American DJ, record producer and musician Nathaniel “Nate” Rathbun, recognized by his stage name Audien (“Something Better”) released his first studio album, “Escapism,” last Friday.
Characterized by a chill and hypnotizing electronic sound, the album is full of smash hits that are sure to make their way to the dance floor in the remainder of this year and all of next year. Therefore, listeners cannot miss out on it.
At first glance, the various tunes are characterized by a mix of relaxing piano melodies, followed by the now all-classic “beat drop” that depicts dance and electronic music nowadays.
By definition, escapism is the tendency to seek distraction and relief from unpleasant realities. When taken into consideration, that definition reflects on the album as a whole in that some of the songs’ titles allude to that mood of searching or reaching for an imaginary, pleasant and inviting atmosphere.
When further analyzing the different tracks based on the combination of melody and overall tone, readers should stick to three of the 11 melodies that Audien has delighted music-holics with by way of his first studio album.
The first pick comes in the form of the opening track, “See You On The Other Side.” With its opening of a bird song, it will automatically drive listeners to a state of joy and relaxation. The track then goes on to a set of piano notes and chords with a blend of feminine choir that are sure to reduce one’s levels of anxiety and stress. Then, the beat drops and magic happens. Despite the introduction of electronic beats and sounds, the chill and relaxing melody still manages to continue. The song closes with a series of violin chords that, along with the rest of the tune, will attract audiences at first listen. After a long day of work, a long night of study, or whatever the circumstances may be, this will be a go-to melody.
If listeners would rather have a little bit more of a beat – and the addition of lyrics – they will not have to dig too far into the repertoire. The second track, “Reach,” featuring Jamie Hartmann (“Hard Rain”) will meet those requirements, while also serving as the lead single for the album itself. The song talks about some of the problems a relationship could run into, while the vocalist discusses taking his girlfriend for granted. This mood can perfectly be exemplified in the song’s chorus. “All I had is all I took for granted / Like you, I thought we had it / So come on, turn around.” Through those lyrics, Hartmann tries to convince his lover to make a “U-turn” and return to his arms. In all, the theme is to end the damage or pain that one has done and the other is experiencing.
The third and last recommendation deriving from this album is the ninth track, “Something Greater Interlude.” While it lacks vocals and that electronic mood, the piano-made melody is sure to persuade listeners to that overall sense of relaxation. The song, 1:48 long, serves as the second part to “Something Better,” a track that the producer released featuring duo Karmin (“Brokenhearted”) back in 2018.
Overall, music aficionados should give this one a shot. It does a solid job of fusing relaxing music without lyrics with electronic music that features lyrics.
Image from AudienTV via YouTube
