Here we have a full range of eclectic acoustics and gently guided vocals on Dylan Lounsberry’s 7-track EP, Mastication 2. Using three foundational elements that drive the whole listening experience, Dylan takes it in stride to polish his skills and produce an instinctively wild chamber of emotions controlled by drum patterns, guitar strings, and synths. At the forefront, Mastication 2 feels like it’s beaming with light sprouts of positivity; however, a closer listen reveals the digestion of unfortunate events in this life's journey. 

“The creation of this EP was bred entirely out of a drive to be better when I felt I was failing everything that I cared about. It was an outlet for grief, rage, and apathy towards the world at large. It took many years and many iterations for me to be comfortable enough with my abilities as a musician, engineer, and producer to get it to a point where it could be presented to the world. This was written almost entirely through and out of grief for a number of loved ones lost from 2019 to 2021. It was originally sketches on an iPad that I waited until I had the necessary skill set to make sure they had a light to shine. I refuse to pigeonhole myself to any specific influence or sound, so this EP reads more like a box of chocolates than a dime store romance. Though it may never resonate as being outright sad, I know it has a malaise air throughout.”

Do You Mind If I Talk For Awhile
The opening track of Mastication 2 is an upbeat crowd-pleaser. Listeners will instantly feel uplifted by the drum patterns that invite you to release every bit of tension with each rhythmic thump playing within the center of the track.

In Position And Without Words
Continuing on the dopamine escapade with jelly-infused synths that bounce freely, lightly stroked guitar strings are quickly kissed by the added component of keys. Expect to slowly yet happily drown in the wonderful production of Dylan Lounsberry.

Rose Sequence 
A welcomed switch-up of instrumentals and an added touch of distorted mic vocals call for a focus refresh. The soundscape exhibits a strumming seriousness and flows with electric string reverb that rewrites the sound of a rose.

An Act Of Trust In The Unknown
Dylan Lounsberry creates a structure with his cinematic drizzle of sounds. It’s giving movie credits, art show intros, runway themes—any creative endeavour where the music can lead and suggest the emotional narrative taking place. You can't control the music; you must let it flow through you.

Purge
Releasing loop bursts of guitar and drums, this track symbolises the essence of a purge quite well. You don’t know where it will go or how it will end up, there is no structure, just a release of frequencies plus some snazzy synths.

Radioactive Nomenclature
Laced with an eerie echo and a fascinating deceleration of mental stimulation, each string stroke exposes Dylan’s mastermind ability to manipulate the senses with each tempo switch.

What To Do
The closer comes with a sense of sonic relief from what Mastication 2 has achieved; it sums up the Dylan Lounsberry experience with gentle vocals of freedom and a soft ending that takes listeners on an audible glide through the sky while discovering what’s hidden below.

Since the release of his progressive Mastication 2 EP, Dylan Lounsberry has dedicated his time and energy to improving his skills before his next big drop. His recently released single Stay (Remix) features Grungik and explores a variety of millennial, arcade-like sounds. Click the link below and explore the world of Dylan Lounsberry and IYCM’s uncovered tracks and EPs of 2024 thus far. 

Woah woah, some ish we keep on the low low but I can guarantee that this joint 'Water' by Amir Jackson isn't one of those things.  

Amir Jackson releases his bars with ease as his effortless tone drips with a calming steaze. His cadence pours out creativity that drifts listeners away like an unpredictable wave while keeping your attention at bay. 
Amir's nonchalant delivery makes it believable that he could spit verses while in a deep sleep.
 
Water flows in a river of expression and swirls in a whirlpool of Amir's experiences and balanced ego. What we have here is a new wave of art that can't be categorized, only aurally consumed. It's a musical ripple, and Amir didn't come to play, and that's on every opp. 
 
"Once I heard the production for the song, it was an instant rush of ideas and concepts that came to me. They aligned pretty well with creating something that was going to be easy to flow with, so at that point, I knew the forthcoming energy would come from the proper place. Somewhere focused on that feeling of being cool, calm, and collected while addressing any topic or handling any task." - Amir Jackson
 
If the mission was to translate the sound of water into music, then Sonus captured it brilliantly with this production! The instrumentals create reflective ripples in the cerebral, it's a gentle tempo, synth-wavy, loop-bubbly tsunami.
 
"I found the beat and sent the producer Sonus a snippet of the beginning of the song; he immediately responded, and at that point I knew we had something that would last for a long time." - Amir Jackson
 
Snoozing is for the weak, and Amir Jackson has proven that this isn't a habit practiced with his latest album, Nightmare on Crystal Lake 2: A Dark Musical. There's a line-up of releases for 2024, so tap in with Amir and enjoy our Spotify rotation below featuring Water!

If this didn’t hit your tastebuds in 2023, then 2024 is where you’ll find your new musical addiction. Allow your auricles to enter and absorb the futuristic, dark electro pop extravaganza released by artists and producers FHUR and Ōkubi on their collaboration ’Tricep’. 

At 0:01 seconds, your cerebral is pulled into a choppy, synth-heavy astral dystopia, and a zing of focus energetically shoots through the body when FHUR lays her ominous vocals down. She pushes out a decadently breathy tone and emanates a sweet mystery, oozing a desire for complete submission and surrendering to a craving for love that leaves her empty and aggressive. 

There is a sonical appetite for adventure on Tricep, and as the dopamine hit reaches an all-time high, it plummets straight back down like a meteor heading to earth. Behind the stimulating layers is a deep, dark tune that exposes the bitter side of a once-believed love story. 

“Tricep was produced remotely with Ōkubi and me bouncing ideas back and forth. The lyrics for the chorus came to me immediately (I’ve been stocking up stomach ache pills since I met you), just pure anger for what I was going through at that time.” - FHUR 

Tricep is the second single off FHUR’s sophomore EP, and it revels in all the wonderful aspects electronic music provides, from the fade-ins and creeping bass buildup to the upbeat tempo and the ultimate climax that pierces the prefrontal cortex. It’s delivered with songwriting simplicity that allows listeners to resonate in their own emotional way. Ōkubi's skillful blend of tape-infused synth elements adds to the moody soundscapes; the track navigates between the realms of a love and hate song.

“Tricep started as Ōkubi’s sonic experimentation with tape-processed sounds while still keeping the epicness of his sound design. This epic idea finds contrast and balance with the harsh pop chorus, which is beat-driven and whose lyrics accentuate the caustic feeling. Tricep became a perfect example of left-field pop, where sound, vocals, and theme go hand in hand to create imagery more than just a song.” - FHUR

When you add Tricep to your playlist, go ahead and add FHUR’s latest release ‘Cortisone’ and Okubi’s recent single ‘Shattered Tides’ to the playlist as well. Click the link below to refresh your listening and receive an upgrade to your music taste.