Astronautalis And Tegan Quin Con Us

By Jenna Hawkins / September 29th, 2011 in Music / Los Angeles / 180 views

Minneapolis rapper Astronautalis‘ fourth full-length album, ‘This Is Our Science’ is semi-autobiographical and represents a new direction in the brand of hip hop. Known for performing freestyle raps at his live shows from audience-selected topics, the rapper formerly known as Charles Andrew Bothwell has bridged a gap between indie pop, unexpected electro melodies and his bread and butter, hip hop.

His latest single, Contrails does just this collaborating with one half of one of indie pop-rock’s biggest players, Tegan Quin of Tegan and Sara (with whom he toured in 2009). Two years later and the unlikely duo’s collaboration surprisingly works. With clear references to the self-procliamed King of Hip Hop Kanye West and nods to electro-glitch mastermind Beck, Contrails is a summer party track worthy of nothing less than P Diddy’s White Party.

The video was directed by the in-demand Stuey Kubrick and follows Astronautalis’ journey as a “blind beggar,” a stark difference to lead single, Measure The Globe, a laid back acoustic jam in a barbershop. Dressed in a suit with all the trappings of a down-on-his-luck hip hop star, Quin picks him up and they go for a joy ride downtown. Talk about Bonnie and Clyde 2.0.