Plus with Nigel Hood and Monogem Contemplate the Balance Between Integrity and Success on the Urgent Darkwave Hip-Hop Track “The End (El Final)”

Plus, photo by Davy Greenberg

Plus assembled a team of collaborators in Nige Hood and Monogem to create the dusky, urgent and moody track “The End (El Final).” The arc of pulsing synth melodies and luminous drones alongside beats that feel like the percussion equivalent of call and response frame a story of someone who struggles with the temptations of not just everyday life to put you off your hussle but also the trappings of success that can be seductive with people flattering you and pretending to be your friend all while looking for their own opportunity in crawling to the top of whatever industry you can name because there is that unnecessary competitive streak and aspect of to most important endeavors whether it needs to exist or not. The song is about maintaining a healthy sense of self and not overfeed the ego and stick to strong foundational principles. It is about the hustle of being an entrepreneur and/or an artist and the precariousness of balancing integrity and authenticity with success and maybe let a little of the latter go if it means you can be true to what you know is best. Musically the track is somewhere between commercial mainstream hip-hop in production but more experimental in the soundscaping bordering on darkwave for an effect that it sounds like something you’d hear in an epic Michael Mann crime drama even though it isn’t itself about a life in crime. Truly a song for night driving. Listen to “The End (El Final)” on Spotify and follow Plus at the links provided.

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MONOGEM’s Latest Single “Soy Lo Que Soy” Is, Downtempo, Latin Synth Pop Homage to Mother Culture

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MONOGEM, photo by Avery Wheless

The new MONOGEM single “Soy Lo Que Soy” is a sultry electronic pop homage to one’s roots and heritage. The accents of synth arpeggio, shakers and Latin rhythms with the Spanish language lyrics (the title translates to “I Am What I Am”) defies easy categorization. It’s a downtempo song with a sound palette different from what we’re used to hearing in that style of music. It’s also a break from the lush and hazy, soulful synth pop that MONOGEM has released thus far. But as with her other songs, on “Soy Lo Que Soy” MONOGEM makes expert use of space. The vocals sit just right in the mix, the aforementioned arpeggios are quick and just as quickly decay in fast echo. The songwriting gives you the room to take it in on its terms and your own, meeting you partway by leaving the emotional and sonic space in its dynamics. The song was inspired by MONOGEM’s abuela Hortensia to never stop speaking Spanish and holding onto the culture. And thus aside from the language in the song and the touchstones of Latin music, its deeply introspective tones and sonic economy suggests some interesting directions of groth for the artist. Listen to “Soy Le Que Soy” on Soundcloud and look for MONOGEM’s full-length So Many Ways due out October 18. Follow MONOGEM at the links below.

monogem.com
soundcloud.com/monogem
twitter.com/Monogemlovesyou
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instagram.com/monogem