Browsing Tag

electronica producer

Meet The Future of Electronica: Geoffrey Toussaint – Sun & Stars

Posted on 5 May 2022
Geoffrey Toussaint

After spending the last few years trying to find his sound, the 22-year-old indie electronica artist, Geoffrey Toussaint now has a sonic signature well-worth flaunting. Especially if his trip hoppy alchemically modernist track, Sun & Stars, is anything to go by.

The Washington DC-based artist takes inspiration from Porter Robinson, SOPHIE and Ramzoid, but with the robustness of new wave hip hop and the visceral gravity that flows through his hyper-pop proclivities, Sun & Stars is anything but a feat of assimilation. Through the oscillating reverb laced around the robust percussion and deep throbbing basslines, it is as cathartic as it is innately exhilarating.

Sun & Stars will officially release on May 20th; you can check it out for yourselves here.

Keep up to date with new releases from Geoffrey Toussaint via Instagram.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Melodic bass meets noise pop in Heasuence’s latest experimental electro single, I Find

Posted on 4 May 2022

Melodic bass artists and producer, Heasuence has unleashed their evocatively charged trip-hop-tinged single, I Find. Despite the lo-fi production, it’s an artfully expressive electronica triumph. When the bass hits, I Find evolves from a melodiously downtempo and almost meditative sonic landscape with elevated indie-pop vocals into a monolithic cage of volatile turbulence.

The avant-garde and emotionally reflective elements certainly weren’t lost on us. It does what so tracks fail to do and brings you right into the artist’s psyche. And perhaps more importantly, in our commodified aural reality, it leaves an unforgettable mark on your consciousness with the ethereal versing of lyrics “I find peace in mystery” before the bass tears the track to asunder.

I Find is now available on SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

SEN COV smashes electronic archetypes in his latest cinematic breakbeat single, Kotor

Posted on 2 March 2022

Sound designer, artist, composer, and Strange Planet Label founder, SEN COV, has taken his aural mixology skills to the next level with his electronic-archetype-smashing mix, Kotor.

The cold grimey house beats fed through breakbeat progressions welcome you to the dark underbelly of house as SEN COV experiments with electro drill energy and polishes his sound in cinematically dystopic gravitas. We’ve more than had our electronic fill at A&R Factory, but no artist came quite as close as SEN COV came close to sating our hunger for original flair.

After Kotor, SEN COV will be unleashing fortnightly mixes. If you appreciate genre-transcending Drum n Bass breakbeat style, save a space on your radar.

Kotor is now available to stream on SoundCloud. You can keep up to date with all of the artist’s latest releases via Instagram.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

mild gets colourfully elemental in his latest lo-fi house mix, blue snow

Posted on 23 February 2022

The lo-fi house legend in the making, mild, has delivered yet another absorbing soundscape with his latest vibe-packed release, blue snow. Despite the name and the deep azure textures, there is a warming ambience to the production from the 21-year-old producer who has been making major waves on lo-fi house playlists since making his debut in 2021.

Right from the first hit, you get the sense that mild produces his mixes with the listeners’ vibes and need in mind. He knows exactly how to feed the vibrant energy, even with a slower tempo and his organic yet sophisticated approach to production. We can’t wait to hear the soulful electronic grooves that follow.

blue snow is now available to stream via Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Get transcendentally high with Kuma Pop’s melodic techno drop, Ishq عشق

Posted on 7 February 2022

Euphoria breathes seamlessly through the latest release, Ishq عشق, from the Spanish, LA-based composer and music producer, Kuma Pop.

He evoked the melodic 90s techno spirit in the transcendently liberating track that goes so much further than appeasing your aural senses. Ishq عشق unravels as one of the most emotional and spiritual techno tracks that we’ve heard since, well, since we can remember. It scarcely comes as a surprise that he has held a residency in Ibiza clubs. There’s something intrinsically primal in his production style that is nothing short of transfixing. Between the massive beats, hypnotic vocal harmonies, tension-filled breaks and exotic eastern strings, few tracks will take you higher.

Ishq عشق is now available to stream on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

The up and coming producer, A Broken System, created a vintage synth sanctum in his debut album, An Escape.

