(Ninja Tune)
The duo’s snotty nonchalance may capture the post-Brat zeitgeist, but their true appeal lies in a talent for turning vintage dance influences into pointed modern pop
Those who suggest the era of the hyped artist is over – a victim of declining interest in the music press – might consider the case of New York’s F******. Such was the buzz generated by the electroclash-adjacent duo’s early singles that they ended up touring five continents within barely a year of their first live show. They were invited to DJ at Paris fashion week by Celine and to collaborate on a remix by James Murphy of LCD Soundsystem. Charli xcx pronounced herself a fan, as did Billie Eilish, David Byrne and Beck, the last appearing on stage with them in Los Angeles to perform their cover of his 1996 single Devils Haircut. Tame Impala subsequently took them on tour as a support act, then Harry Styles – never tardy when it comes to associating himself with a hip name – invited them to open for him.
The effect of all this has been startling. A video for 2024 single Homie Don’t Shake featuring nothing more than vocalist Shanny Wise miming to the song while sitting on an NYC bus – its budget allegedly amounting to nothing more than the cost of the ticket – has earned nearly half a million views. Another single, Bon Bon, has more than 10m streams on Spotify alone.
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