DJ, producer, vocalist & co-label head Antonia XM certainly has a strong image – think modern vampire gothic and you’ll be in the right ballpark.
Thankfully, this is matched by a really strong sound, as in her new single, ‘Sleep’.
Antonia writes: “The song captures the familiar feeling of being exhausted in body but wide awake in mind – and the strange desire to hold on to that state”.
A clean guitar riff and a strange, dark drone start the track, and we’re thrown straight into this dark, brooding atmosphere.
The driving bass ushers things along, and the vocal breathlessly delivers a subtle melody that I found wonderfully catchy and evocative. Antonia’s voice has bags of character – a smooth, warm tone and a relaxed delivery with a unique cadence.
“Ah-ah… I’m too tired to sleep tonight”
The snare sound is like a contained explosion – an industrial sound which is a nice contrast to the more rounded guitars & bass. Cool electronic atmospherics come and go – strange sounds fade in and out as static crackles. It all sounds so stylish and rich – a nice fusion of sounds, with perhaps some 80’s influences in there too…
Lovely rhythmic fills and changes in momentum mean the song is unpredictable right to the last note, and the space in the mix keeps everything laser-focused.
The perfect soundtrack to a late night – this one is made for headphones and moonlight.
‘Sleep’ is out now.
Written by Grubby
