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October 21, 2021 Laidback R&B music producer Zanski shares album Phenomena

Laidback R&B music producer Zanski shares album Phenomena

In his sophomore album Phenomena, Canadian musician Zanski submerges audiences into an immersive, emotional journey through his meticulously crafted sound. 

Released  via AWAL, the 15-track LP is a lucid dream expressed through R&B-influenced guitars, stunning electronic production, and mesmerizing vocals from the multi-talented artist. Written, produced, mixed, and mastered by Zanski himself, Phenomena is an exploration of ambiguity, challenging the malaise of apathy with a longing for something more substantial. The album shares its name from Zanski’s YouTube series Phenomena TV, in which he explains his creative process and how he shapes his DIY sound design, nostalgic visual aesthetic, and inimitable musical style. 

Zanski explains, “The album weaves together a dream-like narrative about existential motifs and what it is to feel disconnected. Through the 15 tracks, I wanted to write cataloguing a feeling, a loose collection of places and times, rather than a strict narrative, that still feels like it’s linearly progressing to some sort of emotional catharsis. It’s open-ended but touches upon the dissociation of modernity and how we navigate that feeling every day.”

First garnering attention in 2017, Toronto-based artist Zanski released his Collapse EP to critical and commercial acclaim. This led to a breakout single in 2018, “Fool,” which has accumulated over 5 million streams across streaming platforms. Looking forward, Zanski seeks to create music that transports listeners into lucid dreams. Building sonic worlds with his meticulous and encapsulating sound design, Zanski’s latest releases firmly root him as an artist to watch.

Follow Zanski:

Facebook /  Twitter / Instagram / Spotify / Apple Music / YouTube 

October 15, 2021 Breezy indie-pop act Halfnoise announce 4th studio album

Breezy indie-pop act Halfnoise announce 4th studio album

Halfnoise – the celebrated solo project of Zac Farro (Paramore)announces their 4th studio album Motif’, due November 5th, and shares new singleSuperstition’.

Continuing from the sonic style of first single ‘Two Of Us’ (praised by DIY, DORK, Rocksound, Brooklyn Vegan and more),  ‘Superstition’ is a swaggering, sexy confession of love punctuated with explosive bursts of vintage strings and funky rhythms that Farro’s smooth tenor vocals croon over the top of.

Motif, released via Zac’s own label Congrats Records is the soundtrack to a genuine, real life love affair. Inspired by his relationship with partner and collaborator Kayla Graninger, Motif charts the journey of new love…from infatuation to maturity, from New York to Los Angeles, from spontaneity to the everyday.

The story begins in medias res with the breezy, hand-holding, instrumental stroll fittingly titled, “Introduction.” From here, the record picks up with latest single, “Superstition,” setting the stage lyrically with the vulnerable, sincere adulations of a boy in love and way in over his head.

Motif’ unapologetically resides in the hi-fi mid-70s atmosphere of The Bee Gees, Gaye, Nilsson, Lennon and ELO, with swanky keys, nostalgic string arrangements, gushing sentiment and unrepentant saxophone — all without a hint of irony or parody.  Noticeably forefront are the melodies, which find Farro louder in the mix than usual, more exposed, and stretching his vocal and poetic range. Meanwhile Halfnoise moves into previously unexplored musical and emotional territory with both passionate and playful abandon.

The album closes strong with Last Day on Earth, a dreamy, Mind Games-esque anthem combining the whole cast of instrumental characters in a rapturous, romantic crescendo as the two lovers fantasize about their relationship in apocalyptic metaphor. The story’s final image is of the couple gracefully accepting a world that is unaware of its own impending demise and indifferent to the warnings of the new lovers, who alone, in the purification of love, can see the truth.

Halfnoise was founded by Farro in 2010, and has gone through many different musical iterations. Acclaimed 2016 album ‘Sudden Feeling’ drew from elements of shimmering synth-pop, which quickly developed into 2019s Natural Disguise’ which combined alternative rock, with disco elements, and which has led to the next chapter, beginning with ‘Two Of Us’ & ‘Supersition’.

Not one to rest on their laurels, since rejoining Paramore in 2017 Farro has released two EPs & one album under the Halfnoise moniker, as well as setting up his own label (Congrats) and producing the recent debut record from fellow Nashville artist and partner ELKE.

Motif’ is a bold new step for Farro & Halfnoise, exemplified by latest single ‘Superstition’.

Follow Halfnoise:

Instagram // Facebook // Twitter // Spotify

August 17, 2021 REVIEW: Synthwave connoisseur Michael Oakley shares epic album

REVIEW: Synthwave connoisseur Michael Oakley shares epic album

 Image credit: Jon Simo

Looking for an album that is a pleasant listening experience, regardless of the time of the year? Michael Oakley’s latest album Odyssey via NewRetroWave is a perfect pairing for times like these when you need to hear something hopeful but not heavily reliant on one element to make an impact. Listening to Michael Oakley’s album, one can feel the undercurrent of adventure run through this entire body of work, with upbeat yet changeable instrumentation throughout. Expect laidback anthemic drum sequences and saxophone solos that will melt in one’s ear.

Stream / Download Odyssey LP

The album starts off with the title track ‘Odyssey’ which leads us to think that we are getting a mellow synthwave album from the get-go, but the final seconds on the track proves this album carries an array of emotions when drums start to pound in the last moments. Then the noteworthy ‘Wake Up!’ leaves us feeling pumped up with the idea of planning our next epic road trip with treasured folk. We think it can only go up from here, but then ‘Is There Anybody Out There (Jon Campbell edit)’ which has us questioning the darkest parts that exist in ourselves. Thankfully, ‘Babylon’ calms the cries of its predecessor. The rest of the album talks about finding stability like ‘Glasgow Song’ and ‘Real Life’ – an emotionally complex album without a doubt. 

‘Babylon’ stands out as a soothing track, that describes the enigmatic feeling of finding a home in connection rather than a building. ‘Babylon’ is a sleek track with undercurrents of chemistry thanks to its minimal progressions laced with ethereal synthesizers. The sensual and vibrant saxophone added into the mix makes this track one of Michael Oakley’s most sparkling tracks on this album.

Follow Michael Oakley:

WebsiteFacebookTwitterSoundcloudYoutubeInstagramSpotify

July 15, 2021 Electronic music producer Kasbo returns with remix series

Electronic music producer Kasbo returns with remix series

Image by: Olof Grind

Following the success of 2020’s The Making Of A Paracosm, electronic producer and songwriter Kasbo returns with a two-part remix EP series starting with “The Making of a Paracosm (Remixes Vol. 1)” out now on ODESZA’s Foreign Family Collective. The release was announced alongside an ethereal and lush remix of stand-out album track ‘Lune’ feat Vancouver Sleep Clinic by Manilla Killa, who has remixed Lana Del Rey, London Grammar, and Dawn Golden in the past. It received impressive support from the likes of Dancing Astronaut and Acid Stag to name a couple. Other remixes on the EP come from Duskus, BOII, Just A Gent & Rando, and Mindchatter.

Kasbo (real name Carl Garsbo) is the 24-year-old electronic producer and songwriter (with a hugely impressive 420.9M+ combined streams), who released his anticipated and critically acclaimed second album “The Making of a Paracosm” on October 23rd 2020. The Gothenburg-based artist has received acclaim from the likes of Billboard (featured in Dance Ones To Watch), The Fader, Dancing Astronaut, Stereogum, Pilerats, Nest HQ, Complex, High Snobiety, NYLON and FLAUNT. He has performed at a number of internationally renowned festivals in the past, such as Coachella, Splendour In The Grass, Electric Forest Festival, Firefly Festival and more, also selling out major North American venues on his first-ever headline tour. In 2019 he toured with ODESZA on their run and capped off with a show at Red Rocks Amphitheater in Colorado.

Follow Kasbo:

Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / YouTube / Bandcamp / Soundcloud / Spotify / AppleMusic