
The sidewalk was practically overflowing with people waiting to get in to see Australian DJ What So Not make his Canadian debut at the always lively music mecca that is The Hoxton. Even though doors had opened only an hour earlier, the room was packed from stage to coat check. The Hoxton is no stranger to packing in their Bathurst St. dancefloor but it never fails to amaze me, yet comes as no surprise that one of the producers of the biggest tracks that is iconic as Tell Me packed the house as quickly as What So Not.
When I had passed through The Hoxton’s friendly but stern security, the already sea of people were flowing along to GOW’s bass heavy trap, house and hip hop tunes. Although I had only caught the tail end of GOW’s set, and judging by his sweet selection and seamless mixing, I take it on good faith that we will see much more of GOW’s presence in the years to come and that he will continue to grow into another Toronto staple in similar fashion that Pusher, HRMXNY and the night’s next act has.
That incredible next act who’s making waves all over Toronto would be the one and only Internet Daughter. This DJ/producer seen rocking a blonde buzz cut would keep the bass heavy tunes bumping and the windows shaking well into the midnight until it was time for the Sydney native to take over Toronto. Most known for her flips of Jersey Club queen Uniiqu3’s Hula Hoop and Yo (I’m Lit), Internet Daughter blended together hip hop influenced trap, grime and jersey club with electronic sounds of breakbeat, house and future bass along with remixes of iconic hip hop tracks including Gwen Stefani’s Hollaback Girl, Vic Mensa’s U Mad and N*E*R*D’s Lapdance. Internet Daughter is definitely one of Toronto’s biggest up and comers and I wouldn’t be surprised if she takes the world by storm in the next few years.
A humbled Emoh Instead, the man under the What So Not moniker, came out to an over ecstatic crowd who was just as ready to see him preform for the first time in Toronto as he was to play for his sea of fans. The sounds from The Hoxton’s speakers would change from hard and trappy to smooth and flowy, a signature sound that What So Not is famous for. The crowd, practically packed like sardines on the dancefloor, grooved and flowed to the sultry bass of tracks such as Death Drive, Oddity & Arrows from the most recent Gemini EP. Amazed by the turnout, Emoh would add a few videos of the crowd to his Snapchat story in memento of the incredible evening. What So Not would showcase more sensual sounds of a post Flume era with most recent tracks including a remix of Rufus Del Sol’s Interbloom and GANZ collaboration featuring Australian singer JOY titled Lone.
Fans have been waiting years for a long time for What So Not to reach our northern shores and the inaugural event is one that will not be forgotten for years to come.