Track of the Day: KVNYL “Running” (2020)

Melbourne-based emcee KVNYL (Kuh-Vinyl) has got something special on his hands with “Running”, the fiery bass-heavy single taken from EP The Worst of Me.

And its influences are clear. Kendrick Lamar, Saba, Denzel Curry – those three individual styles stomp all over this track, but KVNYL is certainly carving his own identity in the midst of the new wave that’s crash through Aussie hip hop and widening its range. Crucial is the action-packed instrumental from local producer Angus (Travy P, Saint Lane, Peezo), who has used furious 808 lines to stitch together pieces of dancehall and EDM, forging the end result with an aggressively electric riff.

“Angus and I designed the track to make the listener feel like they’ve just dropped into the middle of an all action car chase,” said KVNYL. “Each section is made to feel like I’ve turned the corner into a new obstacle whilst I’m dodging explosions and debris.”

The track, which features close collaborator Sir Jude, fits into the wider concept behind the emcee’s forthcoming EP, which imagines a protagonist on the run for his life from “shady characters”, each a metaphor for his own worst aspects.

For more on KVNYL you can follow him on Facebook here.

Chris Singh

Chris Singh is an Editor-At-Large at the AU review, loves writing about travel and hospitality, and is partial to a perfectly textured octopus. You can reach him on Instagram: @chrisdsingh.