Dutchkid was born when South African singer-songwriter and bassist Jordi van Dyk relocated to London, where he met keyboardist Pete Coggan, synthesiser player Chris Smyth and drummer Jack Kircher. With their diverse creative backgrounds as inspiration—all have dabbled in film and design as well as music—the quartet’s debut, Empires, is a mishmash of pop, indie and electronic sounds with pristinely-layered harmonies. “Glow” has a funk-driven bass line akin to a Justin Timberlake hit, “Hiding” has moody, echoing synth lines and “Temporary” is a sultry pop anthem.