Great work deserves to be noticed. July brought some cool collections to balance out or augment the heat. We heard from WORRYWORRY, oilcolor, demxntia, Yvncc, and gizmo, and their message was clear: forces to be reckoned with will carve space for themselves whether we’re ready or not.
Worried About Dreaming by WORRYWORRY
London-based WORRYWORRY bears it all in Worried About Dreaming. The album is a real treat, an exceptionally produced story of passion and pain. His voice croons through several layers of haze, yet shines clearly in unabashed spirit. Our Enemies credits production on “Not Okay,” adding extra ethereal vigor. Worried About Dreaming shows how WORRYWORRY finds a cool equilibrium between pop, R&B, and hip-hop rhythms.
ideology by oilcolor
There’s a lush beauty that oilcolor exudes in every song and sound. In his recent EP ideology, such delicate artistry spills over like watercolor paints, a quaint exploration of light. Self-produced and featuring solely yngkp (also responsible for its artwork), ideology is buoyant and libertine gem. A particularly unique track, Paparazzi (remix), presents a haunting variation of the classic Lady Gaga pop track. Also make sure to check out oilcolor’s first vocal piece, “all away, to hear a smooth transition between producer and singer.
homesick by demxntia
Tender, solitary, and sentimental; homesick by demxntia nestles into everything bittersweet. All four songs are produced by skress, with additional production by drakobills on “far away.” A single feature from Kevin Kazi on the titular track “homesick” brings extra life. The recurring internal obscurity is summed up: “Something’s missing, I can’t find it.” Sadness lingers over each song. demxntia’s emotional acuity relays heavily in his lyrics, and this EP shows nothing less. homesick is a ballad-ridden work ready for deep thought and lasting impressions.
PSEUDO by Yvncc
Yvncc’s voice may be droll but his work is serious. His latest EP PSEUDO is short and carefully crafted with production by Deliverthecrush. Yvncc warns us of his strength in “MUSCLE UP” and tells us of his power in “MIRRORS.” “FAKE GOTH” is slower but not without a clear message: real dark thoughts can be channeled into real dark things. “PSEUDO” alludes to fakery, lies, and lack of reality in which we’ve found ourselves in both online and in real life. It’s a solid piece with undeniably attractive beats.
Deer Boy by gizmo
Prolific artist gizmo presents a 16-song mixtape targeting the energy of this summer’s heat. A tough coalescence, Deer Boy includes features from Saphir, Bill $aber, and Mavo. It’s wide variety of producers lends a unique touch to each song’s spirit. For six months the project’s been cooking, adding spice and spunk to its fever-simmering beats. Notable songs like “Dirt & Rubble” and “Common Cold” exemplify Deer Boy’s hard nature and powerful sounds.