New Album
Gina Jeanz Breaks Down Each Song On Her Spellbinding Debut Album, “Lucid Theory”
It’s no secret that the current generation of young music producers is about as creative as they come. From the endless libraries of music available online to the fast-paced evolution of music-making technology, their artistries have been catalyzed by unprecedented access to education and inspiration. The result? Experimental aesthetics, enticingly textured soundscapes and respect for— yet rampant disregard of—genre. The debut album from rising Namibian producer Gina Jeanz proves no different. Released independently on December 3rd, Lucid Theory is equal parts old and new, reigniting well-known sonics and drum machines with multidimensional arrangements and whimsical genre blends. Jeanz also plays with euphonious vocalists and live instrumentation, channeling the comp...
The Weeknd Says Next Album Will Incorporate EDM
As one of the most highly anticipated albums of The Weeknd‘s career looms, it sounds like he’s as inspired as ever. And conventions be damned, The Dawn has the feel of his most defiant yet. If his comments in a new Billboard cover story are any indication, the upcoming album may be his most subversive to date—and it will incorporate electronic dance music. “Who knows what the next one is going to sound like?” The Weeknd said. “When it comes to my albums, there is a cohesive sound going on, but I can’t really stick to one style. So you’ll hear EDM, hip-hop and three other types of sounds in one song — and somehow, we make it work.” One of the world’s most successful recording artists, The Weeknd has long championed electronic music, releas...
REZZ’s Production Mastery Shines On Mesmerizing Third Album, “Spiral”
REZZ’s influence in electronic music is as unique as it is unmatched, a notion that rings as true as ever after the Canadian beatsmith finally unveiled her long-awaited Spiral LP, which arrived today by way of RCA Recordings. Spiral is REZZ’s most cohesive work yet. The album captures her signature sound beautifully while simultaneously showcasing her growth and versatility as a music producer. From the tempos to the mesmerizing synth and bass patches, there’s much familiarity to be found for longtime fans. However, it’s clear that REZZ’s finely-tuned production skill set has taken a leap forward thanks to tracks like “Paper Walls” (with Metric), which explores elements of future funk and glitch hop. Spiral features ...
Martin Garrix and Maejor Unveil Debut AREA21 Album, “Greatest Hits Vol. 1”
EDM’s favorite alien duo have finally unveiled their long-awaited debut album, Greatest Hits Vol. 1. When AREA21 made their debut back in 2016 with the massively successful singles “Spaceships” and “Girls,” they were rather hesitant to reveal their identities and opted for a secretive persona. Fast-forward to 2021, however, when Martin Garrix and Maejor are embracing themselves as AREA21 while showcasing immense growth in their storytelling abilities and collaborative power as a duo. Following a series of singles and animated music videos that were carefully rolled out over the past 9 months, AREA21 have now finally released Greatest Hits Vol. 1, fully realizing their potential as one of the most exciting crossover acts in dance music. Spanning 12 tracks, the record follows the ...
Radiohead Took Notes From Aphex Twin and Massive Attack for New Album, “Kid A Mnesia”: Listen
With the release of their Kid A Mnesia album, Radiohead indulge in an alternate version of music history. When the band released the forward-thinking Kid A in 2000 and then Amnesiac, just eight months later, the public immediately began to draw a connection between the two. As Paste points out, the prevailing school of thought was to consider Amnesiac an extension of Kid A—a place for the tracks that were originally left on the cutting room floor. Radiohead fought this interpretation, as they specifically wanted to rebuke the trend of releasing a double album. Now, decades later, the iconic band are giving fans the box set they wanted, and then some. The combined Kid A Mnesia album, which includes a dozen previously elusive ext...
The Pursuit of Happiness: Oliver Tree On New Country Album, Antarctica Headlining Dreams
On December 25th, 2001, Oliver Tree wasn’t just a kid on Christmas. Instead, once gifted with his first ever Razor scooter, he suddenly held the keys to his future. Fast-forward two decades and the artist has racked up nearly 24 million monthly listeners on Spotify and half a billion lifetime streams. He’s even got over 11 million followers on TikTok, a platform practically tailor made for his signature brand of quirky comedic bullshit—just check out his badass platinum blonde haircut. Half bowl, half mullet, he’s dubbed it the “bowlet.” Always on the go, Tree is now hard at work on Cowboy Tears, a full-blown country album whose release will reportedly mark his retirement from music. It’s a far cry from the funky blends of pop, hip-hop and el...
