A lushly absorbing sound consumes on “california sun,” a recent track from Cartography, the solo project of Trevor Misplay. A soothing soundscape glows right away, as hazy atmospherics meld with a steady rhythmic pulse as a warming vocal presence emerges. Lyrical references to a “California sