Dark Red & Stefan – This Life (Is Worth Fighting For)

We have received the same question way too many times: Who are these handsome gentleman that have come together to work on this site? To quench your thirst, we have decided to dedicate a post to the collaboration song that begun this whole journey.

As it’s common on this age, me and Dark Red met through the internet. He posted an ad searching for a singer and I replied, it was a match made in heaven. We worked on this track during two weeks and the result is the one we’re proudly presenting right now. With an immersive underlying theme of superation and keeping the trend of the most successful chillwaves songs is that “This Life” came to be. We believe that this may represent the feelings of many struggling artists who just want to get by and be successful.

Without further ado, we give you the song that brought us here. We give you: “This Life“.

Of course, this is only what we hope to be the beginning of a series of collaborations. I’ll keep on singing and writing songs and Dark Red will continue producing. Since you may be interested to hear what we’re up to, I’ll leave a link to our projects so you can have updates on what we’re doing and also, if you’d like, to show us some support too.

Also, we’re proud to mention that Dark Red is currently working on a new videogame project which he wants to share with you! Be sure to follow his twitter so you can be up to date with all the news of the project.

Without further ado, this is where to find us:

Dark Red:

Dark Red’s Videogame’s Twitter

Dark Red’s Bandcamp.

Dark Red’s Soundcloud

Stefan:

Stefan’s Soundcloud

Stefan’s Electronic Side Project

Stefan’s Personal Bandcamp (Under Construction)

Hope this helps to clear the air about who we are and what we do.

-Stefan

Luna Harley

 

Sometimes in life, constants are amazing things. Knowing that every Monday you’re going to have to wake up at a certain hour in order to go to work/school is something that can be good or bad (depending on what you’re doing). Sometimes, knowing that at the end of the day your dog will be happy to see you or that you’re going to be greeted by a purring cat when you come back home, exhausted after a long day, is a great feeling. Today, we’ll talk about a constant that I personally like, Luna Harley’s calm and soothing vocals enriching the music she is working on.

If you listen to her track “Thousand Words”, you could imagine almost everything. The sensation of floating on air generated by the synths used could point on many directions. The introduction of Luna’s voice accompanied by some exquisite percussion changes this from an abstract idea to a surreal painting. A ritual being conducted on the forest, at night, a priestess narrating the sacred words. The soothing nature of her voice contrasts deeply with the feeling of being the victim of this ritual. Dread mixes itself with calmness and the result is simply amazing.

“One Morning” is a relaxing piano piece that showcases Luna’s voice in a great manner. The almost abscense of percussion adds to that feeling of being floating on air and enhances this song potential greatly. If this ever gets used in a movie or in a TV Series, I’m the one who first called.

“Home” is a collaboration with EDM artist “SenzaFine”. Although I think the beat is really good, I think that the great constrast generated by the agressive at parts beat and the soothing voice takes this song to a new step forwatd. From being a rather good Drum and Bass track, this becomes a superb song. Truly, a wonderful collaboration.

As you can see, sometimes constants can be good. Although I’d love to see Luna explore the darker side of her voice. I’m still content with hearing that relaxing soothing tone.

You can listen to Luna’s tracks here.

-Stefan

The LocalNews

The LocalNews is an American EDM and Hip Hop duo, producing unique and diverse tracks, my favorite is “Edifice Complex” which starts out as an old school sounding track using a great piano progression and fast paced percussion sequence, then transitions into an awesome dubstep drop with a satisfying wobble and well balanced and organized percussion sounds and FX.

Keep up the great work guys!

Interview with XXILE

Today, I had the opportunity to have a Skype Call with the almighty XXILE (Pronounced Exile). For those who don’t know who this stud is, he’s a rapper who specialices in comedy/parody hip-hop and who just realeased his latest EP (I’ll get to review it once I can swim through the sea of review requests we have received, you guys are awesome).

XXILE’s story is fascinating, he dropped out of school to pursue a new reality for him: being a musician. He has the guts to do what many dream of doing and he’s perfectly happy doing it.

