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ou wouldnt know who Holy Other was if he punched you in the face. I dont feel that music has to be egocentric, David says of the face-obscuring hood he wears as his alter-ego. Its not relevant for there to be a face attributed to the music theres a stronger aesthetic if its faceless. Manchester-born David started making slow, dark electronic music as Holy Other a couple of years ago while living in Berlin, inspired by 4/4 house, hip-hop and the local Leisure System electro nights he frequented. Releasing the bedroom-recorded We Over 7, he came to the attention of Robin Carolan of Tri Angle Records, which specialises in comfort level-challenging otherworldly beats. Id heard [early Tri Angle release] Balam Acab and been really into it, David says. Robins sales pitch was focused on how he wanted Tri Angle to grow with artists, and I saw a lot of potential there. Last year, Tri Angle released Holy Other's debut EP With U, a set of claustrophobic dirge-pop with a unique melodic lightness. Touch has a melancholic DAngelo-esque vocal over its two-step beat, while Yr Love samples the drum skitter and horn toot of Grace Jones Pull Up To The Bumper for its futuro-sensual vibe. Davids sketchy on the details of the debut Holy Other album (out in June), but he assures itll be a continuation of the melodic emphasis. With underground artists increasingly wearing mainstream influences on their sleeve, will 2012 be the year to put paid to pop snobbery? I guess the underground scenes elitism became a bit too much to bear, David says. But I think the fresh approach to genres is wonderful, and the aspiration to make the best pop song tends to create the weirdest pop songs. Everyone should strive to write a Rihanna song! OM

Where: Manchester/London What: Dark vocal-driven electronic music Get 3 songs: Yr Love, With U, Touch Unique Fact: The With U EP artwork depicts Davids (unwashed) bedsheets from his time living in Gothenburg.