VALENTINE & ROB ARAUJO - EMBRACE (FEAT. PATCHES)

VALENTINE is a producer who knows what he’s doing and isn’t afraid to take risks with his sound. We’ve covered the virtuosic young sound designer before here at BB and are always eager to hear what he comes up with next. So when we heard he was releasing his debut album via Majestic Casual Records, to say we were excited would be an understatement.

The album, a concept album chronicling VALENTINE’s journey through love with his fiancée, is being released episodically and “Embrace” is the third episode. It also marks his debut as a vocalist. The track is a unique amalgam of different influences, incorporating elements of jazz from pianist Rob Araujo and smooth hip hop verses from rapper Patches. The resulting fusion is a style I’ve never quite heard before, it pairs VALENTINE's maximalist sound design with a musically sophisticated palette reminiscent of artists like Anderson Paak, Kaytranada and Smino.

Accompanying the release, you'll find lots of other compelling content like this creative music video and a mysterious website for the album.

Waxing poetic about the single, VALENTINE speaks about the track as if addressing his lover:

“Sometimes, I just think about all the times we rode the train to see each other; all the times I sprinted from those doors to your arms and held you for the first time in weeks. 

The pattern repeats as I come home from traveling and rush into the apartment to hold you again.

Sometimes, I get caught up in my insecurities; I know we both do. Truthfully, it was never our purpose to be perfect. 

Sometimes, I wonder: “What is my purpose?”

The pattern repeats as I realize all I can do is embrace our individuality, the memories we share, and all the experiences that we have yet to discover.”

GHASPER - LUVN U

Ghasper is a name familiar to many in the electronic music space, particularly among fans of intricate instrumental production and forward-thinking sound design. He just released his debut EP Mima which I listened to all the way through twice on my flight to New York last week, and let me tell you—it is excellent. With eight regular tracks and six bonus tracks, it's really more of an LP, and I'm not complaining.

While it’s difficult to pick a stand-out track, “Luvn U” is one that stuck out for a couple reasons. Percussively, Ghasper utilizes unique rhythmic patterns and sounds that surprise and delight. He allows each primary instrument to feature the melody at different points in the song. Sometimes it’s the chopped vocals, other times it’s the massive side-chained synthesizers, and at times it’s what sounds like a malleted percussion instrument. Each instrument tells its own story, and they work together gorgeously. Do yourself a favor and peep the whole Mima project on Spotify and revel in the talent that is Ghasper.

DROELOE - WAKE THE WARRIOR

There's two things that really stand out to me in electronic music, they often go hand-in-hand, but when done right can turn a track into other-worldly good. First is simply good songwriting - just because electronic music is computer based and easier to make definitely does NOT diminish the raw skills it takes to construct the music. Think about how often we have seen really great guitar or piano covers of dance music hits (listen to both of Above and Beyond's Acoustic LP's if you really need an example). Second and what I'm going to focus on in this post is sound design. Sound design is the launchpad for electronic success. Some producers like Amon Tobin, CloZee, Bonobo and recently Tennyson immediately come to mind for outstanding sound design. Well pack Dutch duo Droeloe in with that group as expertly shown in their newest exposé "Wake the Warrior." An impressive amount of skill has gone in to the construction of this single with fantastic use of reverb, guitar, percussion and a droning bass sound that's sending chills down my spine. The haunting lead melody intertwines with night sound effects resulting in a soundtrack that could easily be inserted into Netflix's "Stranger Things." If you have a good set of headphones please use them to listen to this one so that you can really appreciate what the guys have done. "Wake the Warrior" is a perfect example where both songwriting and sound design have come together for raw electronic bliss. I encourage you to stream on Spotify here, and you can nab this as a free download here.