Tolliver releases music video for “Keep It Wet,” announces LA & NY shows
WATCH: “Keep It Wet” –
YouTube
Los Angeles queer falsetto singer/songwriter Tolliver premieres a new video for his latest track, “Keep It Wet” via Yerself Records. Watch the video here.
“[His] seraphic falsetto can stop you in your tracks and make the hairs on your body feel like bayonets.” – Jeff Weiss
“Future soul with an R&B twist, it’s powerful songwriting that offers a glimpse of extremes.” – Clash Magazine
This video was shot over one month with a crew of only two — director Kellen Malloy and camera operator/asst. cinematographer Cassie Hunter. “We were kicked out of the pool area both times we tried to film this, however the second time we managed to stall the homeowners association by 2-3 hours before they finally said ‘enough’. I think they thought at first we we’re shooting a porn for whatever reason.” The track features saxophone from Jens Bjorker of LA Indie group O Future.
Tolliver just recently had his release show in Chinatown, Los Angeles which included a private dinner for 35 and a choreographed dinner performance that was live streamed to fans. Over 150 people watched the stream and response from those in attendance was extremely positive. The companion track “Too Much” from the latest EP has been played on KCRW late night at least a half a dozen times this month.
Tolliver has also spent the last year collaborating in the studio with — Harriett Brown, Touch Sensitive, Tickle Torture, Eddington Again, Chrome Canyon and Cecile Believe (singer on SOPHIE’s 2018 tracks “Faceshopping” and “Ponyboy”). These tracks are due later in 2019.
Tour Dates
May 18 – Brooklyn, NY – Coney Island Baby
June 10 – Los Angeles, CA – School Night
Coming off a wretched stretch of broken relationships, addiction, and general poorness – all documented on the falsetto and synth-soaked Rites EP; the clouds finally broke for Tolliver last year in the form of a European tour, a record deal, and a reunion with his estranged family in Chicago.
But what goes up must… disappoint? He and his family barely speak, the tour is over and now it’s time to prove the promise of those first few songs is more than a blip. On his new 7”, which features the haunting, sexy, and sad “Too Much”, and the operatic, bombastic, and also sexy “Keep it Wet”, he sings about letting lovers down, sabotaging himself with doubt and gin, and the thrill of both sensations.
These songs are a creative turning point for the burgeoning queer performance artist; a more rhythmic and sonically sensual turn for someone who already spends half the day shirtless and covered in rhinestones. This is seraphic electronic r&b whispered into your ear, tickling you into ecstasy, like sleep-paralysis but you’re cumming the whole time.
The songs were produced with longtime collaborator Kellen Malloy who also directed both of the music videos.
TOLLIVER LINKS