Since the beginning of this magazine that we have been receiving great electronic tracks. For some reason, we didn’t post about those submissions because we felt they should be integrated into a specific mood. We are now building that mood with a monthly post focusing on the best of indietronica. This is electromental – part 20
BRSK – Beautiful
BRSK, a Hungary-based artist, draws inspiration from a diverse range of genres, including classic funk, soul, disco, old school hip-hop, R&B from the 90s and 2000s, French house, electro, as well as future beats and trap. His DJ sets are known for their emotional moods, organic rhythms, and a total mix of genres. Since 2017, he has been actively producing music, and after releasing his debut single “Sway” in September 2020, he was featured on numerous Hungarian compilation and remix albums. In 2021, BRSK made his international mark as his track Sprinkle was included in the UK Stay Cool collective’s compilation album, “Stay Home“.
Now, BRSK presents a clever and emotionally-charged electronica sound in his latest release, “Beautiful“. The track features drums that evoke the garage sound, which is becoming more prevalent in mainstream music, along with skilfully patterned synths and distinctive atmospheres. The standout element, however, is undoubtedly the vocals. “Beautiful” serves as the lead single from BRSK‘s upcoming debut album, and a second video will follow soon after.
edapollo – Only You
Edapollo, a UK native but Melbourne-based producer, creates music that combines elements of atmospheric downtempo, electronica, and house, with a focus on organic elements and a human feel. As a multi-instrumentalist and producer, he uses field recordings from his travels and layers them with melodic and emotive instrumentation to create his music. Since the release of his debut album in 2019, Ed has gained more than 25 million streams across DSPs, achieved 3 HypeMachine no.1s, and received widespread support from various music labels. His latest single, “Only You” is an uplifting track that fuses island-style percussion, hazy atmospheres, a driving beat, and his own vocals. According to Ed, he wrote the track during a lonely time in his parents’ house in the UK, where he set up a makeshift studio in their kitchen and let the music take him to a better place.
GoGo Penguin – Saturnine
There’s a new GoGo Penguin record – and apparently it’s quite good! – and we have checked it out marginally.
“Saturnine“, in particular, stood out immediately. It relies on a great drum rhythm that feels influenced by this new wave of London jazz and some quite pretty synths that pay homage to the trip hop identity of GoGo Penguin, all while opening new doors for the band to explore all throughout Everything is Going to Be OK. One to check out in more detail, that’s for sure.
Hutty – Diggin in the Mud
Drawing inspiration from heavy metal bands of the late 1980s and early 1990s, as well as rap music from the 2000s, Hutty is a versatile artist who blends conventional instruments with unconventional sounds in his songwriting, production, and singing. Reflecting the highs and lows of his own life experiences, his music conveys the unpredictable nature of Hutty’s emotions. Ultimately, the goal of his music is to inspire listeners by showing that it’s okay to not be okay.
Hutty has been refining his craft and collaborating with like-minded artists in Los Angeles to bring his unique sound to life. He met producer Gabe Rhys during his travels, who has worked with top-tier artists and helped create a new genre of music called “house-hop,” blending hip-hop and house music. Their latest track, “Diggin in the Mud” features Hutty‘s infectious rhythms, Simple Gipsy’s sultry saxophone, and a poignant message about addiction and overcoming it. Hutty’s lyrics take a satirical approach to the topic, with a desire to help others through their struggles. Hutty believes that by speaking up, he can help people make sense of something they may not have understood as important, and he encourages others to do the same.
Moglii x LissA – Like You in Linen
When you go around listening to those lo-fi/chill playlists on Spotify, you can find a couple of gems. We’re not sure if “Like You in Linen” is on one of those playlists, but if it is, it can surely classify as a gem.
The collaboration between German producer Moglii and the singer-songwriter LissA comes off nicely. In spite of some dificulties finding where LissA fits here (it’s hard tracing where she is!), the tune does come off properly. It’s a chill loop, influenced by jazz and rooted in a piano progression, that feels peaceful, lost between chilltronica and a bit of jazz. It’s soothing – and we aren’t looking for much more than that at this point.
No Time for Tapes – Lakeside
No Time for Tapes comes from Erfurt, Germany, and specialises in producing music that belongs to the downtempo, chillwave, and organic electronic genres, taking inspiration from both nature and everyday life. Alongside music production, he also delves into nature photography, which forms an integral part of his creative process, driven by the passion for experimentation.
Released on April 13th, “Lakeside” perpetuates No Time for Tapes’ electronic/organic dichotomy. The artist told us: “For this track, I was inspired by the idea of sitting around a campfire at a lake in winter. It has a chill and warm overall atmosphere, which is supported by the acoustic and organic electronic elements as well as the vocal samples.”
Vyblossom x Ebba Rose – My Dreams
Vyblossom‘s DJ journey started in 2013 while he was living in Denver but originally hailing from Omaha. Over the years, he has polished his music production and DJing skills. In 2018, he began releasing original music under the name “Voydblossom”, which was later changed to Vyblossom. Initially, he gained underground popularity with his bass-driven house music. However, his current sound incorporates gritty and ethereal chords with bass-heavy beats, drawing inspiration from both classic and futuristic elements. Vyblossom‘s DJ sets are versatile and exhilarating, blending groovy tracks, bangers, and whatever suits the mood of the occasion.
Pairing up with Omaha vocalist/songwriter Ebba Rose (solo alias of Erin Mitchell, singer and songwriter for the Omaha band Daisy Distraction), this duo is now releasing “My Dreams“, a piece filled with soulful lyrics and atmospheric grooves, combining their mutual love for indie and dance. The production style of “My Dreams” is a unique fusion of acid house, disco, and electro cumbia, resulting in an exceptional sound experience. It’s part of “My Dreams EP” and is positioned to become a beloved summer anthem among the underground music community.
Without the San – Leaf
A resident of Los Angeles and originally from Boston, Without the San is a multi-talented artist who produces, DJs and creates visual art. He merges his background in classical percussion and jazz drums with a range of house and techno beats that are perfect for the dance floor.
“Leaf” is the first of two singles from Without the San‘s upcoming album, “Blurry“. With a foundation in classical percussion, he is fascinated by the similarities between dance music and the percussion world. He took a unique approach to creating the track, spending countless hours in the studio recording complete takes on his analogue synth as if it were a percussion instrument. The end result is a captivating blend of a house track and a mellower instrumental that captures the raw energy of a live performance.
Most of these tracks (and previous tracks featured in Electromental) are also in our Spotify Playlist: