MUMBAI : SF-bred/LA-based underground rave producer a.k.a. skips has reemerged into the spotlight in grand fashion.
The creative polymath (formerly known as Ducky) made a name for himself over the past decade through collaborations with artists such as Jauz and MUST DIE!; performances at festivals such as Ultra Music Festival, EDC Las Vegas, Bonnaroo, and Lollapalooza; tours alongside heavy-hitters like Anna Lunoe, Mija, Kayzo, and NGHTMRE; and releases on vaunted labels such as Deadbeats, Astralwerks, Dim Mak, Activia Benz, Spinnin, NEST (OWSLA sister label), and more.
After retiring the Ducky alias in 2021, the producer/painter/photographer/tattoo artist took a two-year hiatus to privately transition as a man. Fast-forward to 2023, he’s used the past two months to introduce his new a.k.a. skips project by releasing two scintillating, throwback 90s-warehouse bangers: “F.T.N.U.” and “My Only Mistake.”
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The artist’s creative pursuits have also expanded into other formats under his full name, CK Neiman. Last month, he opened up pre-orders for his debut photo book, i want to rest and be held by someone who loves me (press release) – a raw, personal portrait produced through Neiman’s own queer-driven micropress, Be Your Own Self, and in collaboration with publishing house For The Birds Trapped In Airports. Told primarily through a collection of Neiman’s film photos from ages 17-30, this new book takes readers on a visual journey through its author’s experiences with addiction, sobriety, depression, gender dysphoria, and more.
i want to rest and be held by someone who loves me was featured at the SF Art Book Fair last month ahead of its August showcase at the LA Art Book Fair (August 10 – August 13). Pre-orders are available here, and will begin to ship throughout August.
He’s also currently displaying his painting Mouse Trap! at renowned Los Angeles art gallery La Luz De Jesus for their annual group exhibition Everything But The Kitchen Sink, which runs from July 8 – August 28. The painting is available for purchase here.
Now, following a busy summer that saw him publicly present his art for the first time in two years, a.k.a. skips is gearing up to release Jawfiller, his debut EP under the new alias. Having already established a vintage, brooding rave sound, Jawfiller promises to showcase a diverse collection of tracks that push a.k.a. skips into new sonic directions while retaining his core mission: to push the boundaries of dance music through an unapologetically queer lens. As a result, the EP will represent the music he’s always wanted to make.
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Today, listeners can get their first taste of Jawfiller with the project’s lead single, “I.T.C.T.M.,” – a playful club banger that is as infectious as it is subversive.
“I.T.C.T.M.” (which stands for “In The Club Too Much”) kicks off with a stuttering, thumping kick drum rhythm before bringing in swirling, clicking percussive sound design. The track then builds with big beat-esq synth patterns before dropping into a combination of bruising bass synth lines, cacophonous, chopped up vocal samples, and incendiary hi-hats.
In the song’s central breakdown, it takes an unpredictable turn, stripping the synths and piecing together lively drum sounds into a charmingly jagged rhythm. It then builds with a repeated vocal sample, added percussion, and heart-racing risers before dropping again into its jovial, dance-inducing beat.
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