Catching Flies – aka multi-instrumentalist, producer and DJ George King – is the very model of a modern musician. He blurs the boundaries between mainstream and underground, and between electronic and ‘real’ music, as easily as the biggest and the best. His music is a bass heavy yet melodic mesh of broody electronics and intricate rhythms, containing shades of everything from hip-hop to house, from soul to jazz.
Since the release of his debut album ‘Silver Linings’ in 2019, Catching Flies has steadily released a number of acclaimed singles and EPs whilst finishing his second album, scheduled for release later this year. Typically wide-ranging in genre, they highlight Catching Flies’ ability to effortlessly manoeuvre and experiment across the spectrum of electronic music. These include the ‘absolutely brilliant’ (Lauren Laverne, BBC6 Music) hit single ‘GLY’ which has received over 20 million streams to date and came with remixes by revered British dance/pop band Hot Chip, and Ninja Tune’s DJ Boring. Piano piece ‘Diamonds’ which garnered artist support across the board from the likes of Nils Frahm to Jungle. ‘Orsay,’ released through Cercle which included a live performance with a string quartet at the iconic Musee D’Orsay in Paris. Dancefloor banger ‘Oi,’ subsequently remixed by Sofia Kourtesis, and an EP on Anjunadeep. He was also recently nominated for a BAFTA for his soundtrack work on a video game. He follows all of this up with forthcoming release, ‘True Colours,’ a slice of catchy yet sophisticated electronica. It’s highly textured, deeply melodic and effortlessly marries live instrumentation (guitars, sax, a string quartet) with warm electronic beats. True Colours (Part 2) features Erick The Architect (Flatbush Zombies) and UK Rap sensation Lord Apex. The rest of 2023 looks busy with headline live shows lined up across the globe from Hawaii to Prague, Izmir to Tokyo.
Catching Flies released his debut album ‘Silver Linings’ in July 2019. Containing shades of everything from hip-hop to house, from soul to jazz, it was hailed as ‘a soundtrack to Summertime’ by the 405 – and was awarded album of the month by Future Music who described it as ‘a brilliantly eclectic record… a moving journey that will last long in the memory.’ Clash Magazine praised the LP’s ‘killer beats’ and ‘artfully orchestrated introspection,’ whilst London In Stereo praised it’s ‘exceptional production.’ Other press coverage for the album included The Guardian, Complex, Nowness, Mixmag, iD Magazine, Dazed & Confused, The Line of Best Fit and more. He has received radio support from the likes of Gilles Peterson, Pete Tong, Annie Mac, Lauren Laverne, Mary Anne Hobbes & Huw Stephens. Artist support for ‘Silver Linings’ has come from the likes of Bonobo, Caribou, Loyle Carner, The Blessed Madonna, Keinemusik, Rufus Du Sol, George Fitzgerald and Lane 8. He toured the album performing headline Live shows throughout the UK, Europe, Asia and North America, as well as DJ shows at Bonobo’s ‘OUTLIER’ event series in Europe and North America.
Silver Linings was followed by ‘Silver Linings Remixed,’ a remix album featuring versions of tracks from his debut album reimagined by DJ Seinfeld, Andhim, Soundbwoy Killah, Laurence Guy, Ron Basejam, Grandbrothers, Trim and more. Typically wide ranging on genre, the mood progresses from ambient soundscapes to hip hop beats, deep disco and house to breakbeats and emotive techno. Linking the album together includes a new Catching Flies track ‘Daymarks’, a “Part 2” version of ‘Yu’ which features a transatlantic rap collaboration between the UK’s Jehst and US’s Blu (of Blu and Exile fame) and Catching Flies’ own “Ambient Reprise” of ‘Satisfied’. Speaking on air on BBC6 Music, Lauren Laverne said – ‘Remix albums – sometimes they’re great, sometimes they’re not so good with lots of filler… This is not one of those. This is one of the really great ones where every track is different and diverse and interesting. You never quite know where it’s going to go, and I’ve put aside so many tracks to play on the show from this remix album. I would heartily recommend it. It works brilliantly well.’
‘One of our favourites’ iD Magazine
‘Mesmerizing’ The Guardian
‘Keep an eye on this guy!’ – Gilles Peterson
‘Exceptional’ – London In Stereo
‘Takes ambient music to a whole new level’ – Earmilk
‘Fuelled by late night, dark introspective beats and soulful vocal cuts…ruthlessly emotive’ – The Line Of Best Fit
‘With fans in just about every pocket of UK music, Catching Flies is no doubt a name we’ll all be very familiar with in the coming months.’ – Complex
‘Catching Flies is emblematic of a new spirit in London’s club culture…. A fresh kind of eclecticism…leaping between hip-hop, techno, jazz and everything in between’ – Clash Magazine
‘High energy from one of the most exciting DJs doing it right now.’ Mixmag
’Really lovely collection of tracks… I have to say I’ve put quite a few of them aside for air, it’s not just that one! Check it out if you can.’ – Lauren Laverne (on air BBC6 Music)