Conrank Embraces Total Evolution of Sound on Sophomore Album, “This Simulation’s Breached”
After unveiling his long-awaited debut album in 2019, many fans were craving even more from Conrank. He’s now delivered a follow-up in his stunning sophomore album, This Simulation’s Breached, released via his home base of Circus Records. Across the 17 tracks featured on This Simulation’s Breached, Conrank has introduced listeners to a complete transformation of sound. Although the heavy, face-melting bass elements remain, the U.K. bass music producer shows off more than just production chops. His vocals are featured prominently from the beginning, taking center stage in “Moonshine” and “Simulation Breach.” Similarly, his vocal talents are often supported by his longtime friend and guitarist Gwen LaFitte in Prodigy-like fashion. The...
William Black Explores the Depths of Vulnerability In Stunning Sophomore Album, “Pieces”
Break out the tissues for Pieces, William Black‘s stunning sophomore album. The electronic music wunderkind and EDM.com Class of 2021 artist has offered fans a 12-track tour de force, replete with euphoric production and the storytelling prowess of one of EDM’s most promising songwriters. Released today via Lowly, Pieces is a future bass lover’s dream. The record features a bevy of the genre’s most beloved producers and singer-songwriters, such as Nurko, Fairlane, HALIENE, Essenger, and RUNN. “Remedy” is a surefire highlight in an album with many of them. Annie Schindel provides a killer topline, which moonlights as a captivating cry for help. The same can be said of “Haven” (with Dia Frampton), a melodic dubstep knockout that sheds ligh...
REZZ Announces Release Date and Tracklist of Third Album, “spiral”
After weeks of teasing, REZZ has finally announced the release date of her hotly anticipated third album, spiral. The Juno Award-winning electronic music producer has said that spiral will “showcase an evolved version” of her music. The one they affectionally call Space Mom dropped a triptych of singles in the weeks leading up to the album, showcasing its hypnotic sound with “Let Me In” (with fknsyd), “Chemical Bond” (with Deathpact) and “Taste of You” (with Dove Cameron). Check out the full tracklist below. spiral is REZZ’s first album since 2018’s Certain Kind of Magic. Naturally the announcement lit a fuse on EDM Twitter, which was rife with unbridled rapture and caps-locked tweets from REZZ stans. And plenty of the classic ...
SG Lewis, Young Thug, Stevie Wonder, More Join Elton John On “The Lockdown Sessions”: Listen
When it comes to the extraordinary, Elton John feels right at home. So goes his latest opus, The Lockdown Sessions, an eclectic blend of mega-collabs and unprecedented genre studies. The 16-track project was released on October 22nd via Mercury Records. From the piano-driven ballad “Always Love You” with Young Thug and Nicki Minaj to the rock ‘n’ roll anthem “E-Ticket” with Eddie Vedder, The Lockdown Sessions manages to foil the banality of quarantine with a steady supply of surprising sounds. And, in Rocket Man’s signature style, each track is chock full of drama, bringing just the right amount of camp. Also featured on the project are a number of dance and electronica artists. “Orbit” with SG Lewis is an ode to ...
Sonny Fodera’s Decade-Long Experience Shines In New Album, “Wide Awake”
Delivering one of his most ambitious records to date, Sonny Fodera recruited a slew of sensational artists for his highly anticipated album, Wide Awake. Released today by Fodera’s own Solotoko imprint, the project was two years in the making. “One Night” in 2019 is where it all began. Sonny Fodera teamed up with chart-topping dance music producer MK and triple-threat artist Raphaella, producing a stellar single. “One Night” has since erupted into a global dance anthem, achieving silver status in the UK. In 2020 Fodera enlisted double-Platinum artist Ella Eyre, who demonstrates her impressive vocal range in the uplifting single, “Wired.” The track has the feel of a timeless dance hit that will continue to captivate Fod...
Elephante Explores Self and Sonic Identity In New Album, “Heavy Glow”
We all know too well what quarantine looks and feels like. But what does it sound like? Elephante attempts to answer this question with his latest album, Heavy Glow, released October 20th via Zoo Music/88Rising. The recorrd’s 10 tracks play like an epic, with emotion oozing from every chord. Intricately aligned arrangements signal to Elephante’s classical music training, while his own bold vocals tie together three acts of songs that purposefully push the boundaries of the album’s aural cohesion. The triumphant opening chords of “Break” (with Tiina), for example, are effervescent, paired with strong sonics and Tiina’s delicate vocals. Its sonics provide sharp contrast to “Down This Road,” an anthemic melodic bass ballad that takes a page...
