re.verse

From their humble beginnings tracing back as far as mid 2011, this collective of multi-talented Toronto based musicians, composers and producers has made a significant mark on their local music scene, captivating its audiences by merging contemporary urban grooves with jazz improvisation in a curious and exhilarating way.

At it’s core is a simple trio of 6-string electric bass and synth (band leader, self-taught producer and audio engineer Damian Matthew aka Lnguage), drums (Santino “Chino” De Villa) and guitar (Robb Cappelletto). But what’s so anomalous about this unassuming little unit is their atypical approach to performances - one that sustains a dynamic energy for extended lengths, which few bands in their vein can contest with.

Perhaps the most striking attribute of re.verse is the impressively large sound they’re able to conjure out of just a few instruments, often by way of using cleverly effected 6-string bass and guitars to introduce imaginative synth-like tones and textures that embellish their sonic canvas (a characteristic born from a desire capture a “producer’s mindset” in their live performances). However, arguably just as remarkable and captivating is their signature “DJ style” live set format - a seamless flow of tasteful spontaneous transitions between songs, employed by using subtle musical cues as triggers - a tactic the trio has learned to execute with uncanny precision. This subtle but highly musical tool is the swiss army knife in re.verse’s toolbox, enabling them to tell a more connected story to their audiences. It’s a mesmerizing experience that highlights nuances, draws parallels and bridges gaps between contrasting grooves, genres and eras of urban music - all on the fly. This idiosyncratic approach manages to capture the essence of re.verse’s jazz and hip hop roots, while guiding their audiences on an instrumental journey that intuitively glides its way through a vibrant spectrum of classic and current urban sounds, encompassing r&b, trap, (neo) soul, (future) funk, J Dilla style beats, house, afro and latin tropical rhythms, breakbeats, drum & bass, live remixes and mashups, and more.

Damian, Robb and Chino have spent over 7 years developing this unique live chemistry, a result of performing at regular weekly residencies in the downtown Toronto music scene in local hot spots like Mrs. Robinson, 416 Snackbar, and the Drake Hotel among others. No one live set from re.verse is ever quite the same, and it’s that intriguing element of surprise, supported by deep pocket grooves, rich ambience and utter musical sincerity, that keeps fans from many urban music niches intrigued and returning for more.

In early 2021, re.verse dropped their debut release, “beat tape 1”, an independently recorded, produced and engineered project that honours their influences and gives fans a glimpse of the band’s trajectory. They are also featured on upcoming releases with Canadian artists A Tribe Called Red, Shad, and others, and regularly do collaborative performances with DJ Skratch Bastid and HiFiLo. Stay on the look out for more re.verses releases in the near future.

Visit https://rvrs416.com for links to re.verse’s Spotify, Apple Music, Bandcamp, Instagram, videos on Youtube, performance calendar and other socials.

Enquiries: re.verse416@gmail.com