Soothing Music, Updated
Columnist: Gabriela Keane
While there is certainly no shortage of electropop female-singer male-producer duos pushing their tracks on Soundcloud, the “spare and sexy electro R&B” sounds of MADE IN HEIGHTS are worth a listen.
San Diego County native Kelsey Bulkin handles the vocals and lyrics, which accompany the hip beats crafted by Seattle native Alexei Saba Mohajerjasbi, stage name “Sabzi,” who works his magic on the production side.
Sabzi is by no means new to the music scene, holding producer credits on a handful of alternative hip-hop collaborations including the comedic rap group Das Racist. His production abilities are outstanding as he strips away the unnecessaries and lets unadulterated, drum-heavy beats shine through.
His ethereal keyboard melodies are complemented by Bulkin’s lush vocals and whip-smart lyrics, all unifying to create the “fantasy element” Bulkin speaks to as characterizing their music.
The pair first crossed paths in early 2010 at the wedding of a mutual friend, where both were putting their crafts to work: Bulkin as the wedding singer, and Sabzi as the DJ. Bulkin remembers hearing the R&B tunes of Keith Sweat being spun during the reception dinner, citing this as the moment she knew meeting the DJ was a necessity.
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A musical partnership began via email and led to a year of sending beats and clips back and forth.
The pair then went to Seattle to work out of a friend’s studio and finally release music under the MADE IN HEIGHTS name. This manifested in the form of their 2010 EP entitled “Winter Pigeons,” which sparked the flame of the MADE IN HEIGHTS fan base.
The duo’s continued on and off collaborations eventually became a permanent “on,” as both members relocated to Los Angeles–and started transforming MADE IN HEIGHTS from a side project to a band.
Bulkin says that LA contributed to their sound, drawing parallels between the strange contrasts of the city (i.e. 80° winters) and similar contrasts in their music.
Following the move, MADE IN HEIGHTS released an eponymous album in 2013. They have since put out a handful of singles off of their next album, which is slated for release in early 2015.
“Sometimes it’s hard for me to say what I’m thinking,” sings Bulkin on an album track “Holla Mears,” but the same is not true when it comes to fans exclaiming praise for MADE IN HEIGHTS.
Check out their album and singles on iTunes and Spotify, and follow their Soundcloud for the latest MADE IN HEIGHTS goodness.
