Chicago electronic artist Elma’s first label-backed EP, Spiral, is a strong debut that teeters on apprehension and melancholy. The fourth release from the artist warps together heavy synths, keys, and slow-pounding drums to create a shadowy, gothic sound. Produced with support from the label, Sinkhole Sounds, this instrumental release experiments with more space-age noise than Elma’s previous efforts. This EP follows two years working and touring with electro-pop project, Drama Moth.
Beginning with the surreal track, “i’d rather do my drugs alone”, the warped introduction sets the tone. The fast-paced beats continue to climb, taking listeners on what feels like a journey into the stars. Once there, the second track, “fake light”, slows down, then builds while synths grow. There’s a certain anxiety that pursues, reflecting the turbulent emotional state of the artist. The third track, “buying red lighters in hopes of dying young”, possesses a more hopeful sound before going on to the next song, “i’d love to stay, but i have to leave”. This track begins with soft keys before laying heavy on synths and strings - the sort of music to walk through a graveyard to, or take part of a seance. The pulsating track, “spill your wishes”, expands upon the gloom and uneasiness heard throughout the release. The EP closes with the final song “zoid/timeline of distress”, circling back to a leisurely, pensive pace that ends almost abruptly. Tracks including, “fake light”, and “i’d rather do my drugs alone”, are reminiscent of early electronica from the 1970’s and ‘80’s, including acts such as Cabaret Voltaire. Meanwhile, “buying red lighters in hopes of dying young”, and “zoid/timeline of distress”, are more contemporary in sound and similar to today’s darkwave and witch house genre.
This project showcases the artists expanding, darker tone as they dealt with the troubles and turmoil of addiction while gaining solo experience with a local label for the first time. It is a solid solo collection that goes deeper into the void in comparison to earlier releases and collaborations. Spiral is out now on Spotify, Soundcloud, YouTube, Bandcamp, and Apple Music. You can access Spiral on all streaming platforms at https://solo.to/elma.
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