Rising Arp: siiio Releases SABO, A Post-Modern Outburst Inspired By EBM & Russian Electro Punk

siiio has been shaping up his signature sound since relocating to London (Credit: Courtesy of siiio)

siiio can’t exorcise that rock spirit outta his veins, and it screams out loud in his latest artistic pursuit. A frontrunner of the local emo scene as one part of Xingfoo&Roy since 2013, Daniel Chan has found second wind in his siiio alias where he explores an electronic persona influenced by electro, techno and punk. It’s a blend that blatantly shows in his repertoire, steered by a gutsy gusto unhindered by genre definitions and an urge to conform.

That output can be observed in siiio’s latest four-track EP, SABO, which was crafted after he relocated to London while inspired intriguingly by Russian electro punk and EBM. He’s soaked up such niche left-field sources to fire up dancefloor-ready instrumentals, like the clamorous “RL2.0” armed with elements of UK dubstep, ’90s big beat and clangy industrial techno; and the mischievous, hyper-strung “Dybbuk” shaped with discordant Southeast Asian-influenced percussions. And then you have the latter-half caffeine shots of “NE16” and “Agar”, with volatile syncopated rhythms reflective of post-modern club music.

Daniel’s identity shift in music has been highly apparent with his siiio moniker, which has garnered success through gigs with Wild Pearl, Cherry Kitchen and several London institutions including a monthly residency with AAJA Radio. Yet in the bedlam of his next-gen tracks, you can still pick up on that rockstar irreverence.