New Zealand electronic duo SACHI debuted in the early 2010s with a breezy future bass sound inspired by artists such as Flume and Ryan Hemsworth. Their ’90s house and 2000s trap influences were heard on early efforts Your EP (2014) and Lunch with Bianca (2016).
Auckland-bred musicians Nick Chrisp and Will Thomas met in primary school, playing in indie punk bands before discovering hip-hop and electronic music in their early teens. Once they created SACHI, they began recording early demos, which they sent to high-profile artists Skrillex, Baauer, and Steve Aoki. However, it was a chance run-in with Diplo that finally gave them their big break: after waiting outside a restaurant for the producer to emerge, they managed to toss a USB of their music into an opened car window. Months later, Diplo played one of their tracks on his BBC radio show.
From there, SACHI’s exposure grew. The debut set Your EP arrived in 2014, soon followed by 2016’s Lunch with Bianca, which included the track “South Central” with Duckwrth. In 2017, they issued a pair of singles: “Lowkey” with Chicago MC Mick Jenkins and “Shelter” with vocalist NIKA. The next year, they released “Hollywood Angel” with E^ST.