Browsing Tag

electronica producer

IDN synthesised an electrifying electronica hybrid in his sophomore LP, Voyager

Posted on 21 January 2024

IDN’s LP “Voyager” is an electrifying escapade into a realm where electronica melds with a kaleidoscope of genres. Each of the 14 tracks on this LP is a crucial fragment of an intricate cosmic voyage, transcending the norms of conventional electronica with audacious flair.

IDN, an LA-based queer Iranian-American polymath, infuses his diverse inspirations – from video games to sci-fi and psychedelia – into a groundbreaking sound. This LP is a unified interstellar journey, which pulses with life, intertwining industrial, dub, and psytrance into a hybrid tapestry of sound.

The genius of “Voyager” lies in its seamless blend of hi-fi sophistication and lo-fi rawness. This juxtaposition creates a soundscape that feels both futuristic and deeply rooted. With glitchy breakbeats and dub-infused electronic twists leading the listener through a labyrinth of auditory discovery, you will want to grab your passport to the 5th dimension before delving in.

The Voyager LP landed on January 12; embark on it via Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Spotlight Feature: Annava Put a Fresh Spin on Garage House with His Track, I Know

Posted on 18 January 2024

With structural twists and style transgressions always a feature of his genre-fluid discography, Annava’s self-produced unorthodox approach to sound design is a far cry from electronica monotony. His latest single, I Know, is a transmission of uninhibited expression within an echo of a deeply evocative memory.

Following a year of sonic adventures and collaborations, this Sacramento-based producer has crafted a track that stands as a testament to his evolving artistry. It begins with a subtle introduction, setting the scene for an intimately expansive auditory experience. Annava’s skill in blending genres is evident as he infuses the track with elements reminiscent of 100 gecs and Fred Again while following lesser-explored intersections of sound.

The genius of ‘I Know’ lies in its ability to maintain a grounded edge while exploring melodic realms. The track’s progression is a masterful blend of restraint and release, with every beat and synth wave meticulously placed to build a crescendo of emotional resonance. It’s a trippy, trance-inducing experience that transports listeners beyond the ordinary. The track’s progressive momentum is matched by a sense of euphonic catharsis, leaving listeners drenched in a sea of electronic bliss.

Annava said:

“For this release, I was inspired by UK Garage, 90s jungle, DnB, and old house mixes and the influence of my music teacher who challenged me to add harmonic variation in my tracks. 

Mostly, my music has no inherent sentimentality or meaning. I Know became the exception when I chopped up some vocals I recorded for an unreleased track, and it became a reflection of the pain of leaving someone you are in love with.” 

Stream I Know on Spotify now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Desire oscillates through MXY’s latest hypnotic house anthem, Since I Met You

Posted on 16 December 2023
https://soundcloud.com/mxymusic/since-i-met-you

MXY, a trailblazing artist hailing from Bradford, UK, has once again demonstrated her unparalleled prowess in blending genres with her latest hypnotic house single Since I Met You. The track is a masterclass in musical alchemy, seamlessly fusing MXY’s innovative house and garage influences with the sultry undertones of contemporary R&B. It’s a potent testament to her evolution as an artist, producer, and songwriter since she began her journey at the tender age of fourteen.

Since I Met You is imbued with an intense, fervent desire that is almost tangible. MXY’s skill in crafting a fiery anthem is evident as the song oscillates, capturing the transformative power of desire. This transformation is not just lyrical but also musical, as the track delves deep into the core of our emotional spectrum.

The true genius of the track lies in its ability to ensnare the listener’s rhythmic pulses as captivatingly as it compels you to surrender your emotions and kneel at the altar of the progressions. The vocal lines are a force, ensuring that you feel the gravity of the emotion conveyed. Each note pulls you deeper, immersing you in an impeccably polished transcendence that is both uplifting and introspective.

MXY’s background, collaborating with industry stalwarts like Chad Dexter and Elliot James, shines through in the production quality of Since I Met You. As she continues to evolve and expand her horizons, there’s a palpable sense of anticipation for what she will bring in her debut album.

MXY’s debut album will drop on February 1st, 2024; stream the title single on SoundCloud now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Bang beckoned his audience into a celestial utopia with his authentically orchestrated release, My Heaven

Posted on 13 December 2023

The South Asian-American Michigan-hailing artist Bang gave his audience a slice of heaven with his latest release, which seamlessly weaves his diverse musical heritage into a genre-defying masterpiece. Bang’s upbringing, enriched by classic Bollywood melodies and the pulsating beats of early 2000s hip-hop and pop, shines through in this unique fusion of sounds.

My Heaven stands as a testament to Bang’s skill as a songwriter and producer, showcasing his ability to create an auditory experience that transcends conventional genres. The track is an alchemy of folk, electronica, and dream pop, culminating in a sonic representation of utopia. Its title is aptly chosen, as listeners are invited into a celestial soundscape that is both ethereal and profoundly grounding.

Bang’s orchestrations are characterised by a unique aura that swells with soul. The track is imbued with honeyed vocal harmonies, commanding yet consoling, with hushed, sweet, and subtle timbres that envelop the listener in a comforting embrace.

The true brilliance of My Heaven lies in its ability to be both an intimate reflection of Bang’s personal journey and a universal solace. It speaks to the power of music to bridge cultures, experiences, and emotions. Bang’s diverse influences are not just mere footnotes in his music. They are the heartbeat that gives life to his sound.

My Heaven was officially released on November 29. Stream it on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

The Silent North is oscillating through ‘Parallels’ in his latest ambient instrumental score.

Posted on 12 December 2023

As a sublime continuation from his 2023 EP, Inflections, The Silent North, the musical persona of Scottish solo artist Paul Russell, has broken his proverbial vow of silence to unveil the ambient twilight in his latest instrumental piece, Parallels, an auditory experience that melds tranquillity with intoxicating allure.

Parallels is a testament to Russell’s eclectic mix of influences, artfully blending electronic, ambient, and guitar elements into a cohesive and mesmerising cocktail. The track’s foundation is built upon subtle yet compelling trip-hop rhythms, with all the intricate beats and moody atmospherics within the tonally expansive soundscape which uses reverb to complement the progressions with an ethereal quality.

Far from detracting from the organic feel of the music, the digital touch enhances it, creating a harmonious balance, resulting in a sound that delivers swathes of cross-over appeal. With the planned release of Illuminate in February 2024, The Silent North continues to build a compelling discography that showcases his unique musical vision.

Parallels hit the airwaves on December 1st; stream it on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Someone Famous has made a transcendent debut with their ambient deep house/90s Euro dance mash-up, This is a Pleasure

Posted on 11 December 2023

Someone Famous’ moniker is going to become a self-fulfilling prophecy if they continue to produce tracks in the same future-defining vein as their blister of electronic euphoria, This is a Pleasure.

The debut single was right on the titular money for the way the transcendentally bright tones and luminous textures scintillate through the progressions as they juxtapose the depth of the basslines which bolster the track with rhythmic prowess. With melodic elements of ambient deep house fused with a 90s Euro dance energy and captivating vocal lines which effortlessly embody the soulful catharsis within the meticulously layered and produced instrumentals, This is a Pleasure couldn’t be closer to what it says on the tin.

With new releases locked, loaded and ready to infuse the airwaves with refreshing syntheses of innovation, Someone Famous is an artist to keep on your radar through 2024. It’s only a matter of time before the Brighton-based artist gets offers from reputable labels for their ability to fuse nostalgia with intuitive ingenuity.

This is a Pleasure was officially released on November 25; stream it on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Bitvert oscillated doom through his harbingering experimental deep bass track, Distress Signal

Posted on 4 December 2023

Bitvert’s experimental deep bass single ‘Distress Signal’ is an scintillating foray into the realm of underground electronica, seamlessly merging dark textures and tonalities with an omnipresent sense of impending doom. More than just a composition; it’s an experience, an auditory journey through the depths of electronic music’s more shadowy corridors.