Posted on 3 December 2021
A Broken System

Amidst the swathes of ambient tones to hit the airwaves this year was the elevated nature-entwining work of the eclectically-inspired music producer, A Broken System. His music is a submersion into a sublime mix of synth-rock, hip hop, electronica and ambient, but his dreamy work is no ordinary sonic palette mashup. The Minnesota-hailing, Atlanta-based artist is fresh from the release of his debut album, An Escape, which was officially released on December 3rd, 2021.

The eight minimalist tracks take nuances of aural dystopia and transfuse them into downtempo, deep house tracks and smooth acid house soundscapes so sultry that they practically become an aphrodisiac. The standout concluding single, Liquid, is almost neo-classic in form. It traverses through haunting reverb and follows synth melodies that become the anchor in the otherwise gravity-defyingly transcendent release.

In short, an Escape is a synthesised sanctuary for anyone who feels at home in vintage electronic tones. The eight tracks pull together as an immersive, explorative sensory experience that you can’t help getting absorbed by. There’s an underlying darkness to An Escape, but the mix of light and dark tones created a multifaceted efficacious reflection of the world as we know it today.

In his own words, here is how A Broken System introduced his debut album:

“An Escape is an amalgamation of influence from many different films, film scores, and video games. It is escapism in the internet age; urban spaces, nature and the environments I have moved between.”

An Escape is now available to stream on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Prepare your ambient playlists for the chill wave catharsis in !Noj’s latest single, sweet memories

Posted on 9 November 2021
!Noj

‘sweet memories’ is the latest Synesthesia-inducing single to be released by the Netherlands-based chill hop experimentalist, artist and producer, !Noj.

The ambient lullaby chimes through hypnotic melodies, leaving ample space for points of reflection before the next progression that drags you deeper into the soundscape. With the beats keeping track like a metronome, the neo-classically underlined melodies add even more magnetism to the instrumental score.

sweet memories is enough to impart what it says on the tin; it provides a brief window of tranquillity; given the times we’re living in, you should probably take any chance you get to pull your mind out of the gutter.

Check out !Noj via Soundcloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

LA alt-electronica artist and producer Romy has unleashed her pitch-black industrial pop track, Penance.

Posted on 26 October 2021
Romy

Romy’s latest single, Penance, is enough to make Peaches sound tame. Against the industrial Nine Inch Nails-inspired beats, her sultry, fierce vocals spill enough magnetism to rival Shirley Manson while she roars through the lyrics that lament the dankness of society while making the unignorable request for the world to be gentle amidst the chaos.

The Australian LA-based artist and producer has exactly what it takes to dominate the mainstream and the grimy underground of alt-electronica. Any fans of Skinny Puppy, Grendel and Faderhead will be won over by the caustic beats. When it comes to the hooky pop elements, no one will be immune to their draw.

Check out Romy on SoundCloud, Instagram and her official website.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Kyle Byrne sets the pace in his chilled tropic pop single, Chase, featuring Schmorgle.

Posted on 25 October 2021

For his latest release, the UK-based artist and producer, Kyle Byrne, teamed up with Shmorgle to offer chilled tropic vibes, sweet harmonic pop vocals and melodic hooks that won’t fail to pull you into the centre of the soulfully orchestrated hit that works its way through façade-less romanticism.

Chase stands as an incredible testament to Byrne’s stellar songwriting ability and talent in composing beats that you’ll want to get lost in time and time again. Don’t be surprised if his sound goes viral.

Chase is now available to stream via Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Dutch EDM trailblazer Sub Caesar has released his sixth single, PUSH!

Posted on 14 October 2021

PUSH! (back and forth) is the 6th single released by Dutch EDM producer Sub Caesar; his filthy techno-driven floor-filler finds the perfect balance between bass-drenched aggression and seductive groove. He may have only made his debut this year, but already, his sonic style boasts the versatility and ground-breaking gravitas that labels are constantly on the hunt for.

I just wish I could have been on a dancefloor to hear that euphoric drop for the first time; Sub Caesar knows exactly to leave you gripped in his progressions.

PUSH! is now available to stream on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast