Los Angeles-based producer SNBRN, aka Kevin Chapman, introduces his second full-length album, The Old Days, via Ultra Records.
SNBRN shares, “With over two years in the making, this album is an accumulation of my emotions and stories throughout that time. My approach to this process came so much differently than ‘Solé;’ which was done in Tulum. This time, there was no running away. I was stuck at my house having to pick up the pieces. It was something of a happy accident that put all of the right people and vocalists in my lap. It was go-time and no holding back. The writing process became self-healing, working with family members and close friends. ‘The Old Days’ plays into those thoughts we have of a better time, an old relationship, lost loved ones, and just dwelling on the past. I had to remind myself to keep going and create the next chapter of my life. The story is never over. I hope there’s a little something for everyone in this album and that it can help others as much as it’s helped myself.”
The Old Days features collaborations with Discrete, Tudor, Burko, and Sofia Karlberg, among others. With more than 80 million streams and over one million monthly listeners on Spotify, SNBRN has performed at the world’s elite festivals, including Coachella, Electric Daisy Carnival, and Ultra.
Encompassing 19-tracks, The Old Days begins with the poignant “a title track (Intro),” which segues seamlessly into a gently gorgeous piano intro to “Old Days,” a low-slung, gleaming house tune riding a pushing rhythm.
Entry points include “Echoes” with Kudu Blue, rolling out on a contagious rhythm topped by a dazzling piano and evocative vocals. There’s a shiny alluring quality to this track, the result of the humming bassline and pulsating orchestral layers of sound.
A personal favorite because of its shimmering, creamy flow, “When We’re Awake” highlights the talents of Discrete and Tudor. Whereas on “Paperweight,” the luscious, translucent vocals of Sofia Karlberg imbue the tune with delicious, dreamy textures as radiant harmonies add dimension.
Madelen Duke struts her wonderfully enchanting voice on “Crossed Lines,” a track brimming with percolating-lite washes and a driving cadence. Perhaps the best track on the album, “Why Are You Here,” featuring Violet Days, travels on a pulsing beat as potent yet velvety vocals give the lyrics wickedly probing timbres.
Another gem of a song, “A La Prochaine” opens on a soft, melancholic piano topped by sad strings and emerging trembling textures. Slowly building, the tune gathers resonance and surging energy, culminating in a gorgeously haunting ending.
Splendidly conceived, written, and arranged, The Old Days conveys breathtaking nostalgia, profound emotions, and cap-a-pie sonic passion.
Follow SNBRN Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | Spotify