ya!" if you also want to shake it like a Polaroid picture. Bright, uncomplicated jock-jam synths and muted, subterranean percussion underpin hypnotic female chanting, for a combination not too far off from Simian Mobile Disco's "Hustler" -- only about dancing rather than stealing records, and closer to crunk than to Justice. Getting more regionally specific: "Jerk It" distills the essence of the electro-fixated hip-hop and funk of Montreal neighbours A-Trak and Chromeo, or like-minded Chicagoans like Kid Sister, Flosstradamus, and Cool Kids. Or let Thunderheist tell it, putting it something like this: "Booty rockin'/Show stoppin'/Everybody back hoppin'/Knee jerkin'/Girl, work it/Work it till your stomach's hurtin'". Broad strokes, for a broad range of folks. 'Scuse them while they touch themselves. - Pitchforkmedia.com
RE: Beat, Breaks and Culture live show w/Crystal Castles, July 5, 2008
Thunderheist came on fashionably later than 8 pm, but with the help of three kinetically supercharged uniformed dancers, MC Isis and DJ Grahmzilla struck the stage with feral ferocity. Despite microphone deficiencies, initially awkward lakeside acoustics and a psychotic superfan (who jumped onstage to dance but got body-slammed by security, causing much applause), the show consistently improved until the song I Know What Boys Like (note: title is Krypto) took control of things for good.
The crowd was ecstatic when the soulful staccato number They Don’t Love You (note: title is Nothing2Step2) oozed into the air, and Isis’s hilarious robot and running man dances permanently won over the audience. - NOW MAGAZINE (Toronto)
April 11th show
w/Vitaminsforyou & Bonjay
Who hasn’t fallen under the spell of MC Isis and producer/DJ Grahmzilla, together known as Thunderheist, T.O.’s hypest electro-party-rap act? They toured like fiends in ’07, and then settling into studio mode last winter to record a much-anticipated debut album (watch for a “Jerk It” single next month). This is Thunderheist’s first hometown live show of ‘08 so the energy is bound to be high. - EYE Magazine
The Biggest Music Video in the World
Well, in the blog world at least.
About a month ago the pretty shit-hot Canadian electro outfit Thunderheist announced a competition on their website to make their first ever music video.
Luckily for the band people didn't just submit videos of them dancing in their sitting room. No, instead someone submitted this. The coolest video I've seen in ages.
I think there might be some 'cock' related subtext which I wouldn't dare sully NME.COM by engaging with.
There is something beautiful and disturbing about the helplessness of the fowl and the thousand yard stare of the girl. It makes me think of blank eyed Vietnam troops executing families.
Maybe that says more about me than the video. - NME.com
At a time when hip-hop and dance music are intrinsically linked — from Baltimore club rap to the techno-tinged hits of mainstream performers like T-Pain, Kanye West, Usher and Chris Brown — it’s tempting to dismiss Thunderheist as an overly trendy JJ Fad...[however]
with that said, few MCs bring the same infectious energy...As Isis instructed the crowd to jump, one overzealous fan followed her lead jumped right up on stage, only to be swiftly tackled by security. But Isis isn’t just trendy and energetic; she also knows how to rap, spitting fluid and catchy Doctor Seuss party rhymes while the dancing Swagger Crew — three b-girls in bikinis and hoodies — added visual flair to the lively set. In between their commanding songs, the duo was endearingly casual, with DJ Grahmzilla abashedly covering his face after freestyling and Isis imitating a valley girl and complaining that she had gas. - EYE Magazine
I have to start by mentioning that I've never been to the Highline, but I was pretty impressed with the quality of the sound and the sightlines. It did have an all-too-polished, almost sterile look and the numerous security guards on hand made it feel a bit confined, but overall I dug the place. Thunderheist was up first at 8pm sharp and blasted through an absolutely phenominal set to an unfortunately empty and impotent room. As an old fart, I'm not prone to too much movement at shows these days, but this two-piece's agressive vocals, overwhelming stage presence, and superb beats almost had me moving. There was a 5-minute period in their set when I felt that the wind had been taken from their sails, and I thought they might be one of these bands that tend to start strong and fizzle out. However, they cranked it right back up and ended the set with a bang. - BrooklynVegan.com
The Canadian gallery rap duo Thunderheist are made up of a DJ, Grahm, who resides in Montreal and has the endearing habit of timidly doing the choruses at the back of the stage, and an MC, Isis, who was born in Nigeria and who now calls Toronto home. At a time when many were still nursing the previous night's hangover, Isis introduced the scarce crowd to the act's special guest: a bottle of Grey Goose, which she was more than willing to share.
Her producer flipped the Eurythmics-- not the last time this trick would be pulled in the confines of Thursday night's Highline Ballroom-- as well as Baltimore club and electro, the standard grab bags for high-toned club-rap DJs in New York and, apparently, all over. "If ya'll can't get hype, I can't get hype," said Isis, but quickly found the Cognac, France-distilled loophole; a couple dead prez and Soulja Boy interpolations later, she was asking "Where the after party at?" like the night was ending instead of getting started. The crowd was won over: "Way better than Kid Sister," said a friend. - Pitchforkmedia.com
Discography
'Bubblegum' 12" - Bigfoot Records (released Oct 2007)
'Jerk It' 12" EP - Nasty Mix (due out in Aug 2008)
'Jerk It' digital EP - Thunderheist Records (available now)
Self-released EP available only at shows - SOLD OUT
'Bubblegum' featured as CBC Radio 3 'Song of the Day'- July 2007
'Jerk It' featured on streaming play on Pitchforkmedia.com - July 2008
Photos
Bio
Stealing thunder so you move that ass, the duo dubbed Thunderheist unleash serious electro-pop with heavy boom bap party funk. Ribcage – rattling bass breaks laced with proper rhyming are flipped with digital booty bass, 80s-inspired electronic pop, and slowed down Southern bounce, all fresh dipped in serious swagger.
Dancefloors get loose when Thunderheist reigns. Tunes like "Bubblegum', 'Suenos Dulces' and 'Discobooty' get bodies bumping. Music blogs light up with repostings the moment they post a new tune. DJs from all over the world drop them in the mix. Press has come knocking fast and furious, based on the smiling, sweaty faces coming out of TH jam. Audiences for live shows keep growing as word spreads. Simply put, they get lotsa love.
The lady runs the mic, and her name is Isis. This Nigerian-born, Canadian-raised emcee has shared stages with a wide range of hip hop heavyweights like Bahamadia, Vast Aire (Def Jux), M1 (Dead Prez), Tumi and the Volume (District Six), and even T.I. Her skills, focus and drive landed her an invitation to perform at the celebrated ‘Show Time at the Apollo’ in 2006, gaining a fan in DJ Kool Herc. Fast-forward a few months and she's spitting into mics on a cross-Canada Tour, culminating in an unforgettable show at Montreal's International Jazz Festival in front of a crowd of 5000.
Hard-hitting rhythms are courtesy of Grahm Zilla, the incredible versatile producer & DJ twisting up the low end on the beats and in the mix. Inspired by a serious addiction to vinyl for the better part of 15 years with a collection including electro, jazz, hip hop, funk, techno, rock and pop, his production work can’t help going straight for the jugular. Not surprising, given that he’s rocked the decks with acts ranging from Prodigy, Herbaliser, Coldcut and the X-Ecutioners, to Kid Koala, DJ Food, DJ Vadim, Jurassic 5, J-Live, to Chromeo, Flosstradamus, and Plastic Little.
An accidental MP3 upload birthed Thunderheist. Through the music grapevine, Grahm was feeling Isis’ rhyming, Isis was feeling ‘Zilla’s productions. Exchanging files online, Grahm accidentally sent Isis an electro track he was working on. She flipped it with raw rap narratives rocked with afropunk attitude, and they knew they had something special.
Since then, the duo have commandeered stages and left dancefloors sweaty the world over. Their debut show in Montreal in Fall 2006 was legendary, air thick with elation that all were bearing witness to a new phenomenon. It’s been a steady build ever since, with more and more people packing out their live shows, writing up and snatching their demo songs posted on blogs all around the world, and visiting their website and MySpace incessantly. Press came knocking very early on, citing them as “2007 Noisemaker” (Montreal Mirror, Jan 2007) and placing them on the cover (Toronto's Eye Magazine, March 2007) without even an EP or single officially out yet. MySpace Canada placed Thunderheist as a ‘Featured Artist’ based on their incredible NXNE 2007 performance. Promoters across the US constantly re-book them for shows. Canada has embraced them wholeheartedly, , and of course, so deeply rooted within their hometown of Toronto, rocked the house at a near sell-out show at a revered rock venue. Successful show runs in Eastern and Western Canada, CBC Radio 3 features, and more cover stories (Beatroute in Alberta) are de rigeur. The Thunderheist phenomenon even touched down in Europe twice to date. And yes, all still without an album.
It’s not about to slow down one bit. Thunderheist are hard at work in the studio putting the finishing touches on their debut album. Playing to huge audiences across the US on a VICE co-headline tour with The Black Ghosts and at major Canadian festivals (Beats, Breaks and Culture, Hillside Festival) in Summer 2008, Thunderheist are getting ready to rack up more air mile points for Fall 08. Top that off with guest vocal work, remixes galore, film & TV licenses, fielding increasing loads of press requests...yes, it’s hectic. But such is life for a band on a mission to bring the party correct.
Links
