TuneLab
HALFQUEEN
Tāmaki | FILTH Takeover
Of course we're here, desperately trying to ID that glitched-out R&B edit HALFQUEEN dropped at 3am. The FILTH Takeover in Tāmaki was exactly the kind of sweatbox where genre boundaries evaporate into pure, humid signal. Low ceilings, bodies pressed against speakers, the air thick with the promise of a leftfield banger. HALFQUEEN navigates a deliberately wide BPM spectrum from a crawling 98 to a sprinting 143, but the genius lies in averaging it all to a hypnotic 122, with the harmonic center firmly rooted in the moody depths of 12A. The energy profile is profoundly low-end focused—those sub-bass frequencies boasting a 0.6957 average dominance do all the heavy lifting, creating a deep, physical groove that locks the room into a collective head-nod.
Mid-range elements at 0.2129 are sparingly deployed for melodic texture and vocal snippets, while high-end hits at a mere 0.0536 are rare but precisely timed percussive accents. The mixing style is patient and atmospheric, often letting tracks unfold organically, using long blends and filter sweeps to build tension rather than abrupt cuts. This approach crafts a journey that feels less like a rollercoaster and more like a slow, harmonic cruise through shadowy electronic landscapes. The opening 'Diagonal (Dub Mix)' by RHR & Logan_olm is a statement of intent: 14 minutes of minimalist, evolving groove. LU2K's 'Ez Tool 2' follows, a raw and functional percussion weapon that keeps the floor locked.
The emotional core arrives with the back-to-back Kelela selections; first 'All the Way Down' lays down a soulful vibe, then Karen Nyame KG's remix of 'Contact' elevates it into a sublime, swinging garage anthem. Kormak's 'Lil Freak' adds a touch of UK funky swing, while WESTSIDE BOOGIE's 'Oh My' shows a deft hand with hip-hop infused edits. The true leftfield gem is the closing 'SAD GIRLZ LUV X-FILES' by dj g2g, a track that perfectly captures the set's blend of internet culture and club functionality. From the deep intro of 'Diagonal', we wind through soulful edits and percussive tools, with the Karen Nyame KG remix as the heartfelt peak, before landing in the bittersweet territory of 'SAD GIRLZ LUV X-FILES' to send us off.