Phairo begins gradual release of latest project, '9'

Artist Phairo has announced his forthcoming mixtape, '9'. Due for full release on September 9, singles from the project are dropping monthly with two already available to listen to.

Having produced for names in other genres such as Bruno Major and ELIZA, Phairo found lockdown as a time to embrace his first love, ultimately resulting in this mixtape.

"Club and dance music first got me into producing at about 16, so it felt amazing to re-enter that realm and find a new love and excitement for making beats," he explains. "I wanted to make music on my own, with the main focus on musical and production ideas."

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The first release from '9', 'Galacticon', delivers a drum 'n' bass heavy track with distorted melodies, followed by 'Drum Workout' which the artist describes as "a clubby thumper with a bonkers beat".

"At nine tracks it’s longer than an EP, but shorter than an album, more like a mixtape - a broad indicator of my influences and musical loves, and a good sign of what’s to come and where I’m headed musically," he adds.

The third single, 'Dwemer Sphere', is due for release on August 12, just under a month before the full project drops.

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The artwork for the project is also directed by Phairo's interests - created by artist Osian Jenaer, it is heavily inspired by the producer's intrigue with the number nine and love for sci-fi, nature and otherworldly scenes.

You can listen to the latest single from '9' - 'Drum Workout!' - now.

Niamh Ingram is Mixmag's Weekend Editor, follow her on Twitter