Night Tapes - portals//polarities

Most artists will say their music is shaped by their environment, but for London trio Night Tapes, it’s nothing short of fundamental. ‘portals//polarities’ is a deeply immersive journey that travels through the places and sounds of its creation across the globe. From a bubbling swamp in Tallinn, Estonia, to birdsong in Mexico and even a Los Angeles police helicopter, this debut boasts a wildly exploratory soundscape. Made quietly in a shared South London house - where Iiris Vesik, Max Doohan and Sam Richards had to keep volume low to avoid disturbing neighbours - these songs are time capsules of the band’s experiences, both direct and indirect. Take ‘pacifico’ - a trip-hop-tinged nod to a mythical mindset inspired by stories of Mexico’s San Jose del Pacifico, with a cheeky wink to Souls of Mischief’s classic ‘93 ’til Infinity’. 

At its core, ‘portals//polarities’ is an exploration of energy, identity and freedom - themes that run deep for Iiris, who grew up in Estonia, still under the shadow of authoritarian rule. Her hypnotic voice floats over sparse beats and spacious synths, weaving through tracks like the mysterious, sensual ‘babygirl (like no1 else)’ to create a debut that’s more than a collection of songs - it’s a cohesive body of work that dreams big while staying human and connected; music that’s as unpredictable as it is beautiful.