Psycho & Plastic have released their latest song ‘Fragile Targets’, a neo-classical composition with a distinctively ambient edge. The duo have carefully glued brittle audio fragments on top of a steady bottom of ringing keys.
Mots of dust cast adrift in a singular beam cast over an old piano. The pianist rocks steadily as their feet control the mutes of the keys. Lost in their fingers, they express a yearning through an 8-note scale. The listener is held like a breath underwater, gazing up through ripples of distortion. The high notes leap across lily pads, the surface tension breaking away beneath them.
The track feels as if it’s on the brink of surrender. Saddened, yet resolute, it brushes up against a deep sense of loss and vulnerability. We are led on a journey of mourning that we know is fated to be. Resigned to the inner turmoil, we let go only to find ourselves caught adrift in a sea of sound.
Formed in Athens, GA, Easter Island is an ambient dream-pop act fronted by brothers Ethan and Asher Payne (guitar and keys) and Ryan Monahan (guitar). Their sound has been likened to Explosions in The Sky, My Bloody Valentine, DIIV, Pedro the Lion, and more. The band’s falsetto vocals and panoramic guitars are countered by its powerful rhythm section – John Swint (drums), and Justin Ellis (bass) add gravity to an otherwise weightless sound.
Throughout Easter Island’s career the band has had the opportunity to share the stage with David Bazan, Cindy Wilson (of The B52s), The Low Anthem, Bully, Wild Nothing, White Rabbits, Valley Maker, and more. The band’s debut record Frightened (2012), led to a number of television syncs, including ABC’s “Off The Map”, MTV’s “Awkward”, and a recent live appearance on CW’s Dynasty which aired in 2019.
The past six years have seen the band working in various studios all over the country on their new record while touring the US at large, including appearances at SXSW, CMJ, Treefort, Underground Music Showcase, Secret Stages, and Athfest in their hometown of Athens. They traveled as far as Japan to work on new material and to film the music video for the single, “Island Nation”, which was premiered by Paste Magazine. The band’s follow-up single, “Always Room For Another”, premiered on Billboard in fall 2018. In 2020 the band found itself spread out among five different cities and so they leaned into the separation and produced five music videos – featuring each member in their respective city.
Produced and engineered by Ryan Monahan, the songs received additional engineering from Mike Albanese at Espresso Machine Recording and mastering from Joel Hatstat at High Jump Media in Athens, GA. The new record draws on influences ranging from Sufjan Stevens and Max Richter, to The Never Ending Story. The band completed a successful Kickstarter campaign in early 2020 and will release their sophomore LP, Take All The Time You Think You Need, in December, 2020.
After his “Tracks” EP, some singles and collaborations that led the way in his artistic production, Souvlaki announces the release of “Continued Survival”, his second EP, anticipated by the launch of the single “7LUNGS”. The track combines the electronic and ambient sounds that have already become the Italian artist’s trademark with hip-hop and drum&bass influences, in a hybrid between soft atmospheres and grooving rhythm. Slim Gong lends his voice for some top notch hip-hop phrasing in French, adding another layer and a new contamination to a multifaceted and experimental track, which yet gets to sound spontaneous and balanced. Souvlaki, who sinks his musical roots into the solid ground of electronics, ambient and alternative, does not hide his natural will to experiment and push himself into new territories. His creative process reveals his curious and attentive personality.
In his words: “I like ‘7LUNGS’ a lot in terms of writing, but I admit that it was difficult to finish. I wanted to create another “hip-hop” song like “Fellow”, which I published earlier. But the first version of ‘7LUNGS’ could not fit in the sound of the record, it had a nice modern tone but too far from the rest, I was one step away from removing it from the EP. Then fortunately, I was able to find what I was looking for and from there, I built the ending (the drum&bass beat was created by Simone Piccinelli, with whom I collaborated). Dark, obsessive, distorted, a bit as if the song wrecked towards the real sound of the EP. The song still sounded unfinished, a nice base but without the decisive hook. Again, through Simone, I got in touch with Slim Gong and then all the pieces of the puzzle fit together perfectly. His contribution, in French, is probably what makes this song the most complete on the record in my opinion”.
“7 Lungs” is available on all major digital platforms
“Continued Survival” EP, produced by Souvlaki and Simone Piccinelli at La Buca Recording Club and mastered at Woodpecker Mastering will contain 6 unreleased tracks, including the single proposed here and will be officially released on January 15th.
Swedish world beat artist Gaeya has shared her debut single, ‘Contact’. A captivating blend of ambient soundscapes and evocative vocals, the track is a call for awakening and connection amid an increasingly disconnected world.
The video for the single captures Gaeya in a gorgeous Scandinavian forest performing a beautiful ballet routine, reflecting the stunning yet fragile nature of both humans and the world and the relationships between them.
“2020 was the year when the feeling of separation took physical form. But it was also the year humans realised they needed contact,” explains Gaeya. “‘Contact’ is a song about the importance and the gift that we humans have, to share with each other the physical and emotional touch that we need to survive.
“In these times of keeping distance, it’s more important than ever for people to feel belonging, feel seen and be touched. Remember that genuine eye contact and a smile can change someone’s day. It is time for us to connect.”
With a sound reminiscent of early Björk, Gaeya’s music marries the sounds of the natural world with immersive sonic paintings; landscapes formed from analogue synths and deep-rooted Nordic frequencies which provide the backing for vocals that seek to inspire sustainability and focus for a better world.
Gaeya’s quest to deliver an inspiring and sustainable message has seen her perform a number of Tipi Tours; allowing an audience to be brought closer to the Earth and share the euphoric experience in an environment that takes us back to our roots around a glistening campfire, sharing stories and creating unity in the search for change.
Audience participation is encouraged throughout, while the performance blends soundscapes from Nordic tradition with other cultures that celebrate the earth. Providing a platform to discuss sustainability and the preservation of the world, the result is a unique, intimate and enlightening experience, which has resulted in a number of sold out tours throughout Scandinavia.
For a more immersive journey Gaeya offers the Tipi Experience, in which guests are taught a variety of sustainable skills including forest survival training and forest dining, as well as group exercise and mindfulness. Throughout the day, guests are provided meals sourced from the forest, before a performance and discussion on sustainability.
Gaeya has also launched the TellUs podcast, which focuses on sharing new ideas and solutions for the on-going issues mankind is facing from the results of long term misuse of the planet, its resources and its beings.
Regarding the podcast Gaeya says, “Both as an artist and a human, the earth has always been the central part of my life. During our concerts I talk a lot about sustainability, but I always felt there wasn’t enough time to go really deep into these subjects, so from there the idea of a podcast took shape. In this podcast we invite specialists and experts in the field of sustainability to discuss the issues facing the planet and what we can do to live more sustainably and conscious about our lifestyle.
“We want to talk about the flaws in our society, but most importantly to bring forward ideas that might bring solutions to some of the problems we are facing today. We want to make it fun and inspiring to choose a sustainable lifestyle with respect for the earth.”
With special guests joining the discussion every episode, it addresses modern societal affairs in connection with sustainability, highlighting possible solutions and alternative methods to help create a sustainable world, calling upon ecological, economical and social expertise. You can hear the first episode here.
With an unrelenting desire to affect change, underpinned by a profound respect for the planet and delivered through the medium of beautifully captivating music, Gaeya is a truly exciting artist with a uniquely profound message set to make a bold mark.
