The solo debut EP from Atlanta-based artist Rex Novi, Prologue is a captivating success — seamlessly venturing across ominous pop buzzing, fervent hip-hop precision, and beat poetry headiness. Originally from Memphis, the songwriter and engineer embraces an eclectic array of influences, which span from film composers to sound designers.
A drive to perform ignited the release’s creative process. “Prologue came along because I wanted songs to perform,” Rex Novi explains. “I was working on a project named Burial at Sea that was no where close to release, and I felt weird performing songs that were far from done.” The result is an EP that represents the first of a three-part series, finding unity in introspective lyrics with biting edge while diversifying in their aesthetical forays.
A spoken-word poetic prowess emanates on opening track “Something Old.” A minimalist blaring complements lyrics that invoke a sense of personal in-between. “Dramatically I’m sentenced somewhere old but somewhere new, what am I supposed to do?” the vocals let out, then moving into descriptions of an awakening “heavy truth” that resembles a skeleton rising from the dead. “Terror!” continues themes of foreboding awakening, though within another stylistic realm entirely — thoroughly enthralling with a buzzing electro-pop griminess and infectious vocal drive, bolstered by a delectably ghostly title-touting refrain.
Perspectives on a digital, content-driven world consume on “Learn,” where haunting pulses pleas to “chill the fuck out” follow warnings of “online ghouls” and reminders that “this life not a movie, this ain’t Hulu or Tubi.” It feels like an invigorating call to those with main character syndrome, and anyone all-consumed in general by fantasy. Prologue is a consistently riveting success from Rex Novi, succeeding in a range of stylistic pursuits within consistently artful lyrical entrancement.
