Shayne Oliver and Arca Are Releasing an Album
For any young creative, dreams of relocating to a bustling metropolis like New York City are driven by ideas of fruitful collaborations that challenge and push their craft. That's exactly what happened when 17-year-old Alejandra met Shayne Oliver at GHE20G0TH1K, a club night the designer hosted in 2009. Now better known as the Grammy-nominated experimental musician Arca, the Venezuelan producer and Hood By Air and Anonymous Club founder would form a creative friendship spanning fashion and music. In 2012 when Hood By Air was gaining traction in the fashion world with its clubwear-inspired collections, the creative powerhouses formed the musical group WENCH. Over a five-year period, the duo produced mixtapes and runway show soundtracks. Arca would even make a catwalk cameo at the brand's S/S 16 show.
Previously only available on streaming site Soundcloud under the moniker 88 mmuussicc, the group is making its first official release with its debut album Greatest Hits ’88 - ’16. From the over 50 tracks the pair produced — including rare recordings — the 12-track album embodies the underground club culture that set the scene of their burgeoning friendship. As explained in the press statement the formation of WENCH was a way for 'Arca and Oliver to vent any frustrations with constraints of the fashion system as well as kicking against all boundaries of that era; rigidity in the face of sensuality, masculinity, femininity, orientation, gender, race and class'
To accompany the release of Greatest Hits ’88 - ’16, Anonymous Club — the latest creative venture by Oliver — teased a special clothing drop on its Instagram. The creative studio spans performance, music and fashion as the creative maverick mentors emerging designers and the next generation of club kids. Earlier this month the brand launched its first collection as part of Club Couture, a series of parties hosted by Oliver. For those lucky enough to be in NYC, a special edition of Club Couture will be playing the album on 11 August.
You can listen to WENCH's debut album Greatest Hits ’88 - ’16, via NTS Radio.