The Florida producer Asher Shashaty has been releasing a steady flow of singles that now have led up to his second album, Astral Spring. The 10-track project showcases the evolution of Asher’s sound that continues to expand into diverse sonic territories. From dubstep, to future, trap and more, Astral Spring has a vibe for everyone.
Collaborators on the project include Dani King, Miyoki, Misdom, and more; all of whom bring their A-game to elevate an already solid project by Asher. Expressing a great mix of genres can sometimes be a tough task, but Asher keeps everything within a strong contextual scope to make for a fluid experience from start to finish.
“I’m so thankful the album is finally out. I feel so blessed to be able to make music for everyone who wants to listen. I put all of myself into my music, so Astral Spring is a big piece of myself that I am happy to present to you.” – Asher
The bass jungle beast Brondo has graced 2022 with his second album Concrete Jungle. Released independently this 12-track project is a full on barrage of bass with several dubstep records and handful of records that see Brondo flex his creative abilities.
It’s not often you see dubstep albums, but Brondo’s second foray into LP territory is strong. Standouts on the album include “The King” and the house heater “Tonka” which may be our favorite song on the project. Brondo’s gritty distortion is on full display throughout the LP that is well worth the listen through.
The LA meets London duo Medii has planted a major flag on 2022 with the release of their LP What If This Is All Real. The fourteen track project showcases the group’s dynamic talents with influences from electro pop to 80’s, to indie dance and beyond.
The synth-laden throwback vibes that oozes throughout this LP is one of its best qualities. It’s a glue that keeps this album feeling tight throughout. Another highlight that keeps things cohesive despite the wide range of talents involved are the vocals. From front to back What If This Is All Real is packed with memorable performances from the likes of Cat Cayenne, Gemyni, Sidney Blair and more. Medii delivered a massively fun listen that manages to also express emotional sentiments that will make the LP a timeless treat.
I haven’t written a blog review/write-up/article/whatever the hell you want to call it in what feels like… well, a long ass time. But Petey, otherwise recognized as PeteyUSA on TikTok, has ripped me out of my journalistic retirement with his twelve track debut album Lean Into Life released on Terrible Records. Even if only one person becomes a fan from this I’d feel accomplished, because this LP is just that good and Petey is just that type of honest talent that deserves everyone’s attention.
We’ve all been going through it this pandemic, and a lot of us have seen numerous changes in our lives that have really just beat us down. Whether we’re using humor, alcohol, food, games like 해외축구 or music to persevere, we’ve all got plenty of things to cope with and Petey offers up an extremely authentic expression that not only gives us a peak into his relatable life, but a vastly dynamic musical escape and an anthem that will give you a kick in the toosh to push back when life is feeling like the villain of your movie.
Lean Into Life as described by Petey himself is “of the indie-rock variety,” but it’s so much more than that. Sliding through styles with ease, Petey does follow a sonic centerline but infuses a lot of electronic instrumentation into the mix for a clean balance of the organic and synthetic.
What strikes me most about Petey’s music is his authenticity. That word is thrown around a lot but it’s not until you come across someone like Petey you realize what that actually means. We can describe it, we can repeat the definition, but the term’s true nature isn’t something that’s really quantifiable. Not to get too hippy dippy, but it’s truly felt and I can certainly feel it pulsating through from start to finish on this LP.
As someone who was born, left and returned to the Golden State, I can 100% live by Lean Into Life‘s first track whose chant “I’d rather be depressed in California” which has become my go-to answer for everyone who’s asked me about moving elsewhere.
Following up are a string of my other favorites including the quirky “Apple TV Remote,” the previously released hit “Pitch A Fit!” and the heartfelt love anthem “Don’t Tell The Boys” which has literally made me cry several times while listening and thinking about my own girlfriend.
But the song that sticks out to me the most as one of the most genuine, fun, funny, sad, awesome, and unique songs is the title track “Lean Into Life.” It’s a 5 and half minute journey that is structurally different from usual expectations and is the aforementioned masterpiece that has become a mantra for my own life. Petey does everything right on this one and gives us what I imagine is his most deeply personal song. It’s minimal, yet cathartic, it builds in all the right ways. Despite showing vulnerability, it feels like this song – and the full LP – were loads of fun to craft. I could go on and on forever, but I don’t want to bore you with my adoration as you can plainly see I believe Petey to be a special musician.
Petey wants to just be a guy making stuff, and that’s something I can get behind. With lifeless brands taking over, it’s nice to see a genuine creative take the stage and deliver something extraordinary, yet down-to-Earth. I hope Lean Into Life hits you as hard as it did me, and make sure to also check out PeteyUSA on TikTok if you’re into alt-comedy. I could do a whole other review about his hilarious antics as one of my favorite TikTokers, but let’s leave it to the music for now. Enjoy.
Nashville artist R.LUM.R‘s triumphant debut album Surfacing is an alternative R&b treasure. The thirteen track project not only shows off the Island Record artists song writing ability but also his versatility and the power of his falsetto. The engulfing album is emotional at times, and thoughtful at others.
Surfacing features buzzed about pre-released singles such as “How This Feels,” “Boys Should Never Cry,” “Cold,” and the most recent release which was also his directorial debut “Lonely”, which all explore sensitive emotional issues of vulnerability, self-awareness, male identity, and mental health. On top of the prior releases it is filled with a slew of new bops, like the stand out “Happy” or the title track “Surfacing”. In addition to the release of his debut album, R.LUM.R has also announced The Surfacing Tour, which will be his first major headlining tour across North America. The 5-week, 26-city run across the U.S. and Canada will open February 20th in Nashville, and will wrap in Charlotte, NC on March 28th. Head over to his website to see the full set of tour dates and to pick up your tickets. Stream Surfacing by R.LUM.R below.
Toronto’s 10Digits has been steadily gaining steam, while stealthily unveiling his next album, Rebirth. The ten track album is a diverse dive into the funky mind of 10Digits whose music has captivated us before – and now again with even more power.
Rebirth has a bunch of collaborators making it a team project overall with 10Digits manning the helm. Throughout the project 10Digits leans on urban genres like R&B, hip-hop and funk while implementing trails of other styles on top. Each single stands on its own while tying the project at large together in a special way. It’s a fun, chill listen through and through. Rebirth is definitely one of the better albums of the year, so share it around!
The Dallas producer Medasin has made quite many impressive moves over the years with his releases. Not only has he soared up through the industry ranks with his quality originals, but he’s been tasked to remix such artists as Khalid, Portugal. The Man, DJ Khaled, Martin Garrix and more. It’s been a long time coming, but Medasin has finally released his debut LP, Irene.
Within nine tracks Medasin explores different musical landscapes while weaving each composition together under one overarching concept. His chilled out hits are memorable and unique, catchy in their own rights without need of poppy principles. Medasin not only has released this debut LP, but will be on tour this Fall to promote the project. Get a copy of Irene today and check out Medasin’s Facebook for tour information.
