Browsing Tag

Chill Hop

Tha Blaqsmith crafted a monastery-esque mindscape with the lo-fi beats in his latest release, What is Meditation

Posted on 13 January 2024

In the bustling sphere of modern music, Tha Blaqsmith, a California-Las Vegas based producer, crafted a unique auditory experience for their latest release, What Is Meditation, and invited his listeners on a voyage into the realms of inner peace and heightened consciousness, led by the guiding light of Edwin “Tha Blaqsmith” McCain’s innovative spirit.

From the outset, the mindfulness bells resonate, echoing the sacred sounds of a Tibetan singing bowl. This introduction is not just an opening but a ticket into a sanctuary of serenity. The bells set the stage, transporting the listener to the tranquil corridors of a Buddhist monastery, a setting where the mind finds solace and the soul, harmony.

As the journey unfolds, a crackling spoken word recording emerges, reminiscent of an old sage imparting wisdom on the essence of meditation. This element adds a layer of authenticity and warmth, bridging the gap between the ancient practice and the contemporary listener. The lo-fi beats then make their entrance, maintaining the tape recording crackles, a subtle nod to Tha Blaqsmith’s affinity for vinyl records and drum breaks. This fusion of the old and the new creates a soundscape that is both nostalgic and refreshingly novel.

The ambient elements that flow into the track further enhance this meditative experience. Tha Blaqsmith’s skill in blending these sounds demonstrates his unorthodox approach to music. With no formal background in composing, his natural inclination towards music shines through, offering a raw, yet refined essence to the hip-hop genre.

What is Meditation was officially released on December 31 in The Last Day EP; stream the EP in full on Bandcamp.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

NJ Rapper Jay struck gold in his old-school lo-fi hit, Another Man’s Treasure

Posted on 5 March 2023

The NJ hip-hop artist running his feverishly witty bars under the mononym, Jay, turned up the heat by cooking with old-school flavour in his lyric-driven hit, Another Man’s Treasure.

After a crackling jazzy prelude, the lo-fi chill-hop hit kicks into full swing under the evocative duress of Jay’s vocal delivery which puts even more emotion into the compelling lyricism that paints a grim picture of systematic racial violence and oppression.

There are few opening lyrics as cutting as “this game wasn’t made for the darkest of brothers”. From there on out, the lyricism makes even fewer bones about holding a blood-stained mirror up to society, allowing it to see what it has become.

Another Man’s Treasure will officially release on March 3rd. Hear it on YouTube and SoundCloud.

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

‘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

Warren Davis has released his era-defining ambient EP, Oden’s Palace.

Posted on 2 September 2021

Birmingham, UK-based independent artist, Warren Davis, has released his ambient, mood-reflecting EP, Oden’s Palace, featuring the standout single, Discord. The meditative tempo makes it easy to drink in the organic flair of Warren Davis’ signature style which is defining a new era of new-age lo-fi. He leaves enough space for the listener to feed in their own emotion and imagination, but the gentle guitar melodies still lead to a higher mental plateau.

By taking inspiration from RnB, reggae, and Anime OST’s, Davis can orchestrate soundscapes that are as tonally vibrant as they are explorative and intensely cathartic. Do we even need to tell you he deserves a spot on your radar?

Discord is now available to stream on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Wyldher has released her sophomore summer dream-pop single, Sunsets + Smoke

Posted on 31 August 2021

Sunsets + Smoke is the latest trippy dream-pop track from the breaking artist Wyldher; her relatability could easily make her a major part of pop history. Her imploringly sweet vocals are a seamless fit with the sun-soaked melodies as the lyrics yearn to go back to the start to the start of a relationship that burned out too fast.

With the same girl next door vibes as Taylor Swift, the electronic ingenuity of Eilish and the sonic quality of Avicii in her chill hop style, Wyldher hasn’t failed to make an impression since making her debut earlier this year with the release of her debut single, Time Machine.

Stream and download Sunsets + Smoke by heading over to apple music.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

OurNova reached the pinnacle of dark electro-rock with ‘Nicotine & Nosebleeds’.

Posted on 15 June 2021

OurNova’s latest EP, Bloodlines, Vol. 1, finds the middle-ground between lo-fi alt-rock and synth-pop; the perfect introduction to their dark electronic rock style is the ambiently plaintive standout single, Nicotine & Nosebleeds.

With the tempo of a Portishead track, chilling mechanical electronica tones reminiscent of NIN and the evocative sting of Blue October, Nicotine & Nosebleeds sits on the more melancholic side of the emotional spectrum. Yet, with the refreshingly honest lyrics and the sharp angular guitar progressions that cut through the dark atmosphere of the single, there’s no danger of falling into an existential hole while listening to the reflectively powerful single unfold.