Here are some quotes from this wonderful experience:

I like putting funny ideas in my songs. I think that hip-hop takes itself too seriously at times and I like adding a different flare to hip-hop.

I was in a good program (at school), but I felt like I wasn’t really doing it for myself, I guess it was mostly to impress other people.

I wanna be able to actually write rap, instead of just a parody of songs.

I wanna get a music video out for my track, 100 followers on Soundcloud and collaborate with other people. I think if you’re very active in the community and you’re doing something everyday it makes your music better.

Join me today, as we have a conversation about the importance of music, life and the importance of not taking yourself too seriously.

This is our first interview! So any feedback you can give us it’s great (I know my voice sounds funny, chileans have a cool accent). Let’s hope this is the first of many!

You can listen to XXILE’s EP right here!

-Stefan

2Villager – Interim (2017)

Imaginery is one of the biggest aspects of music in my opinion. One should not be passive while listening, but creating too. Creating landscapes, creating spaces and creating new dimensions of sensations. Interim takes me back to a folk paradise, I envision a starry night, being in a tent and freezing to death; but remembering, remembering everything that has happened up until that point. From San Francisco, California; Villager invites us to lay down and dream. To dream of another place where everything is easier.

With interesting production decisions. “November 23rd” presents us the mental state of our narrator, sad, broken and nostalgic about the things that are happening. The soft guitar blends perfectly with the voice and the synths generate a distorted space where everything can happen. My favorite part happens at the end, the impression of listening to a chopped tape which is on repeat adds more to the mystery of this record.

As the emotions take a darker turn, we meet “February 18th” where our narrator lashes out and presents his discontent. “July 24th” serves as a fitting conclusion, by taking us through a pletora of emotions, reminiscing about previous songs and a choir inviting us to move on, to leave the bad times behind and to reflect and be free.

I’m not a huge fan of lyrics in general (to me, they only serve so the singer doesn’t hums the entire song), but the ones from “Interim” are truly brilliant, one can read this as a long poem. My favorite piece?

And it seems, The only times I want you
Are in my dreams
But baby it looks like these dreams are lying to me too

 

Is this one of my favorite records since I began writing for this blog? Yes. Coherent, well put, good perfomances and very sentimental. If you want to feel, if you want to live and if you feel lost and need something to guide you. “Interim” is for you.

You can listen to this brilliant EP here.

-Stefan

L i q u i d ▾ ◭ g e – Liquid Age

Note: During this review, I’ll refer to “L i q u i d ▾ ◭ g e” as “Liquid Age” since I can’t be bothered to press copy-paste all the time.

Many times, music can be interpreted in various ways. Sometimes even artists haven’t thought about a certain interpretation, but it is as valid as the one given by the author. Liquid Age is a brilliant synthwave EP which mixes urban motifs with dark and somber undertones alongside it’s production. From my point of view, it’s a concept album. It’s a story of a city and how things happen inside it.

“Kyoto” makes a fitting start, by blending the synths and drums it creates the sensation of walking barefoot through the city that Liquid Age is trying to introduce us to. We’re shown to the dark side of the city, the crime that is happening and the bad sensations that are lurking behind every corner during the first half of the EP. The use of panned synths that resemble spaceships sounds and the sirens samples, makes us realize that this isn’t a safe city. There’s something suspicious lying round the corner. The feeling of a walk through the city is interrupted. The cleverly developed bass synth is the simulation of the steps we take, from keeping a steady rythm to one with subtle variations, one realizes that there’s something that makes the walk difficult.

“Vice” Mixes two emotions, we can hear the police coming and we are introduced to a lighter tone of the city. For an innocent passerby on a city filled with dark intentions, the police is a welcomed friend.“Human Error” presents us the rebellion of the city. There’s something brewing and the city is not happy with it. The city takes life through Liquid Age’s synths and speaks to us in a codified tongue. Something that us humans can not understand.

Liquid Age is a brilliant take on imaginery. The art of creating images through sound is what makes this EP so worth a listen. It’s short, great and creative. There’s no excuse not to give this fresh sound a listen.

You can listen to Liquid Age right here.

