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Only Real’s Radiant Slack-Rap Is Contagious in ‘Get It On’ Video

Only Real 'Get It On' Video Days in the City EP

Only Real is West Londoner Niall Gavin, a 22-year-old haze-pop purveyor with a knack for fuzzy guitar-play and bright, slackerly raps. You might think of him as the easy-breezy summer to King Krule’s unending (and excellent) winter. Or you might just take the dude at face value — check him out in the “Get It On” video above. His affable youthfulness is contagious, and his knack at dominating this heretofore unexplored sound is undeniable.

Somewhere in there is the indie dream of Slumberland, the wall-of-gaze of My Bloody Valentine, and the goopy posivibes rhymes of PM Dawn or Me Phi Me. As it turns out, Gavin’s favorite rapper is J. Cole, as stated in multiple interviews. He also skates, makes music in his bedroom, and would “love to live by the beach in America” some day. The clip above finds him and his mates partying in a canal, so that’s close.

Only Real was among the first 182 acts confirmed for 2014’s SXSW Music Festival. Expect Gavin’s shows to be officially hotly tipped by the time March rolls around. “Get It On” hails from his just-out Days in the City EP, which can be picked up in vinyl form via Luv Luv Luv Records. His “Backseat Kissers” single is also available over at ASL Records.

Here’s that:

//www.youtube.com/embed/GWrSKVB_s7A?rel=0