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Music

"USA vs UK:" A Playlist by Sydney Producer Jack Grace

Matthew James Woodward

Sydney-based producer Jack Grace has done well to capture the attention of a nation in just under a year. From his debut single "Hills" featuring Buoy, to today's "All Lost," the second single from his upcoming EP, River, we've met a seasoned songwriter with incredible attention to detail and a knack for reflecting the world around him.

In anticipation of the release of River, we asked Jack to make a playlist. Listen below.

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River draws on stuff fairly evenly from the US and UK and so i thought it would be interesting to go one for one on a playlist. I always find it interesting comparing the UK and US. It's obviously not black and white; there's a lot of crossover here. I love the fact that it's not something you can be really exact about, there are many instances where it's hard to discern where stuff is made. I still feel, and think I can hear key characteristics that survive—beyond accents—that have their lineage tied to a particular continent.

Mumdance (feat. Novelist) – "Take Time"

Mumdance is so wild.

Travis Scott – "Apple Pie"

Mike Dean has produced so much of the hip hop I love out of the States.


Charlie XCX – "Vroom Vroom"

Sophie nailed this EP. The video for this is worth noting.

Tinashe – "All Hands on Deck"

I guess earlier Tinashe was Charlie XCX's US equivalent? Long bow? I just felt perhaps the approach was similar to "Vroom Vroom" in its excessiveness.


DJ Rashad, Spinn and Taso – "Only One"

Music from Chicago has had a massive impact on me. From Curtis Mayfield and Curtom Records to Kanye West to DJ Rashad.

Mark Pritchard – "Manabadman"

This is a UK equivalent — it's interesting I found footwork and stuff at those higher tempos through Mark Pritchard. Love his stuff.


FKA Twigs – "Water Me"

This first EP is still my favourite one.

Kanye West – "I Am A God"

This came out the same year as "Water Me." Arca really played a big part in changing the game that year.

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King Krule – "Easy Easy"

Fun fact: King Krule and Bobby Womack are label mates.

Bobby Womack – "Deep River"

This is such a significant track on every level and one of my favourite Afro-American Spirituals. I used to have a recording that I would listen to as a kid of the London Tabernacle Choir singing it. It's funny that it took a UK producer to get this on record.

Follow Jack Grace on Soundcloud and preorder River here.