miguel maravilla, Joni Void, High Klassified, and Moat Bells
miguel maravilla - COPING MECHANISMS
To be totally clear, I know very little about miguel maravilla. This person is somewhat of a mystery as a young up and coming voice in the Vancouver music scene. They’ve been churning out music since 2019 but I just discovered them with the release of COPING MECHANISMS, an album that was made in just three days and deals with grief. From start to finish this is a truly impressive record, hip-hop inspired beats, indie-pop guitar work, and electronic ambient soundscapes all come together to craft an engaging experimental-pop release. Time to get miguel maravilla on my watchlist.
Joni Void - Every Life Is A Light
Joni Void is at their most accessible to date on Every Life Is A Light. The Montréal producer still delivers the sample-rich, experimental soundscapes we’ve grown accustomed to, this group of sonic colleges is just more inviting than past efforts. Downtempo beats pair with looping lofi samples (sometimes drawing from their own Walkman cassette field-recordings) to deliver a contemplative start to finish listen. Guests appearances from Sook-Yin Lee, Haco, Ytamo, Pink Navel and N NAO add depth to Joni Void’s style, particularly the vocals from Sook-Yin Lee on “Vertigo” and from Haco on “Time Zone”, my favourite track on the release. Every Life Is A Light is the Joni Void record I can see myself coming back to more than any other.
High Klassified - Ravaru
I’m new to the effortless hip-hop being put together by Montreal’s High Klassified. Based on Spotify play counts, it appears as though I’m behind the curve. After listening to Ravaru, it’s become clear that I’ve really been missing out on something special. Trap beats lay a foundation for an incredible Fran-glais rapper. Until listening to this, I never realized how many more doors open up for a lyricist when they’re able to use two different languages. The only downside is if the listener isn’t bilingual but in my case, I am, and Ravaru has been a breath of fresh air for me at a time when I’ve been losing interest in rap.
Moat Bells - Nap Bud
Moat Bells is the electronic ambient project from London, Ontario’s Chris McInerney. When I dig into an ambient album, I typically have a goal in mind for what I hope to get from the music. In the case of Nap Bud, it quickly became apparent that I’ll be keeping this saved for pure relaxation. I’m actually going to have my massage therapist play it during my next appointment! It’s a cozy, warm accompaniment when looking for a meditative moment of peace. Turns out it was inspired by animals and how they nap, yup… peaceful.
- Jeff MacCallum