Jade Cicada’s new EP, Lunar Fade, is a masterclass in blending the natural with the digital.
Arriving two years after his Pressure Gamut album, the project confirms that the NY-born, Massachusetts-based producer is back to captivate fans with his boundary-pushing sound. Technical precision and raw emotion effortlessly collide throughout the EP.
“The EP artwork is a reimagining of what my current studio looks like, surrounded by gear, screens and speakers, and blasting off into space with cool sounds. My creative mindset was the same as it always has been: Does this feel new and fresh to me? Does this feel like a step forward in my production journey? If both those answers are yes, then it’s usually something I can feel proud of showing the world.”
Dave Arcade
Every track on Lunar Fade feels like a sonic journey through a dense forest, where glitchy textures collide with magical, organic sound design. The adventure begins with the titular track, in which cascading synths set the tone and evoke a stroll through enchanting woodlands.
Next, “Goober Time” transports us to an alternative universe where the wilderness transforms into an alien-like atmosphere via shards of otherworldly bass. “Froggy Style” then returns us to Earth with bouncy, swamp-inspired growls that emulate the chirps of forest frogs. The track captures the chaotic harmony of nature, a theme that becomes more evident the deeper we dive into Cicada’s soundscapes.
Lunar Fade concludes with “Frame Shift,” a shimmering, atmospheric track that beams with analog warmth. Its wavy, melodic qualities feel like the euphoric end of a hike through the deep woods, with rays of sunlight practically carved into the song’s arrangement.
“[“Frame Shift”] was heavily inspired by beat scene type music of the early 2010s,” Cicada explained. “Sunclef’s 2011 tune ‘Droski’ is definitely the biggest influence in the direction of ‘Frame Shift.’ I’ve been wanting to make music in that style but with a heavier bass/dance production to it for a long time and a goal of mine is to make more melodically and harmonically driven boom-bappy bangers like this one.”
Cicada is now set to embark on his “Break the Hold” tour starting January 17th, with stops in Austin, Detroit, Portland and more. Support includes EPROM, Resonant Language, Cool Customer and more, along with visuals by Tenorless and Laia. Tickets are available here.
Listen to Lunar Fade below and find the new EP on streaming services here.
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