FunkinEvil
First thing's first, FunkinEvil's correct pronunciation is "fuckinevil." (I know this because the group's "long" description on Facebook reads "FUNKINEVIL PRONOUNCED FUCKINEVIL.") Now that that's cleared up, it's time to introduce FunkinEvil, the duo that will be kicking off SW2016.To give you a sense of FunkinEvil’s underground status, they don’t have a Wikipedia page. So while this renders information on the collaboration between London producer FunkinEven and Detroit DJ and producer Kyle Hall a bit difficult to come by, rest assured, they’re fuckin' hip (pun intended).Serious detective work (read: ~5-10 google searches) yielded the following information about the duo:
Kyle Hall, 24, was born and raised in Detroit, where he continues to base his music-making and management. Wild Oats Music, the label to which FunkinEvil is signed, is under Hall's control (the website hosts an extensive bio that chronicles his ascent to the top of the Detroit electronic scene). His city of origin and operation plays a large part in his work, which led him to be dubbed “the next great hope for Detroit house music.” His debut album, The Boat Party, was released in 2013 under the name KMFH, and featured bangers like "Dr. Crunch." TBP paved the way for his early 2016 release, From Joy, an extremely well-received set on the music scene, hailed by Pitchfork as “ambitious but warm and approachable, blending the ensemble feel of jazz with the 4/4 drums of house music.” The beats in From Joy are relaxed and smooth enough to work well as extremely versatile background music ("Wake Up And Dip" almost puts me to sleep in the best way), but they still hit hard enough to ensure a killer live performance. FunkinEvil hasn't put out too many records or EPs, so I wouldn't rule out hearing some of Hall's solo beats—personally, I'm keeping my fingers are crossed for "Strut Garden" and "Able To."
I’m going to be honest, it feels like FunkinEven (aka Steven Julien) doesn't want me (or anyone) to find out anything about him—one of his biographies literally links to his “selected discography” page. So personal information is sparse to say the least. I managed to gather that he was born in Dublin, but raised in Leyton, East London. He has recorded for Eglo and Wild Oats (as FunkinEvil), and heads up Apron Records. His collaboration with Fatima, "Phone Line," has the 90s-hip-hop-meets-90s-R&B-meets-funk vibe that typifies FunkinEven's tracks. Check out his SoundCloud for a sample of FunkinEven's live shows.Like a real life rom-com, both Hall and Julien had heard and admired each others music before they'd actually met—they even owned a few of each others' records. They finally met at a party, where I can only assume their eyes locked from across a crowded room. (They actually just started chatting, bonding over FunkinEven's record "She's Acid.") They started hanging out and making music, and, thus, FunkinEvil was born. (This interview chronicles their beginning in more detail.) From a cursory Spotify evaluation, FunkinEvil’s productivity is questionable. Their four-part single, "Night/Dusk," comprises the entirety of their Spotify presence. There's definitely more out there, though. Check out "Ignorant" and "Into the Grid," some of their less publicized, but no less impressive, tracks. 
In the end, we'll be seeing a duo of talented, up-and-coming producers/DJs. And if the NTS show they played in February is any indication, they're going to have an insane live set. KMFH, FunkinEven, and FunkinEvil are hardly household names, but that's just for now.Bonus: they will probably be playing "Dusk" around dusk, so that's pretty cool.Images the Blog Graphics Team.