REMY is most delighted to premiere the debut EP What's Next? from Wexford hip-hop artist Awkward Z. which is officially released today. Real name Alex Potgieter, Awkward Z. released a trio of singles last year, 'Secrets of Love', 'Wildin'' and 'Diamonds', the latter of which features on his first extended play. 'Wildin'' was my first introduction to his music, a slightly outrageously catchy 3 minutes of chilled hip-hop grooves which comfortably made my Top 50 Irish Singles of 2018, not long after its release I was lucky to catch his performance at Hard Working Class Heroes. Sometimes instinct kicks in about certain acts, when you step back and observe everything as a whole you can envision very bright futures. For me those early feelings are cemented now with the release of What's Next?
Major mellow tones ripple through opener 'Rookies' feat. RikShaw, who manages to drop you slowly down to the bottom of the lake so disarming is his rap vocal. A tripped out beat and fizzing electronic sounds drive the slow mechanical rhythm of the song determinedly across the finishing line. Single 'Diamonds' is highly gratifying, each listen is like stacking brick upon brick, gradually you reach maximum pleasure. It's a track and sound that appeals massively to my inner soul-pop / hip-hop self. That sleepy keyboard sequence floats unassumingly in the background while Z. delivers a bone fide high-tempo rap that gives way more feels than it takes.
'Switchin' Sides' (feat. Suchapapi) recalls early U.K. grime with it's blurred sub-bass vibrating incessantly alongside a jerking off-kilter beat. The swift pace of the rap delivery creates a claustrophobic and disorientating jam. A more serious and frustrated side emerges on 'Clean Raps', dealing with the narcissism, self-imposed mind-control and shallow void of self-promotion in the digital age. With strong trap strands flowing through the track aided by piano and a deep muted bass drum, Awkward Z.'s vocal takes on a lamenting tone, beyond caring almost, combined the theme is fittingly matched to the mood of the music.
What's Next? really shines a spotlight on the diversity of sub-genres Awkward Z. manages to cover on this E.P., freely skipping between pop-oriented moments on the likes of 'Diamonds', and on into more fringe spaces as we heard on 'Switchin' Sides'. Balancing the dark with the bright thematically, a creative hunger that will only grow stronger and more unique shows huge promise already in the work of Awkward Z..
What's Next? is available to stream / download on all major platforms from today.
