Crooked Lidz causing a scene on Chch electronic music scene
the year above that were making hiphop beats, I was like ‘yeah, I want to do that’,’’ Murray said.
He adopted the alias Azure in 2016 and founded Crooked Lidz, a label and live collaboration group featuring drum machines, samplers and synthesisers.
‘‘The idea came from one night on a bender. The whole night we were saying – ‘these lids are crook man, we got crooked lids’ – I was like, wait, Crooked Lidz, that’s a good name.’’
The group have released 24 projects, including solo material and collaborations between members, but Murray said it was their live act that had brought them attention.
‘‘We’re always just p ..... as, having fun, being super interactive. I’m pretty sure a few times we’ve punched each other in the face on stage just because it’s funny,’’ he said. ‘‘I think people enjoy the anarchy of our crew.’’
Murray recently gained international attention through his other group, 2XM, formed with Ben Murray, a Wellington-based multiinstrumentalist and high school friend.
2XM tracks are mellow and spacious to allow for instrumental freedom for the Wellingtonian’s keyboard. Murray said it was this project he was most excited about.
‘‘I can make tracks by myself, but I can’t make tracks like the ones me and Ben make. Every time he sends me stuff I get outwardly excited. He blows me away every time.’’
The pair released their debut EP in February through Nail Shop, a London-based indie label. A follow up is set to be released in August through SlothBoogie, another London label.
Since forming 2XM, Azure had performed in London, Prague, Ibiza and the Czech Republic. Though he praised Christchurch’s music scene, Murray hoped to move to Europe next year and would focus on sound over finance.