Inflatable hammers. Matching red lab coats that strip down into boxer's outfits. A rainbow parachute, like the one you remember from gym class. A bubble machine. Confetti, sprinkled into plastic cups and thrown on the crowd. Three mini trampolines. These are only a few of the props and toys featured in the live show of dance-pop oddball Gelli Haha. The artist, born Angel Abaya, makes an outrageous commitment to spectacle and playfulness. It works unbelievably well.
Born to a single mother in Chester, he was adopted, given the name David James Ball, and grew up predominately in the English beachside town Blackpool. The vibrancy of his hometown - often a tourist hub and featuring numerous amusement parks and attractions - helped steer Ball towards music. His father's engineering background prompted in interest in electronic music and synthesizers: he cited hearing Kraftwerk's seminal 1975 album Autobahn as a major "turning point" in his musical development.