Trophy Boyfriend
Dublin, Leinster, Ireland | SELF
Music
Press
'...turns out this remix makes Jedward sound like some Scandanavian pop stars remixed by some blog buzzing producer. It reminds me of The Sound Of Arrows...' - Nialler9
Trophy Boyfriend aka Gregor Ruigrok dropped his Distant Chimes EP earlier this month, and having just picked it up, I have to say the music is as nice and optimistic as the album cover. From the predominantly rainy Ireland, TB makes nostalgic dance, Washed Out influenced chillwave with booming percussion, 80s soft synths and lo-fi production. He's stuck in some lovely Pacific-esque vocal layering on the title track, and some wonderfully fashionable lo-fi guitars feature heavily at the start of "Like You Were Frozen Just As You Were About To Speak". That is, before the hand claps turned dance percussion are submerged in swirling electronics and impassioned vocal harmonies. "Distant Chimes" begins with a long vocal phrase which loops, and before you know it, a worryingly Swedish vocal line transforms into something closer to 90s soft-synth dance music than indie pop. This guy knows exactly how to build a song, as I'm sure you'll agree. Download below, keeping tabs is strongly advised.
- This Music Wins
'Distant Chimes... the title track has a hazy electro with big synths and thumping drums.' '...So is this Ireland’s first chillwave tune? Carles to comments please!' - Nialler9.com - Nialler9
Discography
Trophy Boyfriend EP
Released Dec 2009.
Available on CD and digital download from iTunes & Bandcamp.
Distant Chimes EP
Released May 2010 as FREE digital download only.
Currently available from Bandcamp and iTunes.
Received airplay from Dublin station, Phantom FM.
Feels Like Autumn [Single]
Released May 2011
Digital download from iTunes & Bandcamp.
Received airplay from Dublin station, Phantom FM.
Photos
Bio
Trophy Boyfriend is Gregor, his guitar, a Vox AC30, a PC, several pedals in various states of disrepair and a fistful of soft-synths. He makes music to block out the noise of rain hammering against his apt. window in Rathmines.
Debut EP was released in December 2009. Following this, the Distant Chimes EP was released in May 2010 and is available for FREE download from bandcamp.
Trophy Boyfriend's latest single 'Feels Like Autumn' was released in May to positive reviews.
To coincide with the Eurovision this year he produced an unofficial remix of Jedward's 'Lipstick' which received a warm response from both electro and pop fans alike.
'apartment-sized slo-mo, hazy shoegazelectronica'
- Jim Carroll, Irish Times
‘Distant Chimes, the title track has a hazy electro with big synths and thumping drums....So is this Ireland’s first chillwave tune? Carles to comments please!.’ - Nialler9.com
'For fans of Washed Out, Neon Indian and Deloreon, it's essential listening' - Ragged Words
'Chillaxed electro from Irish producer Trophy Boyfriend. It's got a rich synth, 80's pop feel about it, not unlike Cut Copy or Tiga.' - Pop Goes The Radio
Links
