Music Industry News

Dbldbl is the musical project of Liam Dargaville (Te Rarawa, Ngā Puhi, they/them), a musician and songwriter based in Tāmaki Makaurau.

Liam specialises in pairing crisp, minimal production with raps stuffed with references of their favourite tv shows, games and foods to broach topics such as chronic pain, identity politics and depression.

Today, Dbldbl shares ‘Fakey feat. Randa‘, the latest in a string of collaborations with Aotearoa’s finest alternative hip hop / RnB talent. Fakey is accompanied by a Sports Team music video (made with assistance from NZ On Air Music) and to celebrate Dbldbl and Randa will perform live on May 4th at Whammy Backroom – tickets are available now through Undertheradar.

‘Fakey feat. Randa‘ is served up on boom bap drums and cold synth loops, giving space for Dargaville’s goofy adlibs to distract you from its more solemn subject matter. “Ya never wanna take yourself too seriously,” says Dargaville “but ultimately the goal is always to express my truest self, inside and out, wherever I am.”

Dargaville notes that the meaning behind Fakey’s lyrics are “a bit of an onion” and that it’s ultimately about “floating between different spaces, scenes, and peoples while navigating my place with and amongst them and how I’m seen. I’m consistently being misgendered, even in spaces where I’m known, a part of, and deeply connected to. Fakey explores, feelings of being an imposter versus feeling myself, slipping in and out of different skins as a form of adaptation and ‘survival’, and just a dash of cultural disconnect, shame, and guilt.”

Following 2021’s ‘Big Mike feat. L V J & PollyHill‘ and 2022’s ‘Lemon Drop feat. Imugi 이무기‘, ‘Fakey‘ featuring Randa is the third single where Dbldbl has favoured collaboration. “Randa is an absolute honey with an infectious energy. They’ve always been one of my fav rappers, blending real talk with an abundance of trashy pop culture references. From recording, to filming and doing press shoots together – they always brighten up every space they’re in.” Speaking of his inspiration for ‘Fakey‘, Randa says “The lyrics I wrote were sort of a fantasy, a bit the opposite of my current vibe which feels a bit Mormon. I just imagined I was a very unapologetic motorcycle rider who goes fast at night and someone edgy lol.”

In the Sports Team directed music video (made with assistance from NZ On Air Music) the pair rotate on a life size lazy susan, while colours feedback via analog CRT effects. “Callum and Annabelle are the dream team,” says Dargaville. “They were the perfect amount of professionals and laid back. Easy to collaborate with, quick to pivot, innovative, and always super deliberate and meaningful with their input. Also gotta give a special shout outs to Tommy (Tom Davis) for the incredible rotating stage rig and Alex Abrahams who spent the majority of the shoot lying on the ground, outta shot, spinning the stage by hand. Keep an eye out as his hand makes a coupla cute cameos throughout the vid.”

With ‘Fakey feat. Randa‘ now released Dargaville reflects with relief. “Living with chronic pain has really reduced my productivity, pace and capacity to still fit music into my life. I actually wrote this song years ago and it can feel a little strange when the release comes so long after inception. Though I think Fakey’s themes will always hold relevance.”

Check out all things Dbldbl below:
Linktree
Facebook
Instagram

Photo credit: Mason Fairey