NotLö - Speakeasy EP Review
- Sound Boy Ent.
- Apr 16, 2021
- 3 min read
Living in a city like Denver, Colorado that is jam packed with talented artists, it is no easy task to separate yourself from the pack. Over the past year, NotLö has started to do exactly that with her unique take on the sounds that helped propel UK sound system music into a global phenomena. Her latest release on Truth's Deep Dark & Dangerous entitled “Speakeasy EP” has brought us what is sure to be some of the sounds of the summer. With the buzz around the return of live shows and festivals, it feels like some new life is being breathed back into our music communities again, and with sounds like this to christen sound systems that have been in storage for the better part of a year, it is sure to be a summer to remember. NotLö has also collaborated with the likes of Wreckno, Veil, Sky Suite, and Vibe Emissions to name a few and has had releases on Wakaan and Clozee’s curated compilation album Emergence on Gravitas Recordings. I would also check out her self releases available for purchase on her Bandcamp, a lot of hidden gems there.
NotLö finds her inspiration from artists like Truth, Alix Perez, Clozee and many others, she also tries to impart the emotions she feels when surrounded by nature and from traveling into her music and it really comes through in her sound. Some people find dubstep a little stale at times and some people find left-field bass a little too experimental to get a dance going proper mad, and I think NotLö does a really good job at drawing the best elements from both types of music. With driving bass lines and impressive drums to act as a foundation for her creative use of different sounds not usually heard in the 140 realm; she really does set herself apart from other producers in the U.S. Dubstep space. If you listen through NotLö’s discography (highly recommended) you can hear her progression through different color palates of sound. NotLö told me that at first she wasn’t sure which direction to take her project and that she just made music that she loved and sound system music, specifically 140 was always one of her favorite genres and that is really where she came into her own and found her groove. What's exciting for me is that NotLö told me “I will always produce low end music that pumps sound systems. It is my absolute favorite for sure, I will always be applying that aspect of my sound in my project but I am always looking at other ways to apply my sound.” NotLö is not done trying to innovate and experiment with her sound and I cannot wait to see what she cooks up next, but lets jump into this release!
This EP gets off to quick start with the title track “Speakeasy”, that smacks you in the face with walloping drums and a sinister bass line; it really sets the tone for the clandestine activities that are about to take place inside this Speakeasy. Now that we are inside and sitting at there bar, the second track “Remainder” is like your first drink being a whiskey neat, it takes the edge off and reinforces that if you like dubstep you have come to the correct Speakeasy for a good time. As our night winds down “After Hours” has a soothing intro that makes you think last call is right around the corner only for a tidal wave of bass to hit letting you know that the afters have just begun and the night is still young. With a mean switch up on the second drop this tune is one you just play all the way out. The Penultimate tune entitled “Limits”has really punchy drums that slice right through the heavy bass and acts as a perfect Segway to the conclusion of this EP. “Screening” the final song on the release really shows off some of the more unique sounds that NotLö throws into her tunes. If this is the “Speakeasy EP” than this track makes for a perfect night cap and really hammers home the fact that this is NotLö’s Speakeasy and we are all just dancing in it.
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Written by: Chum
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