Q&A: Snakehips on reuniting with Tinashe and returning to Asia

Snakehips turned up the heat in 2015 with their record with Tinashe ‘All My Friends’, which also featured Chance The Rapper. It's an unmistakable ear-worm that club DJs still can't get enough of, even seven years later.

And 2022 saw the duo comprising of Oliver Lee and James Carter reunite with the American singer for their latest single in 2022 ‘Who’s Gonna Love You Tonight’: a lush, piano-driven production that ties in Snakehips’ trademark blend of r’n’b, pop and electronica with Tinashe’s gliding, airy vocals.

Their post-summer visit to Indonesia, and Malaysia to perform at Good Vibes Festival, marked the end of a three-year hiatus from Asia; Mixmag Asia caught up with one of half of the duo, Oliver Lee, to see how well their latest hit is singing through the region and what they love most about touring here.

What was it like collaborating with Tinashe on your recent single ‘Who's Gonna Love You Tonight’?

It was really cool working with Tinashe again on this record, on All My Friends we actually had recorded it all in different places and couldn't get together in the studio at the same time with everybody. On Who's Gonna Love You Tonight we managed to vibe it out in the studio together which is always really good fun, it was just cool to connect again and make new music, we love Tinashe's voice and it's great that we got to run it back.

You recently performed at Good Vibes Festival in Malaysia. How was it?

Good Vibes festival was sick! That was our first show in Asia for like almost 3 years. The crowd was so hyped and it felt so good to back out there. Obviously because of covid we haven't been able to connect with our fans out there for a while like that but it was a really life affirming experience to be travelling in Malaysia & Indonesia again, we can't wait to come back.

Did you play out ‘Who’s Gonna Love You Tonight’? Which remix/version did you play?

Yeah we actually played an edit with the original that builds into a drop at the end. The original just feels like the most honest and powerful version of the tune & that festival was the first opportunity to play it live and see peoples' reactions to it.

And what was the crowd reaction like?

It was so good! A bunch of people already knew the words. Was so nice to see.

What are your three favourite things to do when you tour Asia?

Honestly there's so much cool stuff to do, I feel like as the culture & vibe is so different to England it just a trip to be there and walk around different cities and take in the sights. There's always so much good food to try too.

What’s the strangest cultural thing a promoter has ever taken you to do?

Someone took us to an onsen in Japan once! We didn't know how that everyone had to be naked, it was funny as hell.

Your 2015 single ‘All My Friends’ is still a popular hit around the world. Do you have a message to share with your friends in Asia?

Just thank you so much for the support, we really appreciate you all & look forward to seeing you next time we're back.

What’s the weirdest thing you’ve ever seen happening from the DJ booth?

We were DJing in Australia and a cockroach out of nowhere landed on James shoulder and ran all over him for a bit. It was horrible haha.

Go-to hangover food?

Pizza most of the time. Pizza is the best food. I'd eat it everyday if I could.

If the world were ending, what song would you play?

R.E.M. 'It's The End of The World as We Know It'

What was the worst job you had before you were a successful touring artist?

I once had a job in a plastic factory that made parts of dishwashers. I was just on a conveyor belt for like 8 hours at a time packaging these pieces of dishwashers. It was not fun.

If you could spend a day with anyone on the planet, who would it be?

Professor Brian Cox because we could talk music & astrology.

Snakehips feat. Tinashe ‘Who’s Gonna Love You Tonight' is out now. Have a listen below.