Dancing Astronaut Presents 5 Under 5k: Vol. 14

by: Toby Reaper Nov 27, 2016

5 Under 5k is a feature on Dancing Astronaut dedicated to spotlighting talented upcoming and undiscovered artists who we believe deserve more exposure. Each edition of 5 Under 5k will highlight five artists from a wide variety of genres with under 5,000 followers on SoundCloud (at the time of writing).

Ella Vos (2,318) has hit upon a truly breathtaking sound. It’s already easy to see how big she is going to be in the near future, with a voice that breathes with emotion while managing a nonchalant quality not unlike Ellie Goulding. If that isn’t enough to give an idea of her potential, her overall style could likened to CHVRCHES and Purity Ring.

“Little Brother” is only her second track (according to SoundCloud), but it’s obvious she’s dedicated to her craft and has been for quite some time. Minimal percussion complements a simple and sophisticated bassline that lets her voice absolutely shine. Seemingly without effort, she manages to infuse every word with deep, delicate emotion, giving her vocals the power to match the impenetrable bass filling up the low-end.

Choosing which Cormak (2,814) song to feature was a difficult decision because every one put out over the last year is truly remarkable, such as the latest one “Gemini,” or a flip of Porter Robinson and Madeon‘s hit collaboration “Shelter,” that actually does the original justice.

The first track featured below, “Gemini,” is a funky midtempo masterpiece that could easily be mistaken for Madeon. That’s not to say Cormak doesn’t have his own unique sound — an exceptionally raw form of funk that “Gemini” does a great job of showcasing.

The second track, “That’s It,” shows how versatile Cormak can be with his glitch-hop-infused sound. Styled like an underground rap track with tasteful vinyl scratches, a hip-hop piano riff is woven into a beat that ends up easily bridging the gap between old-school and modern.

After making some waves with his previous release, The Odds (498) has followed up with another stellar collaboration with Bronze Whale, “Call Me Out.” The pairing will be releasing an entire collaborative EP, titled Million, which is sure to turn some heads in the industry.

“Call Me Out” is an intriguing listen all the way through its six-and-a-half minutes, with changes in percussion driving a constant rhythmic evolution from breakbeat to four-on-the-floor and everything in between. Paired with the songwriting and vocal prowess of The Odds, this track just about has it all.

Nyxen (1,800) hails from the sunny country of Australia, where musical talent always seems to be in abundance. In an era where sampling other artists’ work is also in abundance, it is refreshing to find artists who record their own. For her recent EP, Running, Nyxen used her own vocal, guitar and piano samples, and the result is nothing short of fantastic.

She hits the nail on the head with a vibe that is perfectly suited to welcoming the summer (remember, she’s based out of Australia). Both tracks on the EP, “Running” and “Monster,” conjure up tropical soundscapes that will likely prove effective in keeping those in the Northern Hemisphere warm through the coming months.

For many, going into business (or in this case, music) with family might seem like a risky endeavor. However, for the two brothers behind TWiNSCALE (835), teaming up was clearly a good choice. Every track produced by the duo is a creatively-constructed concoction of modern and classic sounds, resulting in a compelling listen every time.

Their latest track, “sometimes,” is a step down in the energy from their other tracks, but accomplishes the change in the best way possible. The slower tempo of the track allows the background ambience to float along with the bass and be heard throughout the complex medley of synths and samples. Each layer has space to take prominence at the appropriate time, which, with the number of different sounds, is no simple task.