When we last connected with Tiberius b they were camped out in the woods behind their grandmother’s house in Dolwyddelan, Wales, to play an impassioned, stripped-down live version of the title track from their 2021 EP Stains for our “Neighborhoods” performance series. And while, yeah, that technically makes them a prominent musical figure within that Welsh village’s population of roughly 500 individuals, Tiberius is more frequently tied to a burgeoning experimental pop scene continually gathering steam in South London.
Since that performance, Tiberius b has rolled around in pigeon poop and presented listeners with Din, another EP which maintains Stains’s focus on innovative sound design while applying it to a more pop-focused goal. Mining the darkened electronics of Massive Attack and Portishead with the help of an A-list production team featuring Andrew Sarlo, Yves Rothman, and Vampire Weekend’s Chris Baio, the EP bounces around various additional outside influences (Tiberius is nearly rapping across lead single “Jetski”), the exposure afforded by Tiberius’ label Zelig Music (founded and operated by Mark Ronson) shining a light on an otherwise globally overlooked pocket of fascinating sounds germinating in South London.
With Din out now, Tiberius b took the time to share the spotlight with a handful of their South London peers, compiling a playlist of some of their favorite tracks by artists within the scene. Check out Din here, and continue on for more groundbreaking sounds from South London.
Sokora Violetov, “Qewl”
Recently Soko and I bumped into each other at a pond. When we were there we had a good conversation about where we were and the way listening to The Fall suited hot weather. When I was doing this [playlist] I realized that I hadn’t heard any of her solo stuff and she sent me this. I get a feeling from the song that it’s an accurate and soulful distillation of the artist in the moment it was made, which I find to be rare and miraculous.
Alpha Maid and Mica Levi, “Peg”
I met Alpha Maid when Mica and them were making these short films called 4 Dregs. We spent the day acting out four bizarre yet mundane skits. This EP is reminiscent of that project in a way, potent and disruptive but not taking itself super seriously.
JB Glazer, “Stumbling Home Back (Beam)”
Josh sent me a private SoundCloud link for this song years ago. I saw him perform it live the other day and felt grateful for it being in the world now. The show was crazy because it spanned a lot of his more heavy influences, and it’s sick and powerful that he possesses this singer/songwriter skill set alongside that.
Mark William Lewis, “Painkillers”
Mark and I live together and it’s been amazing to witness the way his music develops in real time. I think I’ve always had an attraction to songs that are happy-sad, and I feel this does that thing perfectly.
Piglet, “Dan’s Note”
Thankful to the person who introduced me to Piglet. The brave way he writes lyrics makes me feel less scared and alone as an artist. I’m lucky to know him and to have made a couple songs together. The live performance of this song made me cry a lot.
Bianca Scout, “Vanguard”
Scout used to teach this ballet class that was so deep. I met many of the people who I love and collaborate with now to this day through that class. The experiences that they facilitated were pivotal to me and exemplified artistic communion. She is someone who lives her art in such completeness, which I admire.
LA Timpa, “Treatment”
I don’t know if LA Timpa lives in South London anymore but I’m very drawn to their uncompromising work and need to listen to things like this so much to be reminded of the feeling of play.
Shovel Dance Collective, “II: Camera Flash on the Deptford Foreshore, the Rolling Waves, Crashing Spring Waves by the Cutty Sark”
I saw SDC perform around Christmas in a church last year. They made a gorgeous songbook for the show and it was enriching to sing together, something I feel people who aren’t religious miss out on. I appreciate the nature of intent behind unearthing old songs. I chose this piece because I spend a lot of time on Deptford beach.
Kelora, “I Don’t Ask Why”
I think this group excellently weaves a contemporary palette into something that sounds inherently ancient. There’s the peacemaking with nostalgia that happens in those moments, which is something I think about a lot in my music.
Still House Plants, “More More Faster”
Each time I’ve seen SHP they’ve closed their set with this song. The spiritual, familial bond between them is so palpable and loving, which makes witnessing the show feel joyous to the viewer, too. Each entity within the group is really singular, but there's this profound unity within that. Jess has one of my favorite voices.
