Albums | AyeKy releases debut EP, ‘Wave’
Posted by VMan on July 19, 2024
Growing up in Cincinnati, a city known for its resilience and toughness, AyeKy’s journey hasn’t been easy. Yet, he remains undeterred, guided by the moon and his unwavering focus. His determination to overcome any obstacle and inspire others shines through in his music. “There is nothing you cannot accomplish when you walk with faith,” he declares, a testament to his positive outlook and relentless drive. After only three years of creating music, AyeKy’s progress is remarkable. His moon-guided motivation and eclectic taste have driven him to continuously push the boundaries of his sound. The ‘Wave’ EP is a testament to his hard work and dedication, offering a glimpse into the future of an artist destined for greatness. I really enjoyed how eclectic the sound on this project was, it’s all over the place in the best way. Enjoy the new EP by AyeKy above now!
Albums | Aussie Producer re:abel drops new EP
Posted by VMan on February 1, 2024
re:abel is a project from Melbourne newcomer Ryan Gasparini who is crafting a unique blend of Future/UK Garage electronica, which has a sound that can be likened to a mix between Overmono, Burial, and Joy Orbison.Over the last few months Ryan has given us two mesmerizing aural treats with ‘Carbonceramics’ and ‘Concentrate’, while also making promise of a three-track ep headed our way soon. That ep is titled “Otherside”,and it is being released this week alongside its previously unheard title-track, on which he says…“The title track introduces a gentler, more nuanced side to my production. Distant vocals and soft percs build under synth hits and lush pads, building to an eventual introduction of sub-bass, thumping kick and fluttering arpeggio sequences, with the chopped, reverb soaked vocals driving the track throughout.” ~ re:abel
When he began working on this ep, Ryan set himself the goal of creating three songs that represents a certain element that drives him to make music. He wanted each of them to have a different overall vibe and mood while at the same time making us feeling a variety of different emotions.
“‘With this latest EP, I tried to create three tracks that each represent an element of what drives me to write music. Each of the three songshas a slightly different mood, but still remain cohesive with each other and firmly planted in the emotional electronic / UK-influenceddance field -music that leaves you feeling a melting pot of different feelings -both wistfully melancholic, yet full of inspiration and hope.” ~ re:abel
Albums | 44 ardent drops new 14-track album, ‘leo’
Posted by VMan on December 15, 2023
44 Ardent is an indie-dance/house project from Australian artist Callan Alexander (aka cln), which has a sound that could be likened to a mix between Caribou, Tourist and Odesza.
When creating the 44 Ardent project back in 2018, Callan had decided to keep his real identity under wraps. The initial intention for project was simply for him to have an outlet to continue releasing the more electronic/dance focused music he was creating while his other main project, cln, began moving into a more alternative indie/pop kinda realm.
Since then, however, 44 Ardent has taken on a life of its own, and Callan is excited to reveal this project to his entire network of friends and fans, giving it the recognition it deserves.
“44 Ardent was initially supposed to be a secret/anonymous side project, but I’m not very good at keeping secrets. Quite a few people have figured out that it’s me/cln, so I’ve now decided to let the cat out of the bag. I created this project as more of an electronic outlet as cln has shifted a little bit more into the indie world. Electronic music has always been my favourite type of music to make, as you have total creative freedom. I was making so many songs that couldn’t really be released under cln, and I needed to find a place to put them. 44 Ardent is that place.” ~ Callan Alexander
Throughout 2023 Callan has given us six exceptional 44 Ardent singles, but there is still so much more to come from him this week as he shares a very generous 14-track album titled “leo”, which as he reveals below is a culmination of various genres & styles of electronic music that he has spent a lot of time exploring this year.
“leo is the culmination of all of the 44 Ardent music that I’ve made over the last year or so. I have noticed that a lot of the best producers have an approach where they focus on pumping out lots of quick ideas, and then refine the best ones. I’ve tried to follow that to an extent, making heaps of music very quickly and then only finishing the ideas that I really like. This album is the end product of that. There is a real mix of genres and styles, as I’ve tried not to corner myself into any particular sound.
I hope to keep releasing lots of music under this alias and am very grateful to my manager Jez for believing in the project and pushing it forward. Thank you for listening xx.” ~ Callan Alexander
Albums | re:abel drops “Concentrate”
Posted by VMan on December 6, 2023
re:abel is a project from Melbourne newcomer Ryan Gasparini who is crafting a unique blend of Future/UK Garage electronica, which has a sound that can be likened to a mix between Overmono, Burial and Joy Orbison. Just last month Ryan teamed up with Mammal Sounds Records for an uplifting atmospheric release called ‘Carbonceramics’, which also came with news of a three-track ep coming our way soon. This week he is giving us the second taste of that EP with the subtly darker and explorative sounds. “Concentrate” by re:abel is available everywhere now via Mammal Sounds Records, tune in above now and read a quote from him on the release below!
“‘Concentrate’, the second single from this release, assumes a much darker, brooding presence than the single ‘Carbonceramics’ that came before. Building with broken UKG style drums and echoes of reverb drenched vocals, before dropping into hard-hitting sub bass and dub-inspired chords, that transport you to rainy city streets and neon-lit underground bass music clubs.”
Albums | Check out “Gum” by Arky Waters
Posted by VMan on November 28, 2023
Arky Waters is an Australian newcomer who is crafting a unique blend of breakbeat/tech-house electronica which has a sound that can be likened to a mix between Bicep, Overmono and Godford. Listen to the single above now!
Just last month Arky Waters announced he had a new ep on the way while also giving us its first preview with new single called ‘Take My Time’, and he’s returning this week with the ep’s second offering, a fast-paced techno release called ‘Gum’, which he says…
“After COVID finished I tried to go to as many events as I could in order to support the music scene. Even on days I didn’t feel like it, I would drag myself out and go to all the local raves that were going on in Sydney – crews like Illicit, Allfriends, Pulso, City Soup and Motorik. I’d go by myself most times but it was never a lonely experience because the communities were so open and friendly. Everyone was doing something different but they were all celebrating music. It was kind of beautiful. I ended up making this track as a tribute to that time as I was exposed to a lot of techno that I had never heard before.” ~ Arky Waters
Interviews | Slowboy Talks Virality, Success, & The Future After ‘Brazilian Funk Mano’ [Interview]
Posted by VMan on August 7, 2023
With the fury of a revolutionary, Slowboy has etched his mark in the Phonk universe. The hard-hitting Norwegian maestro has defied expectations and birthed a new sound with “Brazilian Phonk Mano.” The track resonates with the very heart of the genre, imbuing it with a raw, untamed vibrancy.
The Phonk genre, much like rock ‘n’ roll in its early days, has been a bastion for experimentation and audaciousness. Slowboy, Crazy Mano, and lucaf. have taken this malleable form and poured their unique personas into it. The resulting sonic concoction is as electrifying as the raucous punk anthems of yore.
Slowboy’s rapid rise has been marked by serendipity and hard work. His sound emerged just as the world began to recognize the allure of Brazilian Phonk. From Brazil’s clubs to worldwide streams, Slowboy’s take on the genre arrived at the perfect time.
One can draw parallels between Slowboy’s approach and that of the legendary Bob Dylan. Dylan pushed folk beyond its boundaries, and Slowboy, with his dynamic collaborators, is doing the same with Phonk. He’s not only creating music, he’s creating culture.
“Brazilian Phonk Mano” is more than just a track; it’s a cultural shift, an emblem of an era. It’s the sound of a genre that refuses to be pinned down, the soundtrack to a million TikTok videos, and a testament to the power of collaboration. Like Dylan’s anthems, Slowboy’s “Brazilian Phonk Mano” captures the zeitgeist, reflecting the world back to us in a form we’ve never heard before.
We couldn’t help but want to get inside Slowboy’s head, see the interview below where we discuss the sound of Phonk, TikTok virality, label releases, and more.
Exclusive Interview
As a pioneer of the Brazilian Phonk sound, what inspired you to explore this genre?
What inspired me was the general sound and feeling it gave me. It had this really rough, raw and bouncy sound to it which I liked. I love exploring new genres and sounds, which made me try fuse elements of Phonk with Brazilian Funk.
Do you prefer making music with others or on your own?
At the moment I am doing a lot of collaborations which I enjoy, but personally I prefer working on my own from time to time so I can focus on my own personal projects.
Do you prefer being in the studio or on stage?
I’m not really used to being on stage much, so I would say I’m more of a studio type of person. But this may change in the future.
Could you discuss your involvement with labels such as Aurorian Records, Void of Phonk, Black 17 Media, and B1 Recordings?
I witnessed the creation of Aurorian Records and they were the first label team believe in my sound as I was friends with the owner, the same too with Void of Phonk. Other than production, I’m involved with doing some A&R work for them. With the success of Brazilian Phonk Mano came the ability to work more with artists that frequently release under Black 17 Media, so I have released through there a few times too. As for B1 Recordings, they’re a popular label under Sony and got given the opportunity to remix two viral songs under them including ‘Push Up’ by Creeds so it was great working with them for that!
How has your music resonated with audiences on platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube?
Scrolling through TikTok with my music showing up a lot of the time, with tracks like ‘Brazilian Phonk Mano’, ‘Life in Rio’ and my recently viral track ‘Oppa’, I like to look at the comments sometimes and people seem to love the songs. The amount of video usage with my tracks and the views across YouTube, TikTok and the dm’s I get on instagram has been incredible. It’s overwhelming the amount of messages and support, but I love it and hope it continues.
How much can your success be attributed to being at the ‘right place at the right time’ in your opinion?
It depends. I think with ‘Brazilian Phonk Mano’, that was a track that was at the right place at the right time. Putting out a track like that which became popular amongst edits and gym-goers before anyone else really shaped its success. That to me was a major ‘right place at the right time’ moment and ultimately kicked things off a lot for me.
What can listeners expect from Slowboy beyond “Brazilian Phonk Mano” in terms of his contribution to the Phonk genre?
I’m still making a lot of Brazilian Phonk/Funk music but also experimenting with other sub-genres of Phonk and EDM as always. I began in the bass music scene and creating other EDM styles, so I’ve got upcoming music with some talented artists mixing these styles with Phonk.
Albums | Late Night Therapy releases “Through Your Eyes”
Posted by VMan on February 14, 2023
Australian produce Late Night Therapy returns on the scene with his new single “Through Your Eyes” and it’s a smash. Creating his own unique blend of electronic music with progressive house elements, in a similar lane to Golden Features, Running Touch and RUFUS DU SOL. Listen to the song above now and read a quote from the artist on the drop below now!
“I wrote this song as an ode to the act of making music itself. The line heard in the intro “Take me there” is referring to the mental flow state I’mtaken to whilst making music. Music for me is an outlet more than anything else.In order to be myself, I need to get in the studio and create. It’s something that I just haveto do, like a typeof Therapy.” ~ Late Night Therapy