Pheel. Artist Spotlight: A Spotify Downtempo Discovery
A friend recently put me on their Spotify Duo. As an Apple Music user, I was thrilled! My Apple Music library has gotten over crowded and disorganized, so having a second platform available to me is a game changer. This is because Spotify’s recommendation algorithm is leagues ahead. Playlists with recommended songs begin shortly after you play through an album/queue. This quickly diversifies your library and access to new artists. This feature is how I discovered one of my new favorite producers: Pheel.
The music of Pheel. stands out. He is a prominent member of All:Lo Collective alongside parkbreezy and Diana Neculcea. Pheel. belongs to the same class of atmospheric, Downtempo Dubstep as Tipper, Jade Cicada and Of The Trees. His tracks blend hip-hop, Downtempo, and lo-fi dubstep perfectly. Commonly known as Trip Hop or Glitch Hop. This creates tracks that are simultaneously as heavy as they are chill, while sometimes featuring guest MCs. His newest album siuslaw came out last month and is a great introduction to his discography and the world of Downtempo.
“Listen.” is the first pheel. song that I was recommended. This song is the introduction to siuslaw and a total vibe. It starts out slow with steady synth and warbling frequencies. Light hip-hop drum patterns and grumbling basslines sputter as the track progresses. Record scratches and clap effects also add to the hip-hop notes. The chill beat features plenty of bass, without being too overtly heavy. “Listen.” marches on with deep basslines and atmospheric sounds, gracefully fading out. This song features all of the elements that make a pheel. song GREAT. What an incredible first impression!
“Afterglow” is the second pheel. song that I discovered. This release can be found on the 2023 album, echo chamber. The album’s Halloween release date is a humorous contrast to the laid back nature of it. “Afterglow” features crystalline synth, hip-hop drums, and a relaxing tempo. Subtlety is the name of the game when it comes to this genre. And “Afterglow” is no exception. This song captures a sort of quiet euphoria that is hard to find. Intense and calming all at once. The bass takes on a steady ripple and blends nicely into the background. Every subtle element of “Afterglow.” comes together into one effective package. “Listen.” was the one that started me off, but “afterglow” is when I knew I was onto something.
Some honorable pheel. track mentions include “somethin this way.”, “say cheese. (feat. chez)”, and the K+Lab collaboration; “Squander.”
Pheel. is the perfect introduction to the genres of Trip Hop and Downtempo. His chill, laid back beats are a great stepping stone to more eccentric acts like Tipper and Jade Cicada. Spotify is a real one for recommending this incredible artist. I found EXACTLY what I was looking for and cannot wait to hear more.
