Apex (Edit)

Casually Here (AKA Nic Nell) is an artist, composer, sound designer and producer/engineer with a background in art and mathematics. Recent projects include producing Orlando Weeks' (The Maccabees) acclaimed album 'A Quickening' and collaborating on an electronic art/dance project with Lawrence Hart released as a series of EPs on Hotflush, which received huge support in the dance world from the likes of George Fitzgerald, Sasha and The Blessed Madonna and a collaboration with VR artists Gibson/Martelli which was included in the BFI London Film Festival Expanded Exhibition . Nic is also one half of both Young Colossus and art pop duo Rainer.

'Apex' is the spiritual and emotional centrepiece of Casually Here's acclaimed second album 'Possible Worlds'. Inspired by a transcendent experience on the dancefloor during a Jon Hopkins DJ set, 'Apex' evokes the feelings of collective optimism and joy of not only being a part of greater humanity, but of being an interconnected part of all life on Earth. 'Apex' places us within a wider context of deep time, from our evolutionary origins to a hopeful future.

We open with a large, burnt orange sun, seen through the heat haze of the day over field recordings made in Malawi. Dense layers of tribal drums tumble and crash, capturing some of the dustiness and primal physicality of the natural world. Detailed layers of synths build, cascade and roar, like the immortal scene in Henri Rousseau'sTiger in a Tropical Storm, as 'Apex' hurtles forward before we break out into a wide open space. Futuristic sound design accompanied by swelling choirs grows into a moment of transcendence before building once again to reach Savannah-wide calm at the end. This is dance music to celebrate and share.

This edit of the single is being released to tie in with the release of award winning director Alexander Brown (James Blake, Orlando Weeks)'s ambitious animated film for the track made entirely within the Unreal 5 game engine. 'Apex' was featured in a a Tech Talk piece in DJ Mag about how the record was made alongside support from places like Future Music, Uncut, Clash and Electronic Sound.

From wonder and flourishing to darker surveillance A.I. dystopian paths, 'Possible Worlds' explores bifurcating possible futures at this precarious point in history, ending on feelings of optimism. Positive paths include making the most of scientific and technological breakthroughs whilst living in closer harmony with nature and the biosphere. Belgian artist/architect Luc Shuiten, whose work ties in philosophically with the themes of the album, has kindly given permission for his 1970s vision of a future organic city 'La Ville Creuse' to be used as the artwork.

The record explores these themes with a combination of acoustic and electronic instrumentation, analog hardware and sound design. Using the modern tools of the studio, it aims to push the sonic boundaries of both the dance floor and the headphone/home listening experience.

Written, performed, produced and mixed by Casually Here,'Possible Worlds' was mastered and cut by Guy Davie (Jon Hopkins, Bibio, Nathan Fake etc). It follows Casually Here's 2015 debut 'Kept', an immersive sound sculpture exploring liminal conscious states and accompanied by several films.

Nic founded and runs Algebra Records with a focus on supporting emerging artists practically, technically and collegiately to help foster artistic community and context.