-Stefan

 

Kollaz – Riot

Trick them into thinking you’re small and then bash them in the head. That is exactly what Kollaz‘s track “Riot” is about. With a cute intro that trascends into a headbashing powerhouse. This track is great for when you need that extra dose of adrenalin. Filled with generic resources like a drop and ascending sounds, “Riot” becomes an improvement over an old formula. Sprinkling unpredictability and engaging the listener on every turn. “Riot” is one of those Drum and Bass tracks that has to be on your playlist.

You can listen to this wonderful track here.

-Stefan

JustTizze

https://soundcloud.com/justtizze/highlight

Justizze is an English EDM producer, just release his first track “Highlight“, he calls it “Dreampop“ which is suitable, the track revives old-school vibes, lyrics are well written and vocals are well mixed, the guitar playing blends really well, the percussion instruments used are a great choice.

Keep up the great work, your style is original, hope you get the attention you deserve!

-Dark Red

 

 

Kean Farrar

Kean Farrar is a talented R&B who combines the essence of the excess of our time period with some profound and instropective melodies.

His track “Torn” feels like a call for help, hearing him recite lyrics about the dark side of life with a simple yet effective piano creates a tense atmosphere that is only enhanced by the introduction of muffled sounds that make you worry at the end.

“I Just Wanna Have You” keeps the melancholic tone and mixes it with lyrics about desire, pursuit and vulnerability, the synths that sound in the background make us feel like walking through a hospital, that vibe is another dressing to demonstrate how great Kean is at generating a frame and dragging you into it.

Another one of his is “On&on&on”, a track that changes the tempo compared with his latest releases but keeps his signature gloom voice that makes Kean’s songs so hypnotic.

Overall, a breath fresh of air to an R&B scene that is often associated with cheesy lyrics and upbeat tempos. Kean proves that someone can make a dark twist and keep it classy and stylish. We wish him the best and hope he keeps on gifting the world his music!

You can listen to Kean right here

You can find Kean’s facebook page right here

-Stefan

AT8

AT8 is a Tropical House producer from Amsterdam, Netherlands

My favorite track “Light” has an interesting progression with tropical plucks followed by a Trumpet which is what I liked most of this tracks, the Piano chord progression is a great touch that adds diversity to the track as it progresses with a great choice of percussion instruments.

Another track that I admired a lot is his latest release “Bamboo“, it has a unique vibe to it and great flute melody, I also love the echo effect on the bass-drums!

Keep up the great work, I love your style!

you contact this artist at officialat8@gmail.com

–Dark Red

Anthems vs Oceans

Multi-instrumentalist Dave Hunter aka “Anthems vs Oceans” from Sault Ste. Marie, Canada records, mixes and masters all his songs. He even performs all the instruments in them! If that’s not enough for you to sense his talent, let me give you a quick run-through of his latest tracks:

• “I Won’t Let You” – A mixture of the folk and punk style. This romantic anthem is a perfect song for having fond memories and to look back on life. The guitar arpeggios and the piano allow for Dave to make the most of the minimal instruments accompanying his voice in the opening minutes. The introduction of drums and bass is subtle but it works. Some may argue that the entry of those instruments isn’t powerful enough, but adding decibels to them would end up hurting the song in the long run. Truly, a song to learn for when you want to sing by the campfire.
• “Go” – A different beast than the song mentioned before. This one is truer to the pop-punk genre. With a catchy guitar riff, powerful drums and vocal breaks. This is one that the fans of the genre can enjoy. The line: “This is a song for those who can’t sing it” is simply brilliant to me.
• “Change Is” – A mixture of both songs mentioned previously. This mixes the pop-punk attitude with (at least at the beginning) a calm voice suited for a lighter tone. The screams feel a bit overkill to me since the song could’ve developed perfectly without them, but for the fans of the genre I’m certain that it’s an addition that they embrace happily. It’s also another opportunity for Dave to showcase his versality and to prove that he isn’t a one trick pony.

Looking for something agressive? Looking for something to sing with nostalgia? You have to give “Anthems vs Oceans” a chance.

You can listen to “Anthems Vs Oceans” by clicking here

-Stefan