In this exclusive sneak peek, we look at the recently released EP, Psy’Avia ft. Oliviya Nicole – Sunbird.
It’s always cool to hear something new. Recently we had that very opportunity to do so after getting the new EP, Sunbird.
Thins single contains 11 tracks which is different mixes of this track. Some tracks are just different mixes while others are remixes from artists like Omnick, Restriction 9, and Deckos to name a few.
The radio edit features a somewhat slower tempo and offers a wide array of synths. It has that retro vibe combined with a nice chilled out vibe to go along with that.
Meanwhile, the retro club edit offers a different bassline style. It also has a slightly faster tempo than the radio edit. In addition to that, it has the four to the floor beat that takes the track into a more synth pop or trance direction). Still, it retains the vibe of the radio edit.
The Omnicks 7 inch trance Club Remix does, of course, feature a trance-like sound to it. What this track also has is a nice layer of strings and long note synths which gives it a hint of ambient style music as well. The soft kick towards the beginning does help accentuate this aspect of the track. On the later part of the track, there is the introduction of synths with short, sliding notes. Respectively, the 12 inch trance club remix features a composition that is more closely associated with extended mixes of your typical trance track.
As for the Deckos remix, this version slows the tempo down a fair bit. It features multiple chorded synths and a couple of long sweeps as well. There is even a subtle piano part way through too.
Next up is the Restriction 9 7 inch remix. This track features an arpeggio within the synths. Some of those synths offer a gentle and pleasant vibe throughout. The 12 inch version of that remix is, of course, extended, but features some additional ambient sections. Interestingly enough, though, the vocals aren’t present in the 12 inch remix. It’s actually a bit surprising it’s not called a dub remix.
Moving on to the James Beachen 7 inch club house remix, the tempo is definitely faster. There is definitely some more ambient elements in this version. It’s interesting because the tempo would easily work for trance, but many of the elements in here is much more in line with house – maybe even taking cues from minimal house at that. The 12 inch club house remix is definitely an extended version and has a construction more closely found in your standard house track.
Another remix found in this single is the 11grams club house remix. This is probably the closest to trance a track can get to trance. It has that four to the floor drum kit driving the track and even has some progressive elements added to it. Some of the synths, however, give this a hint of influence from lounge music, though. So, I can definitely detect a note of creativity with the genre’s in the process.
One final track is the stripped edit. This version has some of the synths from the original track, but contains more strings that almost give this a very subtle hint of orchestral influence. Perhaps the really creative aspect comes from the lack of percussion elements or a drum kit. Instead, this track focuses exclusively on the vocals, synths, and other elements of the track instead.
One aspect that ties each mix together (with the one exception noted above) is the vocals and lyrics. It’s actually very easy to get lost in the other elements of these tracks to really pick up on the core elements of these lyrics. You might pick up on the themes of a bird flying through the sky while getting swept up into the overall sound of the track. The fact is that the track is about burnout.
As Psy’Aviah explained to us, the intention is to touch on the topic, but not be depressing about the subject. Instead, the idea is to have these tracks be more catchy with the underlying themes of being naive. The lyrics of the track discuss the addiction to work which leads to burnout and repeating the cycle of addiction, work, and burnout.
If you don’t get that right away, that, in fact, plays up the themes found in the track. It’s a bit meta in that regard that works surprisingly well in retrospect. Once you get the underlying themes of the track, you really get it and can appreciate the thought behind the intent of the lyrics.
Of course, we can’t get away from the vocals which generally work quite well. The accent really adds to that artistic flair throughout the track in a nice subtle way. It really completes the audio experience throughout the different mixes and remixes.
The release is forthcoming on some platforms, but you can check it out via bandcamp or YouTube.
Drew Wilson on Twitter: @icecube85 and Facebook.
