v394 “Heat”
abstract, instant visualizations
v394 is a Mexican songwriter and producer raised on Santa Catalina Island. Despite having severe hearing impairments, v394 studied music at Stanford University and received a Stanford Arts Grant to create an audiovisual album. His work was featured at Cantor Arts Center. In 2019, he won a live, 1-hour remix competition hosted by Native Instruments at MUTEK.
v394 has an unconventional sonic palette, blending electronic pop, hip hop, future bass, and EDM with a gaze of psychedelic. “Heat” has an otherworldliness within its abstract, instant visualizations of sonic effects.
Flashing neon sound strips send out an urgent warning sign. The growling bass and setting-ff alarms are creeping from underneath, while the synth-coiled vocals remain a distance. Inside a nostalgic, dazzling swirl, earth-shattering drums are the unshakeable statement.
The intensified contrasts in “Heat” reflect our current reality with climate change. “Heat” tackles climate change complacency and how the situation can seem dire and distant at the same time. v394 describes the track as an audio version of the movie Don’t Look Up (2021) but slightly more subtle.
Shaven Primates “Child Of Dirt”
Child of Dirt isn’t your everyday album.
Photo credit: Chris Brown
Shaven Primates Dive Into Pain, Love, and Anger on child of Dirt
Shaven Primates is a five-piece darkwave, art rock, post punk band formed by Mark Elphinstone in Oxford, England. Taking cues from The Velvet Underground, Kate Bush, Tool, Prodigy, Yes, Clash, David Bowie, Porcupine Tree, and Pink Floyd, Shaven Primates absorbed a wild mixture of the 80s’ subcultures and musical influences with a modern twist that stands on its own.
Child of Dirt isn’t your everyday album. The 7-track record addresses love, pain, and anger through introspection and cathartic soundscapes, weaving the heavy, dark, and deeply emotive feelings into an ear-opening experience. The elements from blues, dark wave, post punk, and progressive rock echo and resonate with each other in an unexpected yet natural way.
Mark Elphinstone started crafting the bones of the songs in 2016, after a 17-year hiatus from music. Initially, it was a therapeutic method for him to work through a dark history. Having experienced physical, emotional, and sexual abuse at an early age, Elphinstone suffered from depression and sickness in his teenage years. At 17, he contrasted meningitis that resulted in severe memory loss. The recovery took 3-5 years. In his early twenties, he battled with addiction from hard drugs, sex, and alcohol.
Despite the hardship and battles that he faced too young at his age, he found his way back to life, and music. Child of Dirt carries the weight of life. The screams, struggles, and introspections along with the desire for peace and love are real and raw reflections of our lives, which makes this album so easy to relate to.
QUANTUM “ABSOLUT”
Drastic and unmistakenly versatile
ABSOLUT stands for “A Brief Story of Life’s Unspoken Truths” is the fourth single of the Swiss five-piece band QUANTUM released within one year. Brought together along with sound engineer and producer Claudio Cueni (2Pac, little Simz) and Tommy Vetterli (Eluveitie, Coroner), ABSOLUT is a masterpiece of sonic experience.
With emphatic rhythm and fluid-like yet dense soundscapes, QUANTUM dives into operatic storytelling. Their sound draws a certain familiarity of Bring Me The Horizon, Linkin Park, and MUSE yet offers something uniquely different. Drastic and unmistakenly versatile, QUANTUM’s songwriting melds hip hop, metal, and electro into a multi-faceted experience.
"We are a motley crew, which has managed to function. This is precisely what has also happened with our music, it has become versatile, modern while the roots remain distinctive," the drummer, Kay Mangold commented.
There’s no doubt that the five youngsters are ambitious. “ABSOLUT” feels like an explosion of a decades-long story in the ear. It poetically expresses the tragedy of life and calls for unison and optimism. QUANTUM’s take on the song is dramatic, artistic, and expressive. Towards the end, the anthemic passage creates a powerful lift in the energy field that marks the climax of the track.
Jesse Grossi “Queen Of Spades”
“Queen of Spades” instantly draws you in.
Photo credit: Bruno Grossi
Jesse Grossi drop infectious new single “queen of Spades”
“Queen of Spades” dives into a dynamic, high-energetic soundscape with compelling vocals and catchy, groovy guitar hooks that instantly draw you into the song. “Queen of Spades” revolves around a wonderful journey with a special person.
Jesse Grossi is a Los Angeles-based musician and artist. He quotes influences from Sublime, Rancid, 311, Dirty Heads, Lily Allen, Green Day, Nirvana, Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, Johnny Cash, and Johnny Thunders.
The animated music video brings out the appealing aspect of storytelling. The twists in the plots add a little tension and dramatic elements to the music, while the characters are so easy to relate.
“Queen of Spades” is a song that you simply can’t walk away from, not without having it in your head. The melodies are contagious and the moods are rich.
RavenRain “MOVING ON”
The bold-texted track is about cutting ties and breaking free from toxicity.
ravenRain Drops Phenomenal single “MOVING ON”
“MOVING ON” is phenomenal. The bold-texted track is about cutting ties and breaking free from toxicity. The Italian-born London-based singer-songwriter, RavenRain, encourages her listeners to take control of their lives and be courageous. Inspired by her own life story, “MOVING ON” channels the magnetic lifeforce, storming in with the mixture of synth, EDM, and hip-hop.
RavenRain has been in love with music since the beginning of time. However, her music didn’t come from the easier side of life, but the battles she has with mental health disorders and autoimmune diseases (which has brought her face to face with death twice) only ignited the fire inside.
Her passionate songwriting channels the courageous, sassy side of herself that still remains untamed. The fire in her voice and adventurous spirit with style and genres draws the comparison between Katy Perry and Lady Gaga.
The genre-bending element is another highlight of “MOVING ON,” aside from her fearless, characteristic vocals. The way each element echoes and answers the message in the song is truly unique. The songwriter takes cues from a wide range of music. Her influences draw from musical cultures around the world, from Italian pop, classic rock, to k-pop, although she quotes Halsey, Lady Gaga, Katy Perry as her main influences.
“I am a big fan of the mix and match idea, so that's what I like to do with my music. I like to experiment and try different things. I could be considered as an outsider in every aspect of my life, and after struggling with insecurities for so many years I am extremely proud of it and I want to empower people too,” said RavenRain.
Whistler “Everywhere But Here”
Woozy guitar soundscapes stretch the atmosphere rich and impressionistic.
Whistle’s debut eP is everything you could ever want
Whistler’s sound is somewhere between mellow and verdant. Woozy guitar soundscapes stretch the atmosphere rich and impressionistic. Everywhere But Here sets its own universe, somewhere far away from the noise.
Whistler is an indie rock duo of vocalist/guitarist Will Royson and guitarist Paul Brazell from Charlotte, NC. They draw influences from The War on Drugs, Pedro The Lion, Tom Angst, and others.
The debut EP from Whistler is a collection of five tracks that you need to listen to from top to end. Everywhere But Here takes you on a sonic inner journey, moody and drifting with soft vocals coiled in washed-out guitars.
The theme goes from childhood innocence, confronting differences with loved ones, to the passing of close friends, like a movie you’d like to watch alone again and again.
"Will and I have been playing for 10 years together since we were in high school. I think the sound of Whistler is that of comfortability and trust in ourselves knowing what kind of music we love and the ease in which we can communicate our ideas with each other,” said Paul Brazell.
Blake Dagley “The Nashville Sessions”
Reflecting on the past turmoil, the storyteller traps those vulnerable emotions and experiences in three songs.
blake dagley shares heartfelt project The Nashville Sessions
Dallas-based Blake Dagley showcases his emotive songwriting with powerful storytelling, warming the night with an authentic, Americana-style project, The Nashville Sessions. Reflecting on the past turmoil, the storyteller traps those vulnerable emotions and experiences in three songs.
“Ain’t Going Down Like This” tackles the unpredictability of life. The song navigates through doubt and fear and transforms the anxiety in uncertain times with hope and determination. Like the track’s name suggest, it’s destined to be a storm.
“Paradox” is heartfelt and soulful. Opening with a calm, beautiful guitar picking, Blake Dagley’s voice is appealing. The song brings attention to a moment of introspection. It addresses everyone who is standing at a crossroads with highly relatable lyrics yet without being explicitly personal.
“Milly” tells the story of transformation. Nocturnal, twinkling soundscape paired with Dagley’s gentle vocal and warm guitar interplay. Dagley’s lyrics are heartwarming. His melodies are captivating. “Milly” is a song that you can sink safely into.
E.G. Phillips “The Octopus Song”
“The Octopus Song” is a whimsical jazz ballad with fantastic imaginations.
E.g. Phillips Share Pensive West Coast Jazz Tune “The Octopus Song”
Hailing from San Fransisco, E.G. Phillips is a singer-songwriter coming from the tech world now to music. In light of the UK’s official recognition of the octopus as a sentient being and Oakland’s defunct Octopus Literary Salon, E.G. Phillips brings light to the inner world of Octopus with a personal twist and reflects upon consciousness and existence.
Inspired by Sy Montgomery’s book The Soul of an Octopus and “You’re Looking at Me” by Nat King Cole, “The Octopus Song” is a whimsical jazz ballad with fantastic imaginations. The mellow, lyrical tune has a taste of nostalgia that traces back to the jazz sound in the 50s California. “The Octopus Song” draws a resemblance to Chet Baker, Art Pepper, and artists alike.
Connecting underwater consciousness to self-reflection, Phillips’ lyrics are pensive and fascinating. He immerses you with cinematic imaginaries while contemplating highly relatable matters. The artist also quotes “Doctor Who” as an inspiration for his lyrics.
The smooth interplay between horns and downbeat tempo creates such a mood for a late-night hang that you could fully sink into. E. G. Phillips announces his upcoming album, Alien from an Alternate Earth in April.
Rayka Blake “Nevermore”
Rayka Blake advocates peace and rebellion against violence in “Nevermore”
Rayka Blake Calls To End Violence on “Nevermore”
Rayka Blake is a singer-songwriter from Milan, Italy. “Nevermore,” produced by Pietro Foresti, is the first song the artist released via Top Records Label. In “Nevermore,” Rayka Blake advocates peace and rebellion against violence.
Rayka Blake has fire and smoke in her vocal. She has a phenomenal voice that ignites a fire on top of the gritty electric guitars. “Nevermore” is a song of protest, a cry of hope for the suffering, and a call to action to find strength and courage to rebuild and make a change.
The track has a blend of Guns N’ Roses’ raw power and the rebellious punk energy mixed with a touch of blues in the guitar. It’s different, loud, and unapologetic, like catching fire. It’s unstoppable and fierce.
As a relatively new artist, Rayka Blake certainly has shown a lot of potential in her songwriting and vocal capacity. The singer-songwriter is currently working on her debut EP that will be released in the near future.
Chucky Trading Co “Margarita”
Chucky Trading Co fascinates us with his unforgettably rich storytelling and sultry soundscape.
Chucky Trading Co Shares Sultry Folk-Rock Single “Margarita”
“Sonoran Desert, unforgiven land; A young girl’s backpack is buried in the sand. I can’t forget it’s burning in my brain. I tell myself a story, Margarita was her name.” - “Margarita”
Chucky Trading Co fascinates us with his unforgettably rich storytelling and sultry soundscape. “Margarita,” the latest release by Chucky Trading Co is a dynamic folk-rock song with a Santana vibe. The song revolves around a young migrant girl being lost in the Sonoran Desert of Arizona.
Like one of the songs that you feel has been existing in time and space for a long time, “Margarita” gives you a sense of timelessness in its sound. The story has a dark vibe in its echoing chorus and haunting imageries, however, the sonic is warm and rich in the groove.
“Margarita” is dynamic and sultry. The interplay between the lead guitar and vocal put the landscape on the map, where the rhythm guitar and intuitive bass create a soft groove down the country road. The colorful, balanced blend of instrumentation brings out an expanding vibe where the feelings are brewing in nature.
Chucky Trading Co utilizes both acoustic guitar and electric guitar to shape the changing soundscapes and emotions. He blends folk, country, blues, and rock into one song so effortlessly.
Rejean Lau “Blood, Sweat and Tears”
Rejean Lau Share Kanye West Inspired Single “Blood, Sweat, and Tears”
Rejean Lau Share Kanye West Inspired Single “Blood, Sweat, and Tears”
“Blood, Sweat, and Tears” was written and produced by the Canadian singer/rapper Rejean Lau in his home studio. The song’s title was taken from a phrase in Kanye West’s “We Major” where the MC spoke about how he gave his blood, sweat, and tears to the music and pave a way for the young rappers in the industry. Rejean Lau was inspired by the message, and therefore, “Blood, Sweat, and Tears” was born.
The song paints a boxer in training - the struggle, heart, and hard work that goes into earning his own place. The sacrifice and journey of achieving something for the better good. The boxer didn’t do it for the money or the fame, but to rise from the occasion and show the light at the end of the tunnel.
Rajean Lau wrote the lyrics with weight. “Seen too many brothers go down, and into the ground; it’s a bitter-sweet day when the brothers don’t play. It’s going to take some time, to get out of this mess; but I’ll promise you this much, I’ll give you my best.”
For anyone who has gone through hardship or is struggling in a dark place, RJ’s lyrics offer a sense of condolence and encouragement to keep fighting. His punchy rap style captures the strength and faith the boxer has while swallowing down his blood and pain. Lau has shaped a character so relatable to people. It symbolizes the determination to go through darkness and pain in order to provide a better life.
“Blood, Sweat, and Tears” is down to earth, yet it transforms the bad experience in life. “You got one life to live, whether you like it or not; and it’s going to be the greatest day; when this brother fights for his pay. And he’s going to show the community, you can make it from the inner city.”
Noelle Drops Highly-Anticipated Debut Album “30k”
Drawing comparison to Lana Del Ray, Billie Eilish, and Sabrina Claudio, the 20-year-old Canadian singer-songwriter noelle drops highly anticipated debut album 30k.
Drawing comparison to Lana Del Ray, Billie Eilish, and Sabrina Claudio, the 20-year-old Canadian singer-songwriter noelle drops highly anticipated debut album 30k. The new EP from noelle 30k features a collection of four previously released singles and two brand new songs.
noelle is a rare rising talent in the pop phenonema. The contrast in her voice is simply fantastic. The singer has a sweeter middle register and a moody low register that allow her to capture complex expression and nuance.
Her own way of mending pop with R&B and jazz further expands her reportoir, introducing nuance and contrast in her vocal delivery. Noelle's songwriting introduces versatility in her delivery. It has the sensitive edge of coming-of-age reportoir while tapping into deeper issues with sophistication beyond her age. The depth in her lyrics is worth pondering upon, while the groove is irresistable.
The Universal Music Canada and WAX records artist initially found her footing on YouTube, covering timeless classics and today’s biggest acts. After graduating high school in 2018, noelle signed with WAX Records. In 2021, noelle has been releasing new materials throughout the year, leading to the highly anticipated debut EP 30K.
30k showcases noelle’s rich and diverse artistry. The bluesy melancholy on “Therapy” with a coastal laid-back nostalgia resembles early Lana Del Ray. Her airy falsettos and gentle slides on “Forever Yours” draws similarity to the intimate pop sensitivity of Billie Eilish. “Season Change” showcases noelle’s powerful songwriting with timeless melodies and captivating groove.
“Hate That I Miss You” and “30k” are brand new materials to the record. “Hate That I Miss You” paints a vulnerable moments after a breakup. The song articulates heartache as if it’s a page in a diary. noelle evokes the emotive darkness in her lower register, both unexpected and fantastic. “30k” on the contrary, is dazzling and upbeat.
Edwin Rosen Returns With Storming New Single “Vertigo”
Edwin Rosen returns with a storming new single “Vertigo” after his critical debut EP „mitleerenhänden" and sold-out tour in 2021.
Edwin Rosen returns with a storming new single “Vertigo” after his critical debut EP „mitleerenhänden" and sold-out tour in 2021. To many people, the 20-year-old music producer from Germany remained an unfamiliar name, but he has proven to be a black horse in the underground scene.
In 2020, Edwin Rosen began to self-release music, simply for the experience to let it out. At that time, he didn't have any promotional plan in place or the help of label or marketing.
Edwin Rosen takes inspiration from 80s new wave, post-punk with the love of heavy, electronic music and reimagines those elements in a modern setting. Inspired by Joy Division, Boy Harsher, Molchat Doma, and artists alike, his sound swirls somewhere between contemporary pop sensitivity and electronic music with the touch of dazzling shoegaze.
“Vertigo” shows us an intensive side of Rosen, adding to his atmospheric, textural soundscape. Poetic, melodic synth line is simply captivating, while the heavy beats storms in with intense sexual energy. The song spirals down chaos, turmoil, and out of control. Edwin Rosen’s vocal carries out the raw, exhausting intensity, as if calling for help on a lonely land.
“Vertigo is a song about the feeling, when everything seems to be spiraling out of control, when it’s hard to tell if time is moving fast or slow and how one person can be the thing that makes all of it stop. It’s a song about holding on to exactly that,” said Edwin Rosen.
There’s always distance in Rosen’s music. From his highly anticipated debut EP „mitleerenhänden", he has established a spacious, imaginative sound in his music. The songwriter/music producer never stops exploring the fun in the making of music.
In January, Edwin Rosen has announced another string European tour in 2022, and all have been sold out.
Cooper Chasse “Four Sides Of A Coin”
One thing you should know about Cooper Chasse is he’s unpredictable and highly creative. Just like the unusual name, “Four Sides of a Coin” suggest, the EP is never meant to be ordinary.
Photo credit: Ijaz Iqbal
Cooper Chasse’s “Four Side of a Coin” is full of surprise.
One thing you should know about Cooper Chasse is he’s unpredictable and highly creative. Just like the unusual name, “Four Sides of a Coin” suggest, the EP is never meant to be ordinary.
Cooper Chasse opens Four Sides of a Coin with a gentle yet dynamic title track with complex, driven drum, illuminating soft piano, and dreamful vocal. The different spectrums of sound certainly bring out a unique blend of texture that is exciting and stimulating to the ears.
“Crown of Flies” instantly drifts into a universe where the air is thicker and the mood is heavier. Chasse’s anthemic, captivating melodies float in a melancholy slow dance, telling the lonely innermost feelings. It’s such a poised track that you can just sink deep into its vintage glared, slightly destructive but rich and sensitive storytelling.
“Cygnet” takes the focus back to a mesmerizing, fuzzy acoustic guitar-driven singer-songwriter style narration. Simple but so rich in its tonality and mood. The rhythm section again surprises us by adding variations into the base rhythm. A speck of shaker in the background offers another layer of perspective into the soundscapes.
“Rest & Reset” strikes you as a hit song. It has a poetic campfire folk vibe with a poised singer-songwriter aesthetic. Cooper Chasse really surprises you with four very dynamic, distinguished, and high-quality tracks. His creativity takes you on a wild journey where his vision reaches further into the future.
Under Neptune “Disappear”
Under Neptune is an expressive songwriter. The compelling melodies have a sense of style that does not blindly follow or be afraid to vocalize its feelings.
Under Neptune Returns with Cosmic Fantastic “Disappear”
Under Neptune is an expressive songwriter. The compelling melodies have a sense of style that does not blindly follow or be afraid to vocalize its feelings. The nocturnal soundscape introduces listeners to a world where light, warmth, and darkness gently interact. His music is both evocative and introspective.
