Singularis - What A Time (Cold Busted)

Singularis, the talented young beat-wrangler from the Netherlands, first appeared on the Cold Busted label at the age of 16 with his impressive debut album Evening Hours. Since then he's grown both as a producer and in age, now unveiling What A Time, his third full-length for the prestigious downtempo imprint. The album's sixteen tracks combine Singularis's agility with tough hip hop beats, G Funk style lead lines, and spaced-out vibes for a listening experience beyond easy categorization. The album's "Introduction" (appropriately subtitled "Slowmotion") sets the tone with big chords in a layered progression, loping – but swinging – drum machine beats, and Singularis's trademark synth leads. The way Singulars takes this template and playfully twists it throughout is what makes What A Time a memorable ride. Take "Crassinez" for example, which adds strange synth dives and other digital hijinks, as if Aphex Twin stepped in the studio for a quick moment. And also "Bang", a very Singularis-ish interpretation of southern low-rider hip hop, clouding the genre with cosmic atmospherics and vague melody. There's much more to discover here and it's exciting to know, that at his young age, Singulars is just getting started.

Kid Loco - "Great beats."
Poldoore - "Loving the lush vibes."
Dom Servini (Wah Wah 45s) - "Love, love, love this … all killer!"
Rory Hoy (Howlin' Records / Super Hi-Fi) - "An absolutely amazing release!"
Stereo 77 (Plimsoll Records) - "Downtempo crunk? I'm digging it."
Stickybuds (Goodgroove Records) - "Another dope album from one of my favorite labels ever."
Adam Warped (Whiskey Pickle / Strange Days Radio Show) - "Laid back psychedelic pimp vibes."
Double-D (Funky Fresh Radio Show) - "Nice and easy … a modern style."
DJ Nova (Rodon FM, Greece) - "Beats with a slice of G-funk on the rocks and lo-fi synthesizer funk flirt."
Adrian Lugo (WEFT 90.1 FM) - "Nice beats. tight production. Head nods and boom baps for days."
Morphosis (The Hong Kong Ping Pong Club) - "Damn, son … those beats are swung. Great stuff!"

Available now from Bandcamp, Beatport, iTunes, and Spotify.

Singularis - Dopamine Dream (Cold Busted)

Not even in his 20s, Netherlands-based producer Singularis has created a brightly woven new album for the Cold Busted label. Like his previous Evening Hours LP, Dopamine Dream is another twelve tracker full of sly beats. This time he touches on sweetly orchestrated classic hip-hop blends alongside with harder hitting, more club-oriented cuts. Each track is delivered with a glossy, feel good shine. Highlights include “The Quiet Life” which rolls through like tumbleweeds with its western soul appeal combining epic strings, rhythmic guitar picking, pitched up vocals, and some eventual funky synth sleaze. “Amsterdamn” features a familiar vocal sample flipped in a slightly grime-infused combo of wonky bass and fidgety stabs, complete with more mellow organ pads used in the build ups. Starting with a bossa nova style intro, “Puffin’ L’s” works all those elements out into a chilled piano beat with great reverb-laden snares and hats. “Sunshinem” also has a prelude-style start, but this time turning Motown into something more sinister and chopped with - dare we say - a candy-painted kind of low-end flare. “A Few Days” is another one with some weight, sounding as if The Thing from the Addams Family scurried across some keys laying down an eerie bell melody and wailing electric synth. Cali-funk never sounded so macabre. “Flowers” is an album favorite with its braggadocio boom-bap flavor, irresistible horns, flutes, and diva vocal accents making this one a certified downtempo banger. Singularis aimed for a knock out with Dopamine Dream, his latest sure-fire slugger.

Kid Loco - “Great grooves and moods.”
Tim “Love” Lee - “I love this guy!”
DJ Moneyshot (Solid Steel Radio / NinjaTune) - “A real neck-snapping update of some dusty to digital. Bet it sounds heavy in the club. I’ll go with ‘Flowers’ as I’m more on that funk, than the crunk.”
Ohmega Watts - “All the movements, chops, and layers to the tracks add a great sound dimension for various backdrops from tranquil to exuberant.”
All Good Funk Alliance - “Feeling this.”
Quincy Jointz (Timewarp Music) - “Great downbeat stuff with many good and freaky ideas.”
Irregular Disco Workers - “Style! A trip to paradise.”
Danny Massure (Spring Strut) - “Lovely!”
Stereo 77 (Research Deluxe) - “I’m a life long fan of Cold Busted! Another fantastic release. I can’t wait to add ‘Amsterdamn’ to my sets.”
Azaxx (Tru Thoughts) - “Exciting travel between old school and future beats … I like!”
DJ Pelau (Is The Spice Of Life) - “Some great grooves here … this is how ya hit the BEATS, big time! An emcee’s dream.”
Dom Servini (Wah Wah 45s) - “I really love this … sweet soulful vocals and dirty beats.”
Mason Rothert (Below Zero Radio Show) - “This is a great release … another gem from Singularis. Love the funky quirkiness to it all.”
DJ Nova (Rodon FM, Greece) - “This young guy is a genius and unstoppable.”

Available now from Beatport and the Cold Busted Shop.

