VEIL is taking experimental bass music to another level with her debut album, HIGH VOLTAGE, a delightfully disorienting exploration of new sounds and frequencies.
The album comes with a meticulous storyline, which is brought to life by its central character, AZAL. Each track takes us deeper into her journey through what VEIL calls “THE HOLLOW,” a space where time and reality are bent according to AZAL’s will.
Beyond the music, VEIL worked alongside 5/9 and Towr Media to translate AZAL’s “voyage” into an entrancing audiovisual show, which she presented at Rezz Rocks VI back in August.
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That voyage kicks off with “RESPAWN,” where experimental bass opens a portal that sends you directly to THE HOLLOW with AZAL. “YU” follows, plunging us deep into the universe with our central character through distorted bass that sounds off with the urgency of sirens.
Ensuing tracks “MOVE FAST AND BREAK THINGS” (with HerShe) and “BACK BACK” convey AZAL taking THE HOLLOW by storm as emphatic, stomping beats and commanding bass signal a sort of power within the realm that she can use to her advantage.
“00:00” then indicates a sharp pivot into hypnotically fluid drum & bass territory. Though relatively gentle, the track maintains an ominous nature, warning us not to settle into the bucket of any one genre.
Though seemingly a respite from the chaos, “5.9 [INTERLUDE]” represents “a malware code that infects the system in THE HOLLOW,” according to VEIL. It also doubles as a tribute to the graphic team at 5/9, who helped her formulate the album’s audiovisual experience.
“OMEGA” (with Digital Vagabond) and “EVENT HORIZON” then slowly reintroduce THE HOLLOW, their downtempo beats cultivating a newfound explorative caution that stands out against the album’s unabashed fervor.
Following re-entry to the realm, “ALL OF EVERYTHING FOR FOREVER” sees a hair-raising voice asking, “Did I create this?” before VEIL uncorks a warped drop. The uptempo “OVERLOAD” follows suit and signals a transformation of THE HOLLOW, which was precipitated by the virus introduced by the album’s interlude.
It seems, at the end of the journey, that the unfortunate “malware” was an essential ingredient to the album’s success.
“HIGH VOLTAGE is about embracing creativity without restrictions,” VEIL explained. “I wanted each track to represent a different side of my production style and my love for multi-genre experiences, while staying true to the energy and emotion behind the concept of AZAL’s journey. She is traversing a space where she bends reality, and the album’s sound reflects that feeling.”
Listen to HIGH VOLTAGE below and find the new album on streaming platforms here.
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