“Mosaic” by Manatee Commune

Artist: Manatee Commune

Song: Mosaic

Genres: #electronic #House

Location: Seattle, United States

Influences: Caribou, Four Tet, John Hopkins

Release date: June, 2024.

Comment: Manatee Commune is the brainchild of Grant Eadie, a versatile musician from the Pacific Northwest. He has been releasing music under this moniker since 2012. After some initial success, which included a feature on NPR, the pressure to continue growing his audience, a focus on his professional career, and the impact of Covid meant that his output in recent years hasn’t been as frequent as he would have liked. Fortunately for us, last year, Grant’s creative spark became too strong to ignore, leading to the release of ‘Simultaneity,’ his brand new album, just last month.

Eadie’s music is shaped by his love for field recordings, classical music training, and an interest in the entrancing nature of dance. This blend of influences allows him to create a sound that spans ambient, downtempo, house, and bass genres. His serene yet intricate style offers a unique mix of relaxation and creativity, and a great example of this is “Mosaic,” the second single from “Simultaneity,” a track I could listen to on a loop for weeks..

The song opens with a soft, dreamlike atmosphere that slowly builds into a more upbeat, bass-driven section, offering a varied and immersive listening journey. The contrast between the calm and more vibrant sections makes the listening experience all the more captivating. Check it out below!

Featured on the following mixtapes:

“Ignition” by Mark Driver

Artist: Mark Driver

Song: Ignition

Genres: #chillout #downtempo

Location: Seattle, United States

Influences: Bonobo, Kisamos, Emancipator

Release date: March, 2024.

Comment: There’s a certain tranquility to driving down a highway with no traffic in sight. You’re alone with your thoughts, the open road stretching before you, and the perfect soundtrack blasting through your speakers. That’s the feeling Seattle-based artist Mark Driver aimed to capture with his four-track downtempo electronic EP, “Ignition.” While the opening track, also called “Ignition,” is the one featured here, the entire EP is worth a listen.

“Ignition” itself perfectly embodies that peaceful highway drive. The downtempo beat lays the foundation, a steady pulse that mimics the rhythm of the tires on the pavement. Layered on top are textured soundscapes and ethereal vocals, weaved throughout the track, evoking a sense of human warmth amidst the digital elements. The overall effect is one of deep immersion, transporting you to that perfect moment of solitude and sonic bliss.

This captivating debut EP hints at the immense potential Mark Driver possesses. “Ignition” is a strong foundation, and it will be fascinating to see where his musical journey takes him in the future.

Featured on the following mixtapes:

The Head & The Heart – Hurts (But It Goes Away)

Artist: The Head & The Heart

Song: Hurts (But It Goes Away)

Genres: #indiefolk

Location: Seattle, United States

Release date: April, 2022

Comment: They’re not The Lumineers famous, but with 5 pretty successful studio albums, The Head & The Heart are definitely a well-known band. Named after the dichotomy of doing what your head says or following your heart, the band recently released their fifth studio album: Every Shade of Blue, which includes today’s recommended track: “Hurts (But It Goes Away)“. It’s perhaps the most upbeat track in that record and also a perfect piece of folk-pop. I particularly like the following lyrics that they sing in the chorus: ““tell me that I’m going to be okay, tell me that life’s going to find a way…”.

Unfortunately, this earworm doesn’t have an official video (yet) but here’s a live version they performed on Jimmy Kimmel’s show.

Featured on the following mixtapes:

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