Singularis - Lucid Senses (Cold Busted)

Singularis, the talented young producer from the Netherlands, drops a funky, beat-blunted five track single named Lucid Senses for the Cold Busted label. After releasing the acclaimed Evening Hours album in February Singularis bounces back with more instrumental goodness, showing his proficiency with downtempo, trip hop, and instrumental hip hop styles. This time around he also shows off some influence from the sounds of classic G-funk and the rhythms of ‘southern’ hip-hop, but applied to the slinky and spacey Singularis approach. The tracks include “Reminiscing,” a positive and smooth cut with peaceful chords followed by 808 drums and sped up hi-hats as a flute solo turns it into a perfect tropical beach track; “Morning Tears,” a straight up jazz future banger with swinging hi-hats, beautiful chord progressions, and screaming synth leads; “Le Tour Eiffel” with its dramatic synthesizer and Spanish guitars, sounding passionate and intense at the same time like somebody reminiscing over a summer love; “Moonflower (Let’s Go),” a hype, uptempo track driven by a smooth Rhodes piano and an extremely funky warm bass; and “Someday,” with its southern hip-hop influenced beat at about 70 BPM and dreamy piano keys bringing a welcome musical cool-down. Singularis and Cold Busted once again bring a release filled with both jazzy hip-hop beats and future bass songs, creating a progressive musical palette to activate the senses.

Ohmega Watts (Ubiquity Records) - “These five tracks make your head bounce while imagining a getaway to a secluded locale or a sandy beach in the Caribbean! The EP’s on point.”
Phat Phil Cooper - “Nice package … perfect summertime music.”
Quincy Jointz - “The finest in downtempo music … I like it a lot.”
Inland Knights - “Great EP.”
Basement Freaks - “Pure dope! Perfect summertime joints here, fellas.”
Danny Massure (Spring Strut) - “Lovely downtempo, perfect for a chill day or a candlelit night.”
Stereo 77 - “Cold Busted is the rebirth of downtempo. Fantastic EP and very well produced.”
Aja Allsop (Ketch A Vibe Radio Show, UK) - “This EP has a seriously delicious groove!”
Sandro Bianchi (Ibiza Sonica Radio) - “Singularis rocks!”
Pepe Link (Insel Radio) - “Lovely tracks, perfect for balearic sunset sessions.”
Frank McWeeny (French Toast Radio Show) - “Amazing release! I always love Singularis’ tunes.”
DJ Nova (Rodon FM, Greece) - “Synthetic dreams and smooth beats for the night time or daylight chillin’.”
Black Alley (In Control Radio Show, Germany) - “Lovely tracks that scream ‘sunshine’ all over!”
Jamie Topham (CDPool) - “Some very nice downtempo funk here. ‘Moonflower’ is my jam.”

Available now from Beatport.

Singularis - Evening Hours (Cold Busted)

At a ripe age of 16 years old, Netherlands-based producer Singularis has created a breathtaking collage of music called Evening Hours. A charming and mesmerizing album. Evening Hours is a twelve track collection of instrumental hip hop, trip hop, and lounge cuts recorded by the beat-making wunderkind. Animated with rhythm, invigorating drum patterns, languid instrumentals, and intoxicating atmospheres, Evening Hours is a fascinating album suitable for the lounge, the home, and the ’phones. Highlights include “4 Momz” with its hypnotic melody, laid back 87 BPM beats, smooth synth lines, and round, subtle sub bass. “Take Me Inside” is an album favorite with sweet flanging synths, a juicy bass line, crisp clapping snares, apt beat repeats … satisfactory and majestic sounds all the way. “Stronger” features groovy upright bass notes, an infectious xylophone melody, and filtered effects, making for a solid gorgeous piece. “Tonight” adds a bit of funk to the equation with a popping bass guitar, 80’s style funk synths, and a rhythmic clav motif completing the track’s feel good party vibe. “Tell Me Why” is another creative concoction as a snippet of a stellar male vocal croons over steady beats and relaxing piano. “Wandering” completes our sampler with compelling bright synths, a bumping low end, and a cool, appealing sway. Sit back and get lost in Evening Hours, the promising debut from Singularis who is certain to become a mainstay of the future downtempo scene.

All Good Funk Alliance - “Super awesome … takes me back.”
Moodymanc - “Great vibe about these tracks.”
Stereo 77 - “I love it, and I truly can’t say anything better than that.”
Inland Knights - “Great tracks … I’m liking them all.”
Ed Royal (Innvision Records) - “High class production with phat beats and a lot of feeling … love it!”
Quincy Jointz - “Very nice chill vibes. ‘Tonight’ and ‘4 Momz’ are my favourites.”
Brandon Bass (Hub City Music) - “Cold Busted stands for quality and this is no exception. Great release as usual.”
Basement Freaks - “I am chillin’ with these sounds!”
Erik The Red (Giant Step) - “Hot damn … this kid is only 16?!?! Beats are on point!”
Jamie Topham (CDPool) - “Cool blissed out riddims from Singularis and Cold Busted…. sweet and soulful jazz fusion downtempo goings on here.”
Kosmas Epsilon (Epsilon Trax) - “Heavy beats, especially from someone sixteen years old! Diggin’ this a lot.”
Andy Wilson (Ibiza Sonica) - “Loving this … perfect beach bar vibes and day time Sonica soundtrack.”
Al Bradley (Deadbeat Disco Radio Show) - “Wow, this is really something special - kind of St. Germain-esque in spirit, full of warmth, and also effortless quality. I can’t believe this is from a sixteen year old! Amazing.”

Available now from Beatport.