Music's Top 10 Slashies According To Visual Artist/ DJ Ego

Australian audiovisual maestro Ego is a fully fledged slashie – an internationally sought-out videographer by day turned multi-sensory DJ by night. From collaborating with the likes of The Presets, Touch Sensitive and Clubfeet to crafting his own multi-medium solo works fit for both the nightclub and the art gallery, Ego is an authority on what it means to dominate multiple artistic realms.

The talented Australian artist has also announced the arrival of his new video mixtape Between Dreams, which sees Ego melding hundreds of audio and visual samples with pop culture references in his signature psychedelic style. Case in point is the video for Flips And Flops, Drips And Drops which blends alt-j samples with visuals from Maurice Sendak’s seminal children’s book Where The Wild Things Are. It’s a trip.

In honour of the Between Dreams release and Ego’s current national tour dates, we’ve enlisted the help of the prolific slashie to give us insight into others of his ilk. Below are music’s 10 best slashies, according to Ego.

Watch: Electric Mantis – Flips and Flops (Ego’s Where the Wild Things Are AV Edit)

1. Tycho

Musician / Visual Artist

Ambient artist, Tycho is also the very rad visual artist, ISO50. He designs all his own (awesome) cover art as well as the visuals for his live show.

Watch: Tycho – Ascension

2. Ta-ku

Producer / Photographer

Another muli-talented beatmaker Ta-Ku. His Instagram feed is just as amazing as his SoundCloud with his still photography and work from his Create & Explore audio visual collaborative series. He also runs a barbershop yeah?

Watch: Ta-ku’s Create and Explore 001

Create and Explore 001 from Michael Salisbury on Vimeo.

3. Sampology

DJ / Visual / Producer

Sam is the slash-meister. He’s one of the world’s best DJs before you even throw in his visual show or his production work which is increasingly amazing. The Brisbane boy can do no wrong.

Watch: Sampology’s Stimulation AV Show, Full Set

http://youtu.be/LqSk80Kmohw

4. Cutloose

DJ / Chef

While we’re in QLD, shout out to Cutloose, whose Cut’n’Cook show is like nothing else – the guy cooks and DJs at the same time! Get this guy a TV show already.

Watch: Cut & Cook BBQ

5. Mos Def

MC / Actor

There’s no shortage of muso-turned-actors and vice versa but Mos, for me, is the top of the heap (close but no cigar, JT). See his performances in 16 Blocks and Hitchiker’s Guide to the Galaxy as exhibits A and B.

Watch: 16 Blocks (2005) – Subway Scene

6. J-Live

DJ / MC

I remember warming up for J-Live in Byron Bay, being a big fan of his albums, but watching him live beat juggle two records while simultaneously spitting rhymes was one of the craziest things I’ve ever seen on stage.

Watch: #SXSW 2011 – J Live (Beat Juggle Rap)

http://youtu.be/8n7o6kcj3dw

7. Dillon Francis

Producer / Comedian

So apparently bass producer Dillon Francis is starting a TV show on MTV. If his vines are anything to go by it should be some grade A slapstick.

8. The Heaps Decent Crew

Producers / Good Dudes

Special mention to Charlie Chux, Adam Bozetto, Stu Turner, Nina Las Vegas and all the Heaps Decent Crew. World class producers who regularly turn their skills to developing talent amongst young people in disadvantaged communities.

Watch: Heaps Decent feat MC Huz and The Riverina Crew – Anywhere But Here (Produced by A-Trak)

9. Danny Brown

MC / Children’s Author

Someone told me Danny Brown is writing a Dr Seuss-style children’s book. I can only imagine how that will turn out. I’ll take two.