Biography
Hermitude comprises the award-winning, chart-topping production duo of Australian multi-instrumentalists Luke Dubs and El Gusto, the latter also known as Angus Stuart. Since becoming active in the early 2000s, the pair has produced a continually exploratory catalog that fuses hip-hop, funk, dubstep, and pop, shaped by extensive international touring and personal travels. Though resistant to any single stylistic label, their output consistently emphasizes richness, positivity, and forward momentum. The duo’s debut full-length, 2003’s Alleys to Valleys, established their relaxed, organic approach to hip-hop and down-tempo grooves. Their 2005 release, Tales of the Drift, marked the introduction of additional live instrumentation, drawing particular inspiration from Cuban music. From that point onward, their sound shifted toward heavier bass elements and futuristic textures while their global listenership expanded rapidly. Exploring trap, glitch, and post-dubstep, the 2015 album Dark Night Sweet Light became their first to top the Australian albums chart and their first to secure an international release.
Dubs and El Gusto began playing together in bands during their early teens, at ages 16 and 11. Their initial serious project, Funk Injections—which followed the convention that funk ensembles must incorporate the word “funk” in their names—featured El Gusto’s sister on bass. When local rappers including Urthboy of the Herd recognized the group’s skills, the two acts briefly merged and performed as Explanetary. After El Gusto returned from a 2000 visit to the U.S. carrying turntables, the pair experimented with Dubs on keyboards and no vocals. The results proved so effective that they concluded nothing further was required, leading directly to the formation of Hermitude.
They signed to Elefant Traks, the label established by the Herd, and issued the vinyl-only Imaginary Friends EP in 2002. This set of esoteric instrumental soundscapes, containing two vocal tracks by Urthboy and Ozi Batla, sold out completely and never appeared on CD, rendering it a collector’s item. Their first album, Alleys to Valleys, followed a year later; the title alluded to their alternating periods between Sydney and Sound Heaven, the Blue Mountains studio owned by El Gusto’s father, where they could function as genuine hermits for half their time while testing new material in city clubs during the other half.
The success of their debut secured support slots on tours with international artists, among them their idol DJ Krush, and paved the way for recording Tales of the Drift in 2005. That album incorporated a more percussive Cuban aesthetic rooted in El Gusto’s youthful experiences on the island. Their first world tour ensued, during which they recorded in various studios along the route; the resulting material formed the 2007 Rare Sightings EP, initially sold only at Australian return-tour venues. Demand exhausted the stock mid-tour, requiring an additional pressing before retail availability. Their third full-length, Threads, appeared the following year.
Following a period of individual projects, El Gusto and Dubs reconvened in 2011 with the single “Speak of the Devil.” They promptly delivered their fourth studio album, 2012’s HyperParadise. A remix of the title track by electronic artist Flume boosted its visibility, resulting in strong sales, the AIR Award for Best Electronic Album, and the Australian Music Prize. Two years later they issued the single “Ukiyo” and completed their first North American tour. In 2015 they released their fifth album, Dark Night Sweet Light, fronted by the single “Through the Roof.” The record achieved their greatest commercial performance to date, entering at number one on the Australian albums chart and earning seven ARIA Music Award nominations.
After sustained touring throughout 2016 and reduced activity in 2017, Hermitude resurfaced with the 2018 single “Stupid World,” featuring vocals by Bibi Bourelly, then followed with 2019’s “Every Day” featuring Hoodlem. Further tracks emerged later that year, among them “Northern Lights” featuring Soaky Siren and Vory and “Dusk Till Dawn” featuring Vic Mensa.
Dubs and El Gusto began playing together in bands during their early teens, at ages 16 and 11. Their initial serious project, Funk Injections—which followed the convention that funk ensembles must incorporate the word “funk” in their names—featured El Gusto’s sister on bass. When local rappers including Urthboy of the Herd recognized the group’s skills, the two acts briefly merged and performed as Explanetary. After El Gusto returned from a 2000 visit to the U.S. carrying turntables, the pair experimented with Dubs on keyboards and no vocals. The results proved so effective that they concluded nothing further was required, leading directly to the formation of Hermitude.
They signed to Elefant Traks, the label established by the Herd, and issued the vinyl-only Imaginary Friends EP in 2002. This set of esoteric instrumental soundscapes, containing two vocal tracks by Urthboy and Ozi Batla, sold out completely and never appeared on CD, rendering it a collector’s item. Their first album, Alleys to Valleys, followed a year later; the title alluded to their alternating periods between Sydney and Sound Heaven, the Blue Mountains studio owned by El Gusto’s father, where they could function as genuine hermits for half their time while testing new material in city clubs during the other half.
The success of their debut secured support slots on tours with international artists, among them their idol DJ Krush, and paved the way for recording Tales of the Drift in 2005. That album incorporated a more percussive Cuban aesthetic rooted in El Gusto’s youthful experiences on the island. Their first world tour ensued, during which they recorded in various studios along the route; the resulting material formed the 2007 Rare Sightings EP, initially sold only at Australian return-tour venues. Demand exhausted the stock mid-tour, requiring an additional pressing before retail availability. Their third full-length, Threads, appeared the following year.
Following a period of individual projects, El Gusto and Dubs reconvened in 2011 with the single “Speak of the Devil.” They promptly delivered their fourth studio album, 2012’s HyperParadise. A remix of the title track by electronic artist Flume boosted its visibility, resulting in strong sales, the AIR Award for Best Electronic Album, and the Australian Music Prize. Two years later they issued the single “Ukiyo” and completed their first North American tour. In 2015 they released their fifth album, Dark Night Sweet Light, fronted by the single “Through the Roof.” The record achieved their greatest commercial performance to date, entering at number one on the Australian albums chart and earning seven ARIA Music Award nominations.
After sustained touring throughout 2016 and reduced activity in 2017, Hermitude resurfaced with the 2018 single “Stupid World,” featuring vocals by Bibi Bourelly, then followed with 2019’s “Every Day” featuring Hoodlem. Further tracks emerged later that year, among them “Northern Lights” featuring Soaky Siren and Vory and “Dusk Till Dawn” featuring Vic Mensa.
Albums
EIGHT
2026
VIP Flips
2024
Mirror Mountain Remixes
2023
Mirror Mountain
2022
HyperParadise
2021
Pollyanarchy
2020
The Buzz
2016
Dark Night Sweet Light
2015
Parallel Paradise
2012
Threads
2008
Rare Sightings
2007
Tales Of The Drift
2005
Alleys To Valleys
2003
Singles
