The second album from Irish based electronic artist OLIVE HATAKE, BOYS NEED LOVE is a snapshot of the musician’s personal and creative lives. As such, the record has taken different forms over its creation – resulting in the work that is released today. HATAKE’s experiences over the two years since his debut album have included the fluidity of relationships, being invited to Berlin for the annual Superbooth producer’s conference, rediscovering his faith, the importance of family, observing the growing right wing movement in Ireland, loss, documenting the conflict of masculinity and representing his country at the Jiu-Jitsu European championships in Paris. The results are an album that combines euphoric dance music with the range of human emotion to mesmerising effect.
That musical element is also inspired by a world of influences – artists such as EDEN and Nala Sinephro, the wider creative and artistic community that he has immersed himself in, the effect that playing live has on his studio work and his Angolan family roots. The current Irish scene too has had an impact, with the record featuring creative input from Jafaris (the focus track ‘MEMORY LANE’ born from a recent impromptu recording session on their first ever meeting), alt rnb singer Ollie Fay, visual artist Sean Atmos and photographer Frenchie Stardust (who collaborated on the cover art) and long term collaborator Tony Konstone from Harsquead, as well as an EDEN sample on the beautiful ‘NYA SAGE INTERLUDE’. Releasing singles across the run up to the project has seen his music added to influential playlists such as Fresh Finds UK & IE, The Loft and Irish Dance. Now the full story is ready to be heard.
Informed by a similar world of creative and cultural influences – from music and travel to visual arts the lessons life teaches us – HATAKE’s debut long player Life Of Colour (“one of the underrated Irish albums of 2022”, Nialler9) was an introspective view of his personal development and growth throughout the period of its creation. After the starker, more monochrome, companion piece Life Without Colour, he released ‘1975’ in April 2023 and returned in July of that year with the two track Summertime In Ireland Tapes – premiered on BBC Radio 1 Introducing.
Upcoming shows:
National Gallery, Dublin: Nov 7th
Workman’s Cellar, Dublin: Nov 10th
Duke Of York, Belfast (Output Festival): Nov 12th
