From beginnings as DJs, remixers and producers, The Young Punx have spent the past few years developing a name for themselves as pioneers who aren’t afraid to break the rules… one minute producing filthy electro, the next recording a twenty piece live brass section and then cutting and mashing it up in the studio. Fitting then that their sophomore album ‘Mashpop & Punkstep’ encapsulates their ethos of deliberate removal of genre boundaries, providing next level mash-up culture music and enough surprises to keep fans, new and old, happy.
The only act that would open an album with a drum and bass, heavy metal, pop and Cuban track ‘You, You, You’ and make it enjoyable and accessible. Recent single ‘Ready For The Fight’ combines the best of London dance production with big room hip hop vibes, thanks to the vocal talents of indie hip hop don Count Bass D. Praised by the critics, the track has also been chosen as the official entry music for IBF Middleweight World Champion boxer Arthur Abraham. Alongside this sit the twisted disco vibes of ‘SugarCandySuperNova’, electro-pop anthem ‘Burn Burn Burn’ and the time travelling journey that is ‘Simple Pleasures’ – a track that opens with 1970’s influenced punk, ends with D&B style toastings and is proof that that a hooky riff, strong bassline and love-based lyrics are a timeless blend. Throw in a Young Punx take on Puccini’s ‘O Mio Babbino Caro’ and you have a snapshot of The Young Punx indefinable, genre-hopping and ever inventive sound.
The Young Punx aim is to “embody the spirit of a great party where the music is f***king cool and credible, but all about good times and fun”.
At the core of the Young Punx collective is the trio of Hal Ritson, Nathan Taylor and Simon Bettison, who fulfil different roles on stage and in the studio, all the while embodying the electronica that sits at the core of the TYP sound. The triumvirate surround themselves with an eclectic group of influences and collaborators that help to make the collective what it is today. Indeed, theirs could well be the only studio where a speed metal guitarist (Guthrie Govan), a leading underground dance producer (Phonat), who co-produced the album, a top US rapper from Memphis (Count Bass D), a London based rock singer (Laura Kidd), an opera singer (Jassy Husk), a brass band and a couple of DJ’s all meet, make music together and enjoy a drink afterwards.
Individually the Young Punx are a bunch of musical over-achievers and together they have already caught the ear of some of the world’s top DJs and producers and built themselves a solid base of dedicated followers through their podcasts. The Young Punx live band also doubles up as Dizzee Rascal's live band, with Hal Ritson acting as Music Director for Dizzee's critically acclaimed show at the BBC Electric Proms. Hal has also been working as Musical Director for Example's live band, including his recent BBC Radio 1 Live Lounge performance.
They’ve got the high profile hook-ups, primetime placements and an impeccable pedigree, with the release of ‘Mashpop & Punkstep’ The Young Punx could well have produced the first dancefloor focused, must-have album of the year…