In “Disappear,” the soft and fuzzy sound gently shifts into an expressionistic chorus where layers of guitar weave into a rich, immersive chorus yet each sound is so deliberately managed. “Disappear” is a well-rounded work of art.
Under Neptune does not waste a word or a layer of sound, and that’s the brilliance in his music — you get to experience and re-experience every single detail in high resolution and appreciate how they subtly weave into this complex and vibrant texture.
Under Nectune’s music offers a sense of comfort to listeners. His sound always involves a brilliant blend of light, sensitivity, and beautiful cosmic guitar soundscapes that fill the space with warmth.
Jon Clark, One Long Skid ‘A Knot in Time’
Jon Clark’s A Knot in Time has the classic, nostalgic rock buzz in the sound that continues its conversation with time and space.
Jon Clark/One Long Skid shares nostalgic, classic rock aesthetic album A Knot in Time
A Knot in Time has the classic, nostalgic buzz in the sound that continues its conversation with time and space. The record brews a bittersweet complexity into its smooth and thoughtful texture and lingers in your thoughts for long. A Knot in Time is a brilliant and timeless record.
Connecting the dots between past and future, Jon Clark brings out a wide spectrum of palettes from soft rock, classic rock, country, and psychedelic with his band One Long Skid. Some of the tracks can be dated back to the 70s when Clark wrote them in the first place. With a poised approach to arrangements in instrumentation, backing vocals, and tones, A Knot in Time evokes familiarity to the ears and brings back memories.
“Follow that line, to a knot in time;
dizzy but it’s only for now
when I’m dark and a shadow not there
will your touch go right through?
in a moment a busy blank stare
spark of light, for this you knew.”
“A Knot in Time” swirls and spirals down memory lane to a different time. The track is enriched with memories and vibes, located halfway through the record. Jon Clark’s vocal comes to you in a vague and distant tone as if coming from a different universe. Like an aged scotch, “A Knot in Time” is a track that the more you listen to it, the more you could pick up its complexity and depth. With a speck of psychedelia, “A Knot in Time” is rich in the feels.
The title track certainly carries out the core aesthetic of the record. Nostalgic as it is, the record doesn’t dwell in the past but celebrates the vibrant colors and richness in life. A Knot in Time is so wonderfully orchestrated, blending different elements, influences, and memories into its sound.
As one of the most noticeable characteristics of this record, Jon Clark cleverly plotted a series of repetitions that really allows you the time to savor the taste, texture, and emotions behind each song. From the album opener, '“Jimmy Look Up”, Clark has inserted his brilliant songwriting and captivating melodies into your heart with a simple but powerful signature line, “Jimmy Look Up.”
“Complicated Woman” has a darker feel in the atmosphere as Clark dives into the character of this mysterious, sorrowful “complicated woman.” Instead of giving the audience the entire back story, the track takes on an impressionistic approach to paint a dark, sensuous soundscape and leaves some space for the audience to resonate with on their own term. The rusty and burning guitar solo in this track is simply perfect.
Spyderhuff “Desert Rain”
Spyderhuff takes you down the country road with “Desert Rain”, to a dim, smoky southern bar.
Spyderhuff shares southern blues single “Desert Rain”
Spyderhuff takes you down the country road with “Desert Rain”, to a dim, smoky southern bar where the mournful sound of blues harmonica intertwines with road-worn vocals that are filled with life stories. Captivating melodies seem to resonate and echo with your own journey, the soaring guitar jam lifts the roof just a little higher so it could reach further to the sky.
“Desert Rain” is all about the groove and the feel, the soul that softly mourns to the sound of harmonica and the stories behind the lyrics. Spyderhuff has so perfectly orchestrated a timeless track that one could fully immerse themselves in. Rhythmic and soulful, “Desert Rain” is easy to groove with and dance to, lighting up a cigarette, thinking or not thinking about the day, getting lost in the saucy southern twang.
Spyderhuff has a very special touch that comes to manipulating this balance between live instruments and electronic elements, creating cloud-like soundscapes that enhance the feel with synth while maintaining the edgy, authentic feel of the blues/country music genre.
Lydia Briggs “Fall Back To You”
Lydia Briggs shows a lot of potential in her voice. She can effortlessly handle a drastic cathartic passage as well as those intimate, sombre tunes.
Lydia Briggs Delivers Moody Pop Single “Fall Back To You”
Lydia Briggs shows a lot of potential in her voice. She can effortlessly handle a drastic cathartic passage as well as those intimate, somber tunes. Her moody and smooth pop-infused vocal style resembles the quality that many A-list singtresses have. “Fall Back To You” is a track that slowly grows on you. It immerses you in its sensitive, melancholy universe, where you fall back to the danger as if it was an unstoppable force.
“Fall Back To You” is no doubt a song of contrast. The drastic ebbs and flows and emotional tension make the track a challenge, yet Briggs makes it sound so effortlessly, perfectly capturing all the feelings and the underlying storyline that unfolds through her unapologetic lyrics.
The soft and cloud-like harmonies create wonderful pads around her vocal, where the words seem to speak directly to your heart. The stroke of the piano adds a sense of heaviness and despair into the song, which contributes to the overall aesthetic. At such a young age, the maturity and reliability in her songwriting as well as the way she articulates and expresses the storytelling with her poised vocal performance is something really rare to see.
Kinghorn “Kinghorn” EP
Pairing with the melancholy dreamfulness of shoegaze, Kinghorn evoke so many different feelings and visual imageries in this project.
Kinghorn Unleash Post-Punk Shoegazing Bangers in “Kinghorn” EP
I fucking love this EP. There, I said it. For anyone who craves the destruction, extremity, and experimentation of grunge and post-punk, Kinghorn will hit that spot hard and good. Pairing with the melancholy dreamfulness of shoegaze, Kinghorn evoke so many different feelings and visual imageries in this project.
Screaming of a storm, the album opener “Now Is All We Need” is a statement and a declaration of what they are capable of doing. “1:30 Am” taps into loneliness and depression with a speck of introspection. The soundscape starts to change and develop further in “Black Sea,” where it surpasses personal emotions into something grand and impressionistic. The track brings out a very unique quality where the vocals and the instruments have all smashed into the mixture of a canvas. “Sadless” instantly contrasts “Black Seia” in a fresh and unapologetic manner. It turns into the struggles and conflicts that are still raw and sharp.
“I Am Now” turns to noise and impressionistic industrial experimentation where the chaotic, flickers of sounds fly in the wind, indistinctive at first, and then a blurry scream or a distant note started to emerge, and then the percussion slowly recalls the order. “I Am Now” is undoubtedly an immersive track in this EP.
“Death Secrets” and “Pariah” take on a darker built-up spiraling inwards and land on an emotional high with post-rock aesthetic in “Drugs.” Kinghorn saved the best to the very last. Captivating and haunting melodies with the constant ring of fast stroke electric guitar passage. “Drug” is one track that you definitely don’t want to miss in this album.
The Egery “0 U”
There's no doubt clouds of mystery surrounded by The Egery, who are just starting to reveal themselves to the rest of the world.
The Egery Drop Haunting Dark Single “0 U”
There's no doubt clouds of mystery surrounded by The Egery, who are just starting to reveal themselves to the rest of the world. The wonderful blend of haunting hooks, electrified coiled sound effects, extremity, and metal riffs put you into a jaw-dropping surreality as if they somehow have been existing forever in harmony, yet you have no idea they do until you click on the track of “O U.”
Spanning from Los Angeles and the cabins in the deep forests of Europe, The Egery have a very distinct and contrasting sound within themselves. “O U” is cathartic and extreme, yet it’s tender and relatable; it has the warmth of a vintage glare, yet it’s hip and addictive. It’s hard to tell what it really is. It’s everything and nothing at the same time.
Just like the complexity the sound suggests in “O U,” the track is about the final acceptance and surrender to your devotion towards another entity, the forever bound, and the peace that comes from this realization. The Egery have captured the emotional roller coaster and story plots of an entire dramatic film in one song, and that’s something very unusual to witness.