With her divine talent in sound design, Ann Aarat cast spectral shadows over the luminescence of downtempo trip-hopped sensuality in ‘stay awake’. Rather than jarring, the syncopated beats let you sink into the sporadicism of their rhythm as Aarat pours ethereal harmonies over the intricately poised textures and tones that will make any leftfield electronica fan feel right at home. There’s no urgency in the soundscape, only a hypnotic surrender to liminality as her vocals drift through the arrangement like half-remembered dreams. ‘
The second official single from the Delhi-born, New York-based artist was synthesised while she was studying at Berklee College of Music. Now making a name for herself as a DJ, singer-songwriter, producer, and experimental sound designer in NYC, Aarat takes her time with her releases – and it shows. The precise stutter effects, lush reversed vocal swells, and fluid atmosphere speak to her desire to make music that lives and breathes in its own sonic dimension.
Aarat’s background in Mumbai and her ongoing devotion to sculpting otherworldly tones through field recordings and Ableton have culminated in a track that scratches the itch for intimacy without spilling into confessional territory. If this is the sonic skin she intends to inhabit while working towards film scoring, she’s already found a place where nuance reigns supreme.
‘stay awake’ is now available to stream on all major platforms; for the full experience, stream the official video on YouTube.
Review by Amelia Vandergast.