Photo Credit: Peter O’Sullivan
Having started the year off with his first release since his ‘Blossom’ EP in the form of the infectious back and forth single ‘Kappa’ alongside frequent collaborator Xadi, Daniel Adé is providing a display of his innate artistry from his lyricism and delivery to his production and songwriting skills. ‘Tonk!’ comes as the Barking-raised artist’s second EP, showcasing his growth and allowing us to see more of his wide-reaching ability.
Kicking off the project with his latest release ‘Shine!’, the musician sticks to a straight-forward flow over the sporadic, low-key production later fleshed out with heavy and direct 808s. Continuing to keep his lyricism stapled in story-telling, the eerie and dark production of ‘Pain!’ brings out his vivid imagination and holds a distinctive atmosphere with it’s cloudy-soundscapes.
Moving into the halfway point ‘Boy Wonder!’ brings a more upbeat instrumental with experimental, auto-tuned vocals lightening up the track, whilst Ade continues to flow over the beat with ease. ‘Hadid!’ encapsulates you within a grimey atmosphere, with its panning-soundscapes and detailed percussion whilst the London-based musician layers vocals to create a distinctive sound for an infectious hook.
Heading into the heavily-percussive, drill-infused ‘Trouble (Freestyle)’ the rapper continues to prove his lyrical competence, creating a stand out track within the EP. Coming as his final track of the project, ‘Uber Eats!’ brings an old-school feel with its high-pitched vocal sample before moving into a direct-808 ridden verse, allowing the final track to leave a lasting impression. With a solid year of releases and ‘Tonk!’ bringing a further look into the London artist’s musicality, it will be enticing to see where his sound takes him next.
