It’s summertime and EDM is roaring back, but the 20-year-old rapper-producer out of Chicago Hollis Frazier-Herndon (or 2hollis) is taking it to a level we’ve never heard. With a style pulling elements from both electronic dance and experimental rap, Herndon is changing the underground on his own. His newest release “Star” was an ear-opening experience.
“The album made an impression on me because it sounded youthful,” expresses senior Zayd Attia. “The revival of this EDM inspired sound reminded me of similar music that would play in the background of YouTube videos when I was 7. In a way, it brought me back to that time.”
Each element of this sound stands on its own, whether it’s the powerful bass kicks, the rhythmic hi-hats or even his vocal articulation, but when they come together, the tension they create is lively. Not one moment during this album did it feel slow or boring. Every once in a while, Herndon’s voice will fade out in one of the most interesting mixing effects, the best example of this probably showing up in his hit single “Jeans.” Songs like “you” “burn” and “nerve” have so much energy, it’s impossible to stay still when they come on. The album only gets better from there, with an intense build up in the song “Ego,” and an absolutely riveting transition into the next track “Sidekick.” When you give “star” a listen, don’t forget your headphones.
When “Dark Thoughts” leaked almost three months before its release, Lil Tecca fans were ecstatic. Now after almost two months and over a hundred million streams on Spotify, it’s still difficult to say this song is overplayed. The punchy pads and catchy lyrics make the track such an easy listen, it’s difficult to get tired of. This makes sense, given that they’re actually a sample from Pharell’s “Frontin’,” the definition of easy-listening. “People say ‘song of the summer’ but it’s really song of the year,” affirms senior Aaron Thomas. “No one has yet to come out with a song or album that competes with ‘Dark Thoughts.’. The only part that’s bad about the song is the fact that it ends.”
The replay value of the “Dark Thoughts” may reach a point as time passes, but for now Song of the Year is a perfectly fair title.
Up next is the Los Angeles based indie trio TV Girl and dream-pop producer George Clanton. On April 4th, four months following their collab-album “Fauxllenium,” the deluxe edition was released with seven new tracks. The original tracklist from December had tons of great pulls, including “Summer 2000’s Baby,” “Everything Blue,” “Take a Trip” and “Butterflies,” but the deluxe added even more, including the smooth “Monday, Monday” and the very uptempo “Messy Hair” along with a feature from Magdalena Bay. Normally TV Girl’s mellow sound and somber lyrics wouldn’t make sense for a happy summer playlist, but with the help of George Clanton’s jazzy production, it’s a totally different feel than TV Girl’s previous albums. “Fauxllenium” has to be the ultimate album for spending a sunny day in a hammock.
It’s easy to tell when an artist loves what they do. At least, it is in the case of the UK garage and pop star PinkPantheress. Her exuberant vocals pop over her uptempo and light production style, and her lyrics may be melancholic, but something about her music just makes you feel good. Her new album “Fancy That” is out on May 9th, and the lead singles are straight heat. “Stateside” is making every summer playlist. If you’re reading this and haven’t given the album a listen yet … what are you doing?
There’s so much more out there that could be on this overview, but hopefully you’re listening to the right music after reading this. With albums in line from A$AP Rocky, Blood Orange, Aminé and tons more, this summer is gonna be one hell of a graduation gift.
