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 21
BAH.ROMA – 199.9
“199.9” is the debut single from BAH.ROMA‘s new album, an independent musician from Donbas, a region of Ukraine that has been under Russian occupation for the past nine years. The song is a tribute to a deceased friend who supported the war as a soldier from the occupying country. The name “199.9” references the term “cargo 200,” used in wartime to describe a dead soldier, representing those who Roman Bakharev (BAH.ROMA) has forever buried in his memory. The track’s cover art features a black body bag, with the lyrics and visuals providing eerie metaphors that accompany the song’s release.
“199.9” reflects Roman’s personal transformation during the war years, culminating in 2022, where he reconsiders his familial, creative, and social ties to Russia and publicly voices his unwillingness to compromise. The song marks BAH.ROMA‘s first full-length work as a sound producer and his first release in over a year. Roman used Ableton Live to produce the track, recording his guitar and voice with a headset microphone and piecing everything together in small fragments. He describes having lost all ties to the past, with friends buried and nothing but hatred left.
G.A.D $ Shoji – ESL DC
G.A.D and Shoji are a duo of instrumentalists and producers who create a unique balance of analogue and digital instrumental beats, combining their skills on guitar, bass, and synth. Their sound is informed by their experience as gigging musicians in Los Angeles and internationally, as well as their years of producing tracks for film and television with Grammy-nominated songwriters. They draw inspiration from J Dilla’s unquantized drums to Kaytranada’s heavy bass, resulting in a collection of beats that evoke the vastness of the universe and the listener’s imagination. One of their debut project’s best tracks is “ESL DC“, which exists somewhere between chill house and grimy electro-funk. The four-on-the-floor bass drum-heavy track is inspired by the ambience of DC’s legendary 18th Street Lounge, putting listeners in a liberating trance from the first kick drum hit. To promote the song, there will be extensive playlist pitching through Omari MC, a two-month Instagram/TikTok campaign, a release party in Los Angeles, and a music video.
Inwards – Custard
Inwards, the talented artist hailing from Worcestershire, has captured the hearts of fans and influencers alike with his irresistible melodies and creatively daring productions. Utilizing an array of found sounds, modular synths, and a wide range of electronic and acoustic instruments, Inwards, also known as Kristian Shelley, delivers a playful yet profound musical experience. Throughout his journey, he has compiled an extensive collection of unreleased recordings, and it is from this treasure trove that his latest album emerges. Unveiling nine enchanting compositions that were once “left behind” these long-awaited pieces now bask in the spotlight they deserve.
On May 18th, Inwards graced us with a new single titled “Custard“. This captivating track serves as the fourth teaser from his highly anticipated album, “All The Things You Left Behind“. Notably, this forthcoming album holds special significance as it marks the debut release on Inwards‘ newly established label, Rainbow Bridge. Get ready to immerse yourself in the innovative soundscape crafted by this visionary artist.
ISOLA – Too Soon
ISOLA, the musical alias of Ivana Carrescia, is an artist and synthesist currently residing in the farmlands of West Virginia. Her debut “EP1” on Godmode, fused her crystalline vocals and musique concrète arrangement style with minimal house and dub techno. ISOLA’s music is inspired by the sounds in our everyday environment, such as the wind’s howl, traffic’s whirr, and the fridge’s hum. Her latest “LP1″, released on April 28, explores the exhilarating aspects of falling in love, set to the signature sumptuous microhouse sound that has become her hallmark. “Too Soon” is part of that record, and showcases Isola’s growth as an artist. She collaborated closely with Godmode co-founder Nick Sylvester, who produced all nine tracks, and LP1 is the first release on Sylvester’s new label, Smartdumb, which he describes as “a home for music that starts with a question mark and ends with an exclamation point.”
HEADSGONE – Unfaithful
HEADSGONE, a Cork-based producer, has been making waves in the Irish electronic scene with his unique sound. His latest single, “Unfaithful,” showcases his ability to mix euphoric 90s breaks with heart-wrenching emotion, resulting in a captivating and soulful work that tugs at the heartstrings. The accompanying visuals combine childhood VHS footage with present-day videos and photos, morphing between them using AI technology. The song was created over 12 months of tinkering and countless variations, and the chosen version is the most “raw and authentic that preserved the energy of the first time [he] sat down to write it.” HEADSGONE‘s previous single, “Where’d It Go?“, was praised by Plant Bass’d for its mature sound, cementing ethereal elements with the club in mind using rave-friendly breakbeats and MC interjections. With a debut EP, “360,” released in 2022, HEADSGONE is establishing himself as a force to be reckoned with in the avant-garde electronic music scene.
Haulm – Time
Haulm is the product of the collaboration between electronic producer Reed Kackley (BAILE) and vocalist/composer JT Norton, who first crossed paths in Brooklyn in 2012. Although they didn’t start working together until 2017, the duo’s minimal electronic compositions inspired by downtempo and techno, combined with intimate and honest vocals, quickly evolved into their distinctive sound. Their second single, “Time” from their upcoming “Preludes” EP, showcases their expansive sound design, blending airy pads, plucking bells, and deconstructed breaks. The mellow downtempo vibe gives way to stabbing pads and looping vocals, culminating in a driving 4-on-the-floor groove as Norton repeats “I’m always on time.” The song explores the theme of delusion, with the narrator being accusatory but in denial. Haulm’s sound is a meeting point between sombre pop and 90’s rave, as they experiment with their styles and find a comfortable fusion between them.
Kuna Maze feat. Midva – Don’t Drop Dead
Kuna Maze’s debut album, “Night Shift” merges the nostalgic atmosphere of jazz clubs with contemporary electronic music. Representing the antithesis to the brightness often associated with broken beat and jazz, the album pays homage to the enigmatic allure of the city after dark. Kuna Maze’s live band embodies the fusion of jazz and club culture, while his lyrical compositions and production skills shine through. His latest track “Don’t Drop Dead” featuring Midva, keyboardist from Strasbourg band Emile Londonien, offers a glimpse into the album (set to release on June 9th via Tru Thoughts). Exploring nocturnal journeys, the track showcases the fusion of broken beat and jazz, highlighted by mesmerizing Rhodes keys. The track captures the vibrant energy and anticipation of a festival, recorded just before the event began. This release follows Kuna Maze and Midva’s previous collaboration in the project House Party, where they incorporated improvisation and dance into their performances, making their debut at Gilles Peterson’s Worldwide Festival in Sète.
Mounika. – See You Dancing in the Dark
French musician Mounika. has released a new single, “See You Dancing In the Dark” from his upcoming album, “Don’t Look At Me” which will be released on May 12, 2023. The song blends electronic, frenetic, and obsessive rhythms, drawing inspiration from deep house and minimalism. Mounika. has also collaborated with artist Joe Taylor to create a visual narrative for the album, introducing two characters, Carl & TJ, who navigate the imaginary world of “Don’t Look At Me” music and the real world.
“is one of those tracks that fully reveals itself when it meets the public, on stage or in the middle of a crowded dance floor. At a time when the city is waking up from its torpor and the nomads are starting to leave the streets, the feel of the track is more electronic, frenetic and obsessive, inhabited by minimalist rhythms repeated until exhaustion. I drew inspiration from deep house and the raw energy of bodies gathering under the last reflections of the moon“
Prince Josh – The Glory (Reprise)
Prince Josh, a Toronto-based producer, songwriter, and DJ, is recognized as half of the electronic pop duo Prince Innocence and a member of the post-punk group Little Girls, signed to Mexican Summer/Captured Tracks. His debut album, “The Joy” released in 2020, received great critical acclaim, and he has since released remixes and singles for Nervous Records, Kitsune, and Italians Do It Better.
Prince Josh has returned after a two-year break with a new single called “The Glory (Reprise)” which gives us a taste of his upcoming album, which is set to be released later this year. The song, produced with Joel Ford in the spring of 2021, features a stylistic shift from his previous hazy lo-fi dance music to a more crisp three-dimensional sound. The single showcases Prince Josh’s new approach to writing full songs with the intention of ripping them apart to create something new, resulting in the recording of two separate works for each track. “The Glory (Reprise)” highlights chopped and screwed vocals from a piano ballad that he recorded with Lauren Armstrong. Prince Josh suggests this is just a small piece of a much larger musical puzzle that he has planned.
Tudor feat. Caroline Byrne– Wish I Didn’t Miss You
Welsh singer, songwriter, and producer Tudor, known for his impressive 200 million Spotify streams, made a significant move from Cardiff to Stockholm after winning the esteemed PRS Hitmaker Fund in 2020. Joining forces with New Jersey-based singer and producer Caroline Byrne, they collaborated on the captivating track “Wish I Didn’t Miss You“. The creative spark between them ignited after meeting at a party in London, leading to daily conversations, sharing tracks, and exchanging ideas. Their joint effort involved Caroline recording vocals in her closet while Tudor crafted the rest, resulting in a fusion of their musical influences, combining UK dance and American R&B. Inspired by Angie Stone’s original version, they aimed to infuse their own styles while staying true to the song’s spirit and emotion. With the original writers’ blessing, they are proud and eager to share their rendition with the world. And we are very honoured to spawn upon this.
Most of these tracks (and previous tracks featured in Electromental) are also in our Spotify Playlist: