[REVIEW] Danté Knows - Act Back

Danté Knows’ (@dante.knows) explosive single Act Back is dense, to say the least. Featuring production from local powerhouse Korky Buchek (@korky.buchek), the Brooklyn born artist mixes booming 808’s and dial tones together to form an experimental yet catchy track. Sydney based videographer Murli (@_murli) covers visuals - using a pastiche of VCR effects, slow motion sequences, and scrunched-up paper transitions to help Knows articulate that there is more to Eat Street than Bay Vista visits.

(Image Credit: Danté Knows. Provided by Bodega Collective (@bodegacollective)

There are a wealth of references in both the track and the music video. As soon as that first dial tone played and the Danté Knows logo was scrawled across the screen, I thought nineties - specifically, quirky phone-conversation-interludes on classic hip-hop albums. The visuals go on, however, to juxtapose the golden-era with a heavily industrialised aesthetic. Those purple-framed glasses? Matrix AF. The concrete jungle of Parramatta? Not so much. Riding a scooter in a matching tracksuit on the footpath? Back to the nineties. See what I mean with the references?

Despite the wide range of ideas, Knows makes it work. The pitched down vocals, phone samples and occasional whispering make for an entertaining two-and-a-bit-minutes. Murli matches this energy with his editing - frequently switching styles to keep up with the Knows’ energy. We get night-vision, snappy pixelation, and long exposure within a matter of seconds. Any other videographer would have attempted to make their own mark on the track, instead of bouncing off the intention of the artist. Hats off to Murli.

(Image: Act Back music video. Directed by Murli)

With an impressive resume spanning VFiles runways and General Pants advertisement campaigns, Knows has his feet on the ground. Multidisciplinary is truly the name of the game, and this debut single should do much to propel the artist further into the consciousness of Sydney’s music scene. I can’t seem to find another local artist who sounds like him. Experimental trap is a real niche genre. Just like that falling brick phone in the opening shot, however, Knows’ sound is nothing short of groundbreaking. With the Bodega boys behind him, the Sydney artist is out to get what he deserves. 

Keep an eye out on his socials for updates!