Music producer Holo has delighted the avid electronica listener once again with his charismatic and laidback energy on his latest song offering ‘In Limbo’. A true connoisseur of electronics, the music producer crafts his sound around his feelings rather than feeling tied down to one key sound. To many people’s surprise, the producer has also admitted he is not strictly inspired by traditionally electronic musicians, citing names like alternative band Radiohead and The Beatles as some of his key inspirations. If you want to hear more from this fresh talent, stay tuned as he plans to release an EP also titled In Limbo next month via Houseum.
In an interview with Chill Music, the producer shared: “I think the common thread within my music is an emphasis on texture, melody, and harmony primarily. I really care about which sounds I pick, as I want to create a distinct atmosphere for the track to live in… almost like decorating a room. Other signatures I think of are simple drum parts, live guitar, bass playing, the use of unusual samples, and lots of reverb.”
Certainly a quirky and imaginative fellow as his response above suggests, Holo continues to impress us with every single release he shares with us. ‘In Limbo’ shares the producer’s versatility with panache and an “effortlessly” spaced out sound that blurs genre expectations and is an overall wholesomely mellow track for the stressed or elated to enjoy simultaneously.
French indie-pop artist Dude Low released his jazz-inspired single “Bottle”. The new single sharply contrasts the artist’s previous release, “Amnesia,” which heavily leaned into synth-pop elements. However, a steady trait throughout Dude Low’s music is an undeniable softness of the chords and an incredible sense of depth through jazz influences.
“Bottle” touches on his infatuation with parties – which commonly include bottles of liquor – that brought him into a delusional lifestyle. Dude Low talks about the addictiveness of partying, “Why paradise is always a mirage,” he sings. “Once you taste it, you’re stuck in it.” The song calls attention to how drinking, partying or doing drugs create illusions for people searching for a vice. Like in many of his songs, Dude Low effortlessly merges serious discussions with wildly interesting soundscapes.
Dude Low, the modern proletarian, is back for 10 tracks with rich sounds that explore his wandering Egotrip. From his headquarters (Rennes), he calls for a journey after a year of solitary therapy, far from his tribe: humans. Neither too political nor too fatalistic, Dude Low spits on what annoys him without claiming to know the solution. Through beats that rub up against hip hop, the artist wants to be uncompromising by creating his own artisanal mix ready to swing his left hook in the unbearable gloom of routine, or by enhancing it with a melancholic caress. Who said romance was dead? Not Dude Low. Life is like a Wes Anderson movie, it all depends on how you perceive it. Gathering momentum from a run of shows in France, Dude Low has wrapped up recording sessions in anticipation of his upcoming album Ego Tripon Fogwood Records due to be released April 2022.
Evocative songbird MARIA Die RUHE has shared her latest single ‘Skin’ which explores sexuality and body positivity. The songstress brings a fresh approach to her art, like a phoenix she has risen and conquers her fears and insecurities one song at a time. The track was released yesterday via Reduced To the Root, and is a divine ethereal body accepting anthem. Orchestral and electronic fusions collide with the mystically alluring vocals of the songstress.
MARIA Die RUHEshares personal insight on how the track came to be: “I disliked my body for the longest period of my life for different reasons. I was always ashamed of getting undressed first in school sports, later with lovers. A lot of women share this phenomenon. This is insane. Today, I know that I am perfect as I am and beautiful. Do you like this vehicle you were born into? Your body? Your body is a magical machine with incredible functions and huge abilities to learn, develop, change. It is always there for you. You are your body and your body becomes the thoughts you are giving to it. With ‘SKIN’, I am rounding up my life and travelling the transformation of making peace with my body and loving and nurturing it as it is. My body. The only one I have in this life.”
We have all felt or feel insecure about something at a certain point in our life, MARIA Die RUHE embraces her insecurities and blooms through doing so. Regardless of where you are in your journey of self-acceptance, I think we can all take a petal from the singer’s insightful lyrical bouquet that gives one a touch of hope and liberation to look beyond the surface.
Sharing his new album Skills, German composer Sven Helbig gave us a taste of what to expect with the release of the album track ‘Metamorphosis’ ahead of the official release. Drenched in passionate violin arrangements, this classical track carries a tense but intriguing atmosphere nonetheless. The musician shares that this album was inspired by people around him, exercising their abilities to create new and wonderful things. Also featured on the album, is the noteworthy track ‘Flow’, which takes a more adventurous route with its blend of electronica, string instruments, and ambient embellishments. Today we present an exclusive Q&A with the composer below.
Describe your sound for us. What do you want people to feel when they hear your music?
My sound consists of classical instruments in synthesis with subtle electronics. For the new album, I used French horns and tuba beside a string quartet. I can’t say what people should feel. I am transmitting energy and I hope it finds some receivers.
Which 3 artists have influenced you the most growing up?
John Tavener for his deep spiritual composing, the drummer Questlove for the incredible joy he pours into my body with a simple 2 and 4 in their right places, and Stevie Wonder for everything.
How did you discover your particular sound?
I always loved the musical waves that an orchestra or classical instruments, in general, can produce. This is very different from any other sound source, and I wanted to work with this type of musical energy.
Tell us about one of the first struggles you faced (as a group or a solo artist) and how you overcame it?
It took me a long time to see sense in making my own music, after growing up with the masters and their complex perfection. Do we need more music? That doesn’t matter! Am I good enough? That doesn’t matter either. It sounds simple but finding those two answers was incredibly hard for me.
What are the most important pieces of equipment to you?
For creation: My brain, my intuition, a pencil, and paper.
On stage: I couldn’t live with a laptop.
Music for the individual or the masses – which do you want to create?
I can’t answer this. It is a typical western-world-21st-century-question. There is a difference between whether by “for the masses” you mean the audience of Johann Sebastian Bach, or that of McDonald’s. Bach’s music was created for the masses and still is accessible for everybody. I wouldn’t make music that is only limited to a few individuals.
Do you have a favourite memory of your career so far?
Yes. The most touching moments have been the after-shows with my choir project. When a choir of St. Petersburg or Minsk or Cuba is singing folk songs for you, in a pub after the concert, that is incredibly moving.
If you could work with, or perform alongside any artist living or passed, who would it be?
I would very much like to collaborate with Ryuji Sakamoto. His work was with me for so long and it would be a dream to write something with him.
What kind of message are you trying to send with your music?
My music is made to make it easier to stand up again. I want to share energy for this. Every one of my projects is written in search of leaving a foggy time and finding a new way out.
What can we expect from you in the near future? Any upcoming projects or gigs in the pipeline that you would like to tell us about?
I am looking forward to performing my new album Skills live. Especially being invited by the London Contemporary Orchestra to perform with them at Southbank Centre makes me very excited.
