Pacific Heights

Devin Abrams brings the full band to Christchurch for an exclusive headline performance, featuring all of his most recent works, in the intimate setting of Blue Smoke on September 9th.

Pacific Heights is the solo electronica project of Wellington-based songwriter, music producer Devin Abrams aka DJ Reno. Best known for the fifteen years he spent as one of the founding members of New Zealand heavy soul band Shapeshifter, of late Devin’s focus has returned to his solo work, heralding the arrival of a new album titled The Stillness. For Devin, The Stillness is a statement on the emotional state that led to the album. “It encapsulates some very deep personal trials and served as a vessel for those pains to be broken,” he explains.

Since he began recording as Pacific Heights in 2002, Devin has used his unique command of melody and atmosphere to carve out his own lush takes on jungle/drum & bass, deep house, soul, hip-hop, future beats and beyond. Release by release, and performance by performance, he’s continued to assert his importance to electronic music in New Zealand.

His first album in eight years, The Stillness features guest appearances from a small but perfectly formed collection of New Zealand vocalists including Deanne Krieg, Jen Turner, Louis Baker and Shaan Singh (Drax Project). “Collaborating with these beautiful and talented people on the album kept me human and provided some refreshing musical perspectives,” he says. The result is a work that pays homage to his musical past and gives him the freedom to present his own takes on tasteful art-pop and progressive bass music at the same time. “I’m deeply attached to this album but feel ready for it to take flight and move into its own space.” The Stillness, a moment of pause and peace above troubled waters.