The Musical Endeavor – Ray of Light

For those of you who might not know, vaporwave is a relatively new music genre that consists of slowed-down samples of smooth jazz, hip-hop and lounge music. The Musical Endeavor is a musical outlet led by Liam Taylor, who describes his music as instrumental lo-fi hip hop with elements of vaporwave. This act recently released its second EP, Ray of Light, whose title track is our song of the day.

You can certainly perceive the jazz vibe on this track, mainly due to its piano hook, an original composition by Liam. Ray of Light has a soothing effect that makes it an enjoyable piece. Next time you have friends visiting (if that becomes a thing again at some point), you can play this song or even the whole EP as a musical interlude and get props for not recurring to the typical lounge music we’re all tired of hearing at bars or restaurants. Enjoy!

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The Chronicles of Manimal and Samara – Mata Hari

Mata Hari

I admit I’m not a big fan of experimental music, but when the result is something this interesting, I’ll listen. The Chronicles of Manimal and Samara, or TCOMAS, are a London-based duo formed in late 2019 by Andrea Papi (Manimal) and Daphne Ang (Samara); and when you have a musical act listing as influences the innovative works of Kraftwerk, Depeche Mode, and Tool, and the poetry of Sylvia Plath, Virginia Woolf and Jim Morrison; you know that the resulting music will be anything but conventional. They want to bring music, literature, art and history together while defying musical genres boundaries, and their fourth and latest single, Mata Hari, is no exception to that. I warn you, this will not suit everyone, but I really dug it.

Mata Hari was an exotic Dutch dancer who was convicted and executed during World War I for being a German spy, but it also means ‘sun‘ in Malay, and that is the meaning it has on this track, which is told through the eyes of an artist who declared his love for somebody through a painting. The song, with its atmospheric soundscapes, mixes poetry and the spoken word with electronic music and rock, aiming to reimagine how 80s music will sound 60 years from now. Trust me, you are extremely unlike to find something else resembling TCOMAS and Mata Hari.

Give a chance to this immensely creative band. Worst-case scenario, you’ll hear something pretty unique; and best-case, you’ll dig it just like me.

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Nox Vahn feat. Mimi Page – Dream Of Love

I don’t know much about either Nox Vahn or Mimi Page, but I heard their collaboration, Dream Of Love, the other day and thought it was pretty good. What I could gather is that Nox Vahn, formerly known as Fairchild, is part of the lineup of Above & Beyond‘s record label, Anjunadeep, whereas Mimi is an American singer/songwriter whose trademark is blending ethereal vocals with atmospheric soundscapes, which is exactly what you will find in today’s tune. I’m keeping it short today, so enjoy this new addition to the Chill Out mixtape.

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Nick Box – Reveal

If you search for Nick Box on Google, most of the results you will get are going to be related to Nickelodeon, but the Nick Box I’m referring to here is a talented musician who, as a solo artist, writes beautiful ambient piano music for our enjoyment. Additionally, he’s been involved in multiple musical projects across different genres, such as alternative/indie rock band, Sleeperstar. He is very talented indeed.

Reveal is one of the singles Nick has released this year under his own name. A magical cinematic piano-based composition that I could listen to all day without getting tired of it. To say that this song is relaxing would be a massive understatement. I highly recommend the work of this prolific musician. As a starter, listen to Reveal below.

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Blure – Amor Fati

Blure

When you visit Blure’s Soundcloud page, you quickly notice two things: that his real name is Luis Vegas, and that he was born and raised in Caracas, Venezuela. That’s about all the background information you can easily find online about this talented electronic music artist. He started in 2013 and since then he has released a high number of singles and EPs, garnering kind of an underground cult following among fans of ambient/chillstep music.

Amor Fati, which is a Latin phrase meaning “love of one’s fate”, is Blure‘s latest single. It represents very well the gorgeous and ethereal music that he makes. A lo-fi electronic soundscape that casts a spell on you for the duration of the track. I really don’t know if Blure wants to become a mainstream artist or not, but in terms of talent alone, he certainly deserves it. Listen to his work and you’ll agree with me.

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Vapour Mind – Embers

I can’t remember if I found Vapour Mind or he found me, what I know is that we follow each other on Instagram and I like the music he produces. This is the musical project of Stefan Oreščanin, who lives in Sweden and got a bachelor’s degree in music and sound production. He creates ambient/chill-out/electronic music, and recently released his latest EP, The Climb, which is a metaphor for reaching the peak of your abilities after emerging victorious from a fight with your inner demons.

Embers is the second track on this EP and it is a charming piece of chilled electronic music. What I like about it is that it has its own identity. It doesn’t sound like the generic chill-out songs you may find as background music in bars or shopping malls. Do you know what I mean? Listen to this great tune here and support this independent musician on your favourite streaming platform (including Bandcamp and Soundcloud).

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Monkey Safari – Safe

Monkey Safari - Safe

I must warn you, this track by German producers and DJs Monkey Safari is highly addictive. From the first beat, it became my musical crush, captivating me with its irresistible charm. The layers of sweeping sounds, pulsating beats, and the infusion of captivating spoken words create an immersive experience that words can’t fully capture. You have to listen to believe it and let the music sweep you away.

Though I’m not an expert on Monkey Safari’s extensive discography, one thing is clear: these talented brothers have been crafting remarkable hits since 2016, leaving a lasting impact on the electronic music scene. ‘Safe’ stands as their emotional masterpiece, delicately capturing the essence of a world that feels empty, yet offering solace through its rich melodies and evocative tones. Trust me when I say, they have truly outdone themselves with this one.

Don’t miss out on this sonic gem that has the power to transport you to another realm. It’s an experience that demands to be heard, felt, and cherished. So, turn up the volume, close your eyes, and let the music wash over you, taking you on an unforgettable journey.

Embrace the mesmerizing sounds of Monkey Safari and let ‘Safe’ become the soundtrack of your emotions. 🎶

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Toys In The Attic – Where Giants Sleep

Where Giants Sleep

There’s no much background info I can give you on Toys in the Attic. All I know is that this project consists of one person, based in Rhode Island and that he is pretty active on Twitter. According to his songs’ writing credits on Spotify, his name seems to be Alexander, but the fact that really matters here is that this artist is really passionate about making music of all genres, but mostly alternative and synth-based tunes. His catalogue is small but varied, with some songs flirting closely with dance music while others, like Where Giants Sleep, are mellower.

Where Giants Sleep is a catchy track that takes you on an auditive journey. It’s easy to imagine that you are driving through a scenic route when listening to this tune, and the destination is your happy place. By all means, check Toys in the Attic out and you can start right here, right now with this addictive track.

Update: Due to legal reasons, Alexander has had to change his stage name. While old songs will remain under the Toys in the Attic moniker on streaming platforms, new music will be released as Dreddbeat.

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Gib – Daylight

Some artists are so passionate about their art that they have to be constantly creating something. Otherwise, they feel empty. Lost.

When it comes to music, these artists can take inspiration from anything and cannot be restrained by any single genre or style. When they receive inspiration from a muse goddess, they just need to work on it. They don’t dream about massive stardom. Just being able to do what they love for a living would be enough.

Gib is such an artist. After playing bass in several projects for a good while, he decided to give it a try on his own, following his imagination without worrying about bandmates or genres. It’s a hard task to count how many tracks he has published on Spotify since 2018 but it wasn’t until recently that he decided to start promoting himself. He doesn’t have a website or even a Facebook page yet. Just a Twitter account (he’s pretty active there) as far as social media goes (of course, he got Bandcamp and Soundcloud accounts). His total focus has been on creating music, not on the business side of that.

And here’s the thing: Gib‘s music is actually pretty good. Even though it is mostly instrumental music, the styles are very diverse. His bio on Spotify lists the following genres: rock, indie, soundtrack, chill, pop, and dance. In other words, pretty much everything. The song I’m recommending today is an ambient track from his latest EP, Lights, and it was an automatic add to the Chill Out mixtape. I strongly suggest you check it out and then listen to other tracks from this UK-based multi-instrumentalist. With so many genres, you’re guaranteed to find more songs you’ll like.

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Astralign – The First Time I Saw You

Astralign

Astralign is an ambient/cinematic/downtempo project based in Australia, created by Gavin Foo, a passionate sound designer with a love for music. “Fragments” marks Astralign’s debut EP, initially released independently and now available on Spotify.

“The First Time I Saw You” is the most downtempo track in Fragments, making it a perfect fit for the Chill-Out Mixtape. This soothing composition beautifully captures the emotions experienced when encountering someone special for the first time. Enjoy the track below and consider supporting/following the artists through the provided hyperlinks.

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