Check out Nicotine & Nosebleeds for yourselves via Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

London’s luminary hip hop artist MAUS shows us true innovation with ‘Little Moth Lady’

Posted on 29 April 2021

After his 2020 debut, alt-hip hop artist MAUS has been making waves with his illusory sound and psychedelic narratives. His latest release, ‘L.M.L.’, featuring the original single ‘Little Moth Lady’, and FRAME’s remix is the perfect introduction to his chimeric sound.

The intrinsically evocative single is just one of the undeniable testaments to MAUS’ ability to orchestrate hazy hip hop that flows with purpose and convictive structure, never hindering the catharsis of the kaleidoscopic reverb. In the same way that an addictive novel compels you to keep turning the pages, the ethereal warm tones atop of the solid yet glitchy percussion keep you hooked.

What Slowdive is to Shoegaze, MAUS is to contemporary hip hop. Hearing just one of his releases leaves you with that tragically rare impulse to immerse yourself in every new release and get acquainted with one of London’s most luminary artists. The 22-year-old artist is a full-time musician and tattooist at Frank Carter’s iconic Rose of Mercy studio in London. Whichever facet of his talent he’s utilising, he discernibly never fails to make an impression with his imagery.

His debut album is due for release in Summer 2021. If you’re a fan of Yung Lean, Mac Miller and Blood Orange, you’ll want MAUS on your radar.

The original track is available to stream along with the FRAME remix via Spotify.

Connect with MAUS on Instagram.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Frank Michaels showcases their constraint-less charisma with their alt-indie electronica debut ‘2 Weeks’

Posted on 12 February 2021

If you’ve lost all concept of time, Frank Michaels’ single, 2 Weeks, may not be able to help in that regard, but it does provide 2:19-minutes of alt-indie electronica experimentalism which will set your synapses alight, and let’s face it, dopamine is hard to come by these days.

By fusing elements of trippy indie hip hop, electronica and funk-driven pop into atypically galvanising and glitchy progressions, the Toronto-hailing songwriter and producer created the perfect platform for their dream pop-Esque vocals which bring a sense of tranquillity and soul.

COVID-19 may have a lot to answer to for, but the inspiration it gave so many artists to take the bull by the aural horns and make their debut is definitely a silver-lining. Frank Michaels can discernibly count himself amongst the artists making these bleak times a little brighter with their constraint-less charismatic sound.

2 Weeks is available to stream via Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

comeover – Reflect: Spikily Soulful Alt Electro Pop

Posted on 15 January 2021

‘Reflect’ is the latest entrancingly deep single from up and coming artist, comeover, which proves the necessity of vulnerability in music and affirms that it is raw unfiltered honesty which creates a connectable release; it scarcely matters who is behind the mixing desk.

Even though the prelude prepares you to brace for the emotion which the moody electro alt-pop soundscape has in store, you’ll still be caught broadsided by this resoundingly superlative DIY single.

The steady absorbing beats layer the mix with atmospheric energy as they run through their rhythmically transfixing progressions, but ultimately, they serve as a platform for comeover’s distinctive-beyond-measure vocals which don’t let emotion hide behind harmony. Instead, comeover’s spiky soulful timbre cruises through the lush reverb to hypnotic effect.

You can check out Reflect via SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Cast aside embitterment with Anaté’s celestially panoramic sophomore single ‘First Time’

Posted on 14 January 2021

In 2021, it’s harder than usual to create everlasting positive memories, with timely their sophomore release, ‘First Time’, alt-electronic pop duo, Anaté, invite the listener to rekindle the magic of affable memories have become soured by embitterment.

First Time asks the listener to stop throwing previously cherished memories away by the wayside just because the co-creator of them is no longer around. It’s a difficult request to make, but through the celestially panoramic alchemy of this intrinsically stylistic feat of downtempo electronic pop, you won’t just feel yourself become open to suggestion. You’ll feel floods of nostalgic imagery finding synergy with the melodic tides of the sensual yet powerful release.

If the difference between Anaté’s debut and sophomore single tells us anything, it’s to always expect the unexpected. Yet, one constant is the depth of the lyricism which works alongside their intoxicating sound.

First Time may not fit the usual perennial pop earworm mould, but it’s all the more unforgettable for it. Anaté’s succinct command of melodies and ability to offer a resounding directness with their music will undoubtedly see them go far in 2021 and beyond. If you’re sick of artists who only scratch at the surface of superficiality with their music, it’s time to start paying attention to Anaté.

To revel in some amorous nostalgia for yourselves, you can check out First Time which was released on January 13^th, 2021 via Spotify.

For more ways to listen and more information on the luminary duo, head over to their official website.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

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