You might know Chicagoan DJ/producer Chrissy from his output on Planet Mu, Hypercolour and other imprints, from his residency at his hometown hotspot Smart Bar, or from his blog My Year of Mixtapes. But when he teams with singer-songwriter Hawley Shoffner, Chrissy reveals yet another string to his sonic bow.
As Chrissy and Hawley, the duo create classy electronic dance-pop influenced by everyone from the Pet Shop Boys and Arthur Russell to Boytronic and Patrick Cowley. In short, Chrissy & Hawley create synth-slathered tracks that move your feet without forgetting that you have a head on your shoulders.
The first, self-titled Chrissy & Hawley LP is due out from The Nite Owl Diner label — the imprint Chrissy runs with Alex Burkat — on July 15, and the first track has just been shared from the record. The electro-bedazzled, hook-heavy “Photobooth” will either give you a glorious case of ’80s deja vu or make you wish you were old enough to have one. But in the meantime, for those who might want to catch Chrissy & Hawley in the act, the pair will be performing together at a hometown show at Gramaphone Records (sic) on April 23.