Ears Wide Open: WORK

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Work

Dear festivals, warehouse parties and EDM club nights: When the pandemic is over and things return to some semblance of normal, WORK will be ready for you.

WORK is the L.A.-based duo of Julio Tavarez and Joe Zizzo, both New York natives who currently are touring members of Canadian electronic music standouts Bob Moses. Each has a long history in bands and as side players: Zizzo drummed for the Aughts post-hardcore band the Sleeping and has toured behind the kit for the likes of Hot Natured, Sky Ferreira and Santigold. Tavarez, bassist for As Tall As Lions for six years, eventually moved to L.A. to co-found The Black and the White and eventually work with Jesse Jo Stark, Jamie N Commons and Dawn Richards.

As WORK, Tavarez and Zizzo go the DIY route, plumbing post-punk and ’90s dance music to make deliciously dirtied-up house. They’ve released a handful of singles so far, the latest being “Are We Friends or Are We Lovers (K.E.O.),” a collision of relentless bass and old-school effects. “Are we friends or are we lovers? / Always tryin’ to kill each other,” they sing, leaving the question to be answered on the dancefloor.

Because of the lockdown, the duo have yet to make their live debut, but when they do, they will perform in black light drenched in glowing paint. They are currently working on a video of their live set, so stay tuned.

||| Stream: “Are We Friends or Are We Lovers (K.E.O.)” and “Islands”