Mix of The Week: EKALI - Awakening Mix. 5
Nathan Shaw, known by his stage name Ekali, is renowned for hard hitting, future bass bangers. He has cultivated a community of fans and collaborators alike, all hooked on the expectation that each track released will evoke feelings of enjoyment through its intensity. As is the nature of modern EDM, recent tracks like 'Blood Moon' deliver the goods, three times over with its unique buildups and climatic drops. Not to pigeonhole an artist for their strength, however, Ekali progresses towards a new direction with a more reflective mix series, aptly called Awakening.
The fifth installment of Awakening is a 40-minute journey blazing through 30 artists’ original tracks, remixes and edits. His diverse mix opens with a downtrodden 8-bit tribute to the late superstar producer Avicii, that combines his familiar backbeats with an acapella that appropriately captures the mood. From the get-go, the listener is prepared for a sound expedition that is more reflective of other collaborators and influences, rather than his own; yet each transition, the track selection and subtle edits bear the mark of Ekali’s signature.
It's this attention to detail, which Ekali hones to select current prominent producers including Mr. Carmack, San Holo and Sam Gellaitry, that showcases Ekali’s their more introspective elements instead of cashing-in on their famous beat variations and breakdowns. Thus, choosing harmonic production over erratic up-tempo music, results in the inclusion of heartfelt lyricism.
Nearing the conclusion of this mini-mix brings us to one question... would a nostalgic electronic mix be complete without Deadmau5's Raise Your Weapon? Along with two other throwback gems in the form of Flume's Insane and Porter Robinson's Flicker, Ekali is going for the heartstrings. In this manner, Ekali reveals his progression as an artist through understanding what the audience wants, while also referencing his major influences past and present. Five parts into the Awakening saga, and it looks like he is only just getting started.
For the full track listing and download check out https://runthetrap.com/2018/06/25/ekali-awakening-mix-5-new/