Distress Signal starts the transmission with a harbingering sense of doom that is immediately palpable, it pulsates through the oscillating basslines that forge the spine of this musical beast. To evoke a primal response, enthralling and unsettling in equal measure, Bitvert bolstered the resonance in the bass which exhibits his reverence for the DIY ethos of punk.

The sharp cuts of the snares in Distress Signal add a layer of urgency to the track; they are meticulously crafted to cut through the deep bass, serving as a stark contrast that enhances the overall texture of the piece. This percussive element lends the track a glitchy trip-hop nuance, further diversifying the auditory palette.

When you hit play on the filmic, almost Lynchian ingenuity, you are more than a passive recipient of sound, you’re transported to a dark, brooding and intensely atmospheric realm. It’s an auditory odyssey that pushes the boundaries of electronic music and leaves a lasting impression.

Distress Signal will be transmitted on December 4th; stream it on SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

The genre alchemist James Urquhart is set to unleash his progressively prodigious hit, The Tearz and the Pain

Posted on 4 November 2023

The genre alchemist and one of the top producers in the UK, James Urquhart, drifted through a melodic menagerie of style in his latest single, The Tearz and the Pain, which is locked, loaded, and ready to drop an atom bomb of ingenuity onto the airwaves.

With all the hooky body-rocking flavour of 90s boyband pop in the deliciously infectious vein of the hit that announced Backstreet’s Back after a mellow 80s RnB opening sequence that Seal fans will give the seal of approval, Tearz and the Pain reaches its high-octane peak in a euphoric intersection of drum n bass before winding the track right down again.

The progressive prodigy left us arrested with every aural transgression and convinced us that labels will be hammering down the door to his professional studio, which he uses to produce his and other people’s hits. Previously, his music has been distributed by Hed Kandi and Let There Be House; there’s no telling who will pick him up next.

Follow James Urquhart on SoundCloud and Instagram to be the first to know when The Tearz and the Pain drops; with the soul it sonically unleashes, it is more than worth the wait.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Embrace our transhumanist future with Skylnz Ablze’s electrifying synth wave single, Memory Empty

Posted on 30 October 2023

Even though synth wave is all the rage in 2023, the Chicago-hailing songwriter, producer, and engineer Skylnz Ablze, rode his synth lines into a cut above the rest with the seminally animatronic single, Memory Empty, from his sophomore LP, Born from Electricity, which was crafted to exhibit a new perspective on pop.

By taking influence from electronica pioneers The Human League, New Order and Gary Numan and synthesising the new wave pop aesthetic into one that fizzes with oscillating ingenuity, Skylnz Ablze allowed the transhumanist future that awaits us all to embrace the listener from the very first ensnaring 808 kick to the last.

Memory Empty hit the airwaves on October 13th; stream it on Spotify as part of Skylnz Ablze’s sophomore LP, Born from Electricity.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Revel in the petrichor of Shaun Cruda’s electro-soul synthesis, Ashville Rain

Posted on 1 October 2023

Shaun Cruda’s 20k monthly Spotify listeners got a brand-new stylistic soundscape to savour when the LA producer delivered his latest sensuously cathartic single, Ashville Rain, on September 22.

As the dark days creep in, the sanctuary of ethereal luxe atmosphere in Ashville Rain will only become more inviting. By borrowing a few trip-hop elements from the pioneers and modernising them in his synthesis of electro-soul, there are few better singles to revel in the petrichor with.

The instrumentals resound beyond their minimalist quiescence to deliver the ultimate playlist staple for nocturnal introspection while the vocals breed a beguiling sense of intimacy as they harmonise the lyricism that narrates a spectral love letter. Familiar, yet far beyond the bars set by his contemporaries, the single is a testament to the multi-faceted talents of the artist who can pen a track as well as he can polish it and move a dancefloor from behind a DJ booth.

Stream Ashville Rain on Spotify now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast