Cris Cray’s ‘Angels’ single is a combination of opposites; dark, optimistic, complex, simple, heavy and whimsical. With a booming distorted 808 kick drum pushing the instrumental into energetic and frantic territory otherwise left simplistic and spacious without it, the merging of polar opposites plays into the instrumental as well. ‘Angels’ has Cris Cray spilling it all out in a rapid fire flow and ominous tones detailing his trials and tribulations. A drowsy distorted hook weaves in and out in seemingly inebriated assistance. Cris Cray covers both sides of the coin with this dark track that plays as a druggy party anthem and doubles as a introspective trap soliloquy.
La’Mon De’Shun takes off.
‘Investing in myself so I know the M’s coming’ La’mon De’Shun raps on his single ‘Last Name’ a combination of swagger, hustle, vision and dedication. La’mon’s foresight goes the distance, eclipsing the standard artist’s short sight with visions of present seeds turned to fruits in a future brought to fruition. With numerous catchy singles covering a variety of different moods currently out, and 3 music videos that one lyric is more than a boasting bar, De’Shun investment in self is evident. His single ‘Purple Kisses’ contains pimp wisdom relied in a flawless flow over a smooth instrumental with an unforgettable hook. ‘Nikes, Jordans, and Timberlands (Outro)’ showcases his soulful side and further instills his hustle on a gritty track detailing his come up, the last track on his Where I Come From EP from 2019.
His single ‘Cheese’ has accompanying visuals that showcase his lifestyle and charisma. La’mon’s ear for production -soulful, smooth and bounce heavy- along with his precise Trap and Mainstream sensibilities combine for a foundation that is set to withstand a launch off into space among the stars. A soil with a harvest soon to be reaped from a visionary that already planted the seeds to ‘Investing in myself so I know the M’s coming’.
David Raynolds ‘So Alive’ EP
With an opening track that slowly unfolds, evolving from acoustic to a crescendo of unveiled percussion, electric guitars and harmonies ‘Shallow’, though ironic in it’s lyrical depth, acts as the shore where the tide approaches land only as an introduction into the vastness of the sea. “I’m off the deep end, watch as I dive in” double as a mission statement not only for the opening track ‘Shallow’ but for the entire So Alive EP. The waters quickly drop and get torrential as ‘This Is The End’ takes the listener for a sharp turn, an EDM/Electronic dance song varies from the acoustic opening previously played, an exciting 180 turn around. David Raynolds ‘So Alive’ is packed with life ‘Apologize’ immediately follows ‘This Is The End’ and is another drastic change in mood, the haunting strings and mysterious piano melody create a somber tone for David’s determined delivery. ‘The Reason Why’ continues the consistent theme of sporadic stylistic choices and vast diversity, an island-like dance heavy track with an upbeat feel and a breezy instrumental. ‘Dragostea Din Tei’ has David Raynolds bringing us back to the clubs and rooftop parties, a fitting end to a complex musical journey, a celebratory victory lap for an EP that set out for the waters and covered most of the seascape.
Stefano Tucci ‘Here, Nowhere’ Album.
Upbeat, somber, rhythmic, lush, mellow and smooth all describe just the opening track ‘A Vision Of You And I’ on Stefano Tucci’s album Here, Nowhere. The sky is the limit with a solid foundation and starting point like that, Kristiana’s delivery is subtle and yet fierce, fierce in it’s immense emotional depth and brash openness, a intriguing mixture of two opposites. Like the opening track’s instrumental teetering between various moods and emotions Kristiana, the main vocalist and sole feature on the whole album save for one track, vocally delivers just as intricate and complex of a performance. The deep down tempo lush dark sonic soundscapes created on Here, Nowhere hit hardest on ‘On The Verge’ -hauntingly melancholy and emotive in tone and instrumentation. Trip-Hop, House, Down Tempo, Dance and Electronic all merge together throughout this album ‘Have You Ever?’ is expansive, ambient and hypnotic. The proceeding track ‘Deep Sandy Ibiza’ is an ever evolving instrumental, Electronic, robotic and human -further bridging the gap between opposites- percussive hits echo and glitch in and out in the background as a guitar melody strums along to constant booming kicks and an automated drum pattern. ‘The Harami Lounge’ the second instrumental on the LP is Tribal and Jazzy a pleasant departure from the subtle ominous tone in the other tracks. Zoeii appears towards the end of the album to give a passionate performance on the dance heavy ‘Love Kingdom’ a track that is sure to keep clubs and dance floors packed deep into the night. The final track ‘Evening Star’ is the instrumental icing on the cake, closing out the journey in completion with an intoxicating mellow groove ingrained with great guitar work and a smooth encompassing mood. Stefano Tucci makes Here, Nowhere the most important place to be.
Introducing: Andrea Zimansky
With a keen ear for the sound and aesthetic that listeners are looking for Andrea Zimansky keeps a vault of hits in his catalog for the current climate. Perseverance and zeal tapped in to the zeitgeist Andrea Zimansky has the formula for furthering his audience. Pop sensibilities combined with a swagger and persona for mass production and appeal, crisp production, catchy hooks, and honest authenticity all coalesce to create an artist who is destined for a mass takeover. His diversity allows him to easily weave in and out between English as shown on his hauntingly smooth single ‘Jamais Plus’. One of his bubbling breakout singles ‘Top Of The Mountain’ not only catches the listener’s ear right away the stunning visuals lock in their eyes, Andrea Zimansky’s complete grasp of sound and visuals show he is an artist worth checking for and certainly worth betting on as his foundation has all the makings for stardom.