Oppidum – Genius Loci

Oppidum - Genius Loci

Today is a great day for music (and it is a Friday, which is always a plus). We got new albums from The Naked and Famous, Neon Trees and Neck Deep, just to name a few; and you may have heard about some “folk” artist named Taylor Swift who dropped a record too (and here is what I think about it). This entry, however, is about a little song from a different EP that also got released today without the same amount of fanfare. I hope it does not get lost in the shuffle because it certainly deserves your attention (at least if you are into ambient/chill-out music).

Oppidum, which is Latin for –roughly translated– town,  is the pseudonym of a French musician who creates hypnotic and unique arrangements mixing organic and instrumental sounds. Genius Loci, from Oppidum‘s brand new EP: Amulette, is a perfect example of that. It got some uncommon sounds for music but also a melodic cadence that transports you into places you will not want to return from. Give it a try on the mixtapes below (by the way, please don’t forget to follow them if you like them) and, if you agree with me, then check the rest of the EP out on your favorite streaming service.

Featured on the following mixtapes:

Michael FK – Towards The Dawn

Michael FK - Towards The Dawn

Michael FK is a Moldovan musician who creates hypnotic chillout tracks with a mixture of ambient and atmospheric sounds. What I like about his songs is that he tries to transmit something to you, rather than simply repeating sound patterns in a robotic way. In the case of his latest single, Towards The Dawn, Michael wanted to convey a feeling of optimism and hope. I think he accomplished just that.

You can listen to this gorgeous track below. It will become a staple of your chilling afternoons.

Featured on the following mixtapes:

Shallou, Daya – Older

Shallou, Daya

Shallou is the stage name of Los Angeles-based electronic music producer and climate change activist, Joe Boston. He debuted in 2017 with his first EP but has just issued his first full-length album in 2020, Magical Thinking. He collaborated with the singer Daya for the 10th track on that record: Older, which is today’s addition to The Alternative Mixtapes.

Older is a beautifully melancholic ambient track ideal for drifting away and forgetting about the world. The song’s lyrics are also deeper than you would imagine, with a stunningly morose bridge in which Daya sings: “Maybe one day when I’m older, I might understand why love just doesn’t happen to everyone who wants it.”All in all, this is a musical gem.

What do you think of this track?

Featured on the following mixtapes: