Running Touch

When Matthew Kopp debuted his work as Running Touch in the mid-2010s, the Melbourne producer kept it anonymous at first. Presumably he wanted people to absorb his soulful vocals and layered electronics at a remove from his role as a founding guitarist in alt-metal band Ocean Grove. After pivoting to a studio-only member, Kopp threw himself into his quite different solo outlet, exploring melancholy R&B on 2016’s <i>A Body Slow</i> EP. His 2018 collaboration with Berlin producer Alexander Freund—the romantic and melodic slow-burn “My Hands”—became a platinum-selling hit in Australia, while the same year’s Hayden James team-up “Better Together” zeroed in on the club without losing his signature emotional component. Kopp moved comfortably between these zones on his 2022 album <i>Carmine</i>, evoking the dreamy balance of gorgeous singing and shifting textures of James Blake. He continued to bring an introspective touch to nocturnal dance-pop on 2024’s “I Can’t Wait All Night,” in stark contrast to his contributions as a guitarist and co-producer on Ocean Grove’s genre-hopping opus <i>ODDWORLD</i>.

From 🇦🇺 Australia