Based out of Los Angeles, California, rapper Trevour Amunga has been coming up with some great music lately! Describing his own style as ‘iridiscent yet colourless’, his latest 3-piece EP, “Akira’s Blues” is a reflection of self brought to you with smooth flows, catchy beats, and infectious hooks. Keep reading for my thoughts!
The EP starts out with “Candy Paint”, a reflection of self, and of his past lyrical themes. Citing that he’s ‘tired of being broke’, it’s an appeal— with melancholic, introspective lyrics, all laid atop a lively, synth pad-heavy beat that lays down the foundation excellently. Trevour’s flows are smooth and long-drawn with him leaning heavily into a mix of straight-four and swingy triplet flows, the ad-libs contribute a whole level of character into this track. The refrain sections between the verses are wafty with their reverbs; and the breakdown transitions lean into half-sung sections, completing the track rather elegantly.
Checkout the latest news: Watch: Jung Kook of BTS Sets the Stage Ablaze with Epic Performance and Global Solo Debut
“My Cousin Housee”, the second track from “Akira’s Blues”, is a heavier, downtempo number with darker energy, particularly highlighted by the energy down low in the sub-basses. There is much flair in the track, especially from the acoustic guitar lines, as well as the fluttery woodwinds in the background— all completed with Trevour’s vocals, which take on a gentler, not-as-technical flow, aiding the sing-ability of this song.
The EP closes with “Brixton 3d”, where the sampling work shines, coupled with the “The Box” by Roddy Ricch-esque 808s that have great grunt and distortion down low. The flow takes on a more aggressive flow, perfectly playing into the motivational theme in the lyrics, as Trevour raps that it’s a new day, and we ain’t got time; and his vocal processing in the pre-choruses takes on an aggressive, driven-through-lots-of-gain hype and character.
The production efforts on “Akira’s Blues” are the easy standout, playing second fiddle to Trevour’s flows perfectly; the energy rising with the lyrics, and mellowing with the refrains. Bring this with a mix that has character and variance amidst the tracks, and it is a showcase of good engineering and production overall. There is also much to appreciate about the sampling and ad-lib work on this album, and it’s a refreshing listen to even the discerning listener.
Check out “Akira’s Blues” by Trevour Amunga here!
Check out our Spotify playlists.
Check out our YouTube channel for music reviews, playlists, podcasts, and more!
Promotional Disclaimer: The content in this post has been sponsored by the artist, label, or PR representative to help promote their work.
