Dancing Astronaut Presents 5 Under 5k: Vol. 11

by: Toby Reaper Oct 12, 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).

With the quality and quantity of groovy and technical house tracks coming from South African producer and DJ LA Cruz (4,495), it’s glaringly obvious that he has bright future ahead of him. Already this year, he’s released two EPs and a number of singles and remixes, with each track offering stellar production quality and a unique twist on his developing tech-house sound.

One track will provide only an introduction to LA Cruz, but a listen through his SoundCloud page is only a click away. “Get Me So” is a prime example of his sophisticated builds and his excellent use of silence – an aspect of production that takes a lot of skill and creativity – that keeps the energy at a consistently high level without sounding cluttered.

Aotu (915) is a mysterious young producer and composer hailing from Vermont who only recently released his first couple tracks. The powerful two-track EP, titled Undertow, is an excellent introduction and shows, beyond reasonable doubt, that Aotu means serious business.

The first track, “Undertow,” starts out atmospheric and soft, but swells like the ocean – which was the inspiration behind the track – into a deep soundscape that masterfully combines orchestral and electronic elements. The b-side, “Ambition,” follows up on a brighter note. It begins with uplifting synths that intertwine and build into an upbeat rhythm with an overall sound that gives off feelings of exploration and exultation.

The female duo Sondar (1,632) should definitely be on the radar of anyone that enjoys the indie or pop sides of electronic music. Although they only have two tracks thus far, the group has already made quite a statement with their impassioned lyrics and catchy melody lines.

As is the case with their first track “Singlewave,” their most recent release, “Ready,” was produced by Los Angeles-based producer colorthought. Both are reminiscent of the Alina Baraz–Galamatias collaborative album, Urban Flora. Those who have heard that masterpiece will know just how well this bodes for the duo.

The play counts that New Zealander BAYNK (4,676) is pulling on his tracks leave little doubt that his “under 5,000” status will not last long at all. The fact that it’s lasted this long is a bit surprising. What’s not surprising is that he already has a solid show schedule, which can be found on his SoundCloud page.

Another prime example of an artist using silence in a tasteful manner, his playful style shines through easily in each of his tracks, bolstered by incredibly clean production. His most recent release, an original track titled “Find You,” falls somewhere in the indie house realm, with simple, catchy vocal samples augmenting the all-around staccato style of the bass, percussion, and melodic elements.

Although the music industry has been historically male-dominated, there is an increasing number of stunningly talented female artists that have thankfully been staking their claim in recent years. For good reason, Alexa Lusador (4,465) can definitely be counted among the new generation of women that will be taking over and showing the world how to properly groove.

From the uplifting island vibes in “Fantasy,” to the deep, heavy vocals and bass in “White Snow,” to the dance floor-ready “Paradise,” Lusador already has a substantial repertoire of original music. Her voice is good enough to pull of nearly any style and her playlist of collaborations includes tracks in a wide variety of styles.