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Division is the sound of two minds pulling in different directions—and landing somewhere unexpectedly unified. The debut EP from Amsterdam-based producers Malvae and Jaro, Division is a study in contrast and convergence: jungle and ambient, machine and field, memory and forward motion.
Malvae, raised between the Netherlands and New Zealand, is known for sculpting rich, tactile soundscapes from field recordings, analog gear, and chopped vocals—building worlds that feel both handcrafted and alien. His solo work (Amazonas, Chrysalis) channels natural textures into club contexts, never settling into one genre for too long. Jaro, by contrast, comes from the indie-electronica lineage, weaving Thom Yorke-esque vocals, crooked grooves, and emotive synthwork into projects like Morning Light and soundtracks for theatre and podcast.
Though they studied together years ago, Division marks their first proper release as collaborators—a record shaped as much by the space between them as their shared musical instincts. One of its standout tracks, “This Side,” was born from a shelved techno project, resuscitated and reimagined amid Jaro’s studio clutter. The name comes from the plywood studio fixtures still bearing a faded shipping label: this side up.
The EP folds together decades of influence: the lurching swing of Antipodean d’n’b, the atmospheric density of Amsterdam’s club nights, and a shared love for making non-club music that still works in the club. Analog synths hiss alongside jungle-adjacent percussion; melodies bend and unravel, only to reform under new light. There’s tension here, but not conflict—just the friction required for ignition.
At its core, Division is about duality: two artists, two geographies, multiple timelines of unfinished ideas colliding and completing one another. It’s a study in full-circle moments—culturally, sonically, spiritually.
