If you haven't noticed, the winds of change continue
to blow strong in the world of music. While before, an artist seeking to create
something full in scope needed to be backed by a band or an orchestra, they now
have the wonders of technology before them that allow unprecedented access into
new musical realms. Add to that the fact that many of those artists, such as
Avicii and David Guetta, are taking those breakthroughs and combining them
with compelling, and danceable rhythms, giving the electronic dance music (EDM)
genre a fresh burst of life. Now, rising artist Tristan Eckerson is set to toss
his hat into the ring with his debut EP, appropriately titled Dance Craze.
Eckerson is a classically trained pianist who had
played in bands of multiple genres, trying his hand at jazz, blues, and funk as
well as punk and pop. Artistic restlessness kept him moving to and fro, trying
new musical textures here and there but the one constant was his desire to get
people moving. And when he enrolled in a Master's program for Music
Production and Sound Design for visual media, he became enthralled with the
world of electronic dance music.
"I had spent my entire life playing keyboards
and writing music with a pencil and paper, and suddenly I was introduced to
this crazy world of electronic music production, and suddenly I could write for
an entire orchestra! It changed everything for me," he shares.
Inspired, Eckerson set out to harness those newfound
production skills, combining his love of the Dance music genre together with
his eclectic musical past, classical and modern flair coming together in an
infectious and energetic mixture. And it's done so in a way that is fully
intentional.
"Having spent most of my life playing
keyboards in bands and listening to all kinds of Dance Music, it wasn't until
after college that I really started to get into Electronic Music at all,"
Eckerson offers. "Once I did, I got hooked, and then when I learned
how to produce music electronically, it was all over for me. Ever since then I've
been on a mission to create Electronic Dance Music that's full of energy and is
danceable, but at the same time is filled with musicality. I want to create
Electronic Dance Music that is accessible to people that don't necessarily like
EDM. There is so much "Dance Music" out there, created in different
ways, from all over the world. I want to broaden the sense of what Electronic
Dance Music really is, and incorporate more original ideas, influences, and
emotions into my songs."
It’s that vision that fuels the three tracks that
make up the whole of Dance Craze. Eckerson kicks things off with the throbbing pulse
of “Life,” carefully adding various textures and layers that ebb and flow,
highlighting them with digitized vocal elements that bring some added nuance to
the proceedings. It’s relentless pace brings listeners into a trance of sorts
while the title track builds an accessible bridge into a full on dance mode.
Boasting bright synth tones, vocal harmonies, and an infectious groove, its
tailor made for the club and is easily the highlight of the three. Lastly, with
“POLY,” Eckerson lets his diversity shine, bringing Afro and Latin swagger to
his beats and constructing a template of Moombahton-meets-House-and-Techno that
is uniquely compelling. There’s a frenetic build to the track, raging guitar pressing
the song to a bloodlust of sorts that carries a theatrical tone and ends things
on an interesting note.
It’s somewhat
difficult to judge an artist’s overall creativity and potential in just three
songs but, with these three on the Dance
Craze EP, Tristan Eckerson makes a strong case for his future. And while
the jury is still out on the overall accessibility of these tunes, those who do
enjoy a healthy dose of EDM in their listening diet will find plenty to move to
here.
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