World News (AKA World News 808909) is the live electronic hardware project of Bill Cutbill and Qu Mi.
Established in downtown Toronto in 2017, World News have been performing across the city ever since. They’re known in the scene for their dawless live sets, facing-off with six tiers of hardware and NO computers. The duo melt elements of techno, house and alternative to create a unique music with improvisation at its core, influenced by electronica from the late 90s and early 2000s.
The root sound of World News stems from a pyramid of synthesizers, drum machines, modular, and samplers, shaped and sculpted by their own interplay, woven together and given life by a tapestry of vocal and effects loops. With everything created during sessions of improvisation, it's as if the machines are breathing and pulsing as the duo match their heartrate to the tempo.
The duo rehearse at the Safe Sounds bank vault, which is a real, 6ft by 8ft vault in a disused bank.
The debut album, ON STEROIDS, was just released by Toronto imprint Safe Sounds. The LP represents a point in time that saw World News experiment with their recording process and production in the studio. On their previous release, 2025’s Double A – Another World – World News 808909 worked with producer Josh Korody (Japandroids, Tess Parks, Slash Need), two-time Emmy Award winner, Brandon Bak (Ooze, Kali Horse, Possum) and visual pioneer Shawn Chiki (Zoon, Odonis Odonis) who created the music video for Lot Lizard featuring 3D scans of band members Bill and Qu.
Inspired by the likes of The Chemical Brothers, Liars and LCD Soundsystem, World News has always been an exploration of texture. Lyrically, the group meditate on themes of mental health, connecting with nature, and the relationship between romance and lust.
World News has received press from the likes of Indie88, Exclaim!, Aesthetic Magazine and the Toronto Guardian. This year they performed across Ontario, Manitoba and Alberta for shows and festivals including Sled Island, Rainbow Trout and Exclaim! Class Of.
