If you haven’t listened to Zuma. yet, I shit you not, drop everything you’re doing and listen to this guy’s tracks. There aren’t many artists that I would endorse like this after listening to only a couple tracks but my dude Zuma. is one of them. After only a couple of seconds after pressing play, I was already frantically messaging my friend and asking why this music hadn’t been in my life earlier. Listen to this guy’s tracks and you’ll understand why I am absolutely hyped about this.
Originating from Tokyo, and now doing his thing in San Diego, Zuma. teamed up with artist nsolo in his new track “haste”.
With “haste”, Zuma. and nsolo play downtempo with some rainy-day vibes. It is aptly named “haste” with the subtle sense of urgency layered under the track.
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Very easily comparable to Opia in terms of production, the track begins with low synths slowly building up with asynchronous woodblock beats speckling the soundscape. As cliched of a simile it is, nsolo honestly has a voice like honey. It’s husky and amber and smooth and viscous as it drips sensuality luxuriously and effortlessly. It’s very fitting for this track and his voice rests comfortably in the track. Production wise, there are so much depth to this song. The synths mesh together pleasantly in a relaxing way. The synths get layered with eclectic beats and vibrating synths that are arranged in just a way that provides a rush. It’s like cool wind whipping your hair around your face as you stand at the edge of a cliff. It’s eerily calm and relaxing, but there is also a heightened sense of emotion underlying and crescendoing. It is a delicate and complicated concoction of emotions. It’s not quite sad, but it is not quite happy either. It exists in a calm twilight of emotion. The soundtrack to bittersweet nostalgia. If the gentle quietness of late night intospection had music playing in the background.
Another really dope track by Zuma. is “All Nite” featuring the vocals of Lenis Kim. The vibes are decidedly different from the previous one, but the production value is still mind blowing.
Lenis Kim almost reminds me of Kehlani with her wispy but sensual voice. Her vocal runs and breathy singing is low and candle-lit and beckons you closer. I don’t know how a voice could wrap you like a cloud but still be as heavy as syrup. The production is gentle and infused with piano the beats appear more rounded and subtle. It is comparatively more stripped than “haste”, but still definitely a bop.
Zuma.‘s “All Nite” is a delicate balance of gentle sweetness while maintaining a sexiness to the sound.
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It sounds like the beach at dusk. The lights are fading and everything is starting to grow darker and more deeply ultramarine, but there is still a soft warmness lingering that tickles your skin. The sunlight is slightly dimpled as it reflects off the subdued waves, much like the beats of this track. It’s intimate and beautiful and draws you closer to the shoulders of your companion.
Listen to these two tracks, trust me. I’ve made a lot of really stupid decisions but listening to Zuma. was definitely not one of them. He has a variety of sounds under his belt, and the skills to balance the intricacy of each sound, all the while maintaining that chill downtempo vibe to his tracks that make them so easily listenable. Chill to these tracks while lying in the middle of your empty apartment and let life pass you by. It’s calming and lovely and refreshing. Honestly, I haven’t been this hyped about a new artist in a while and this guy is definitely going to get big (and I’m definitely going to be annoying and pretentious about how I listened to him first).
Check out Zuma. on SoundCloud, Twitter, and Facebook!
You can also connect on with nsolo on SoundCloud!
Check out Lenis Kim on SoundCloud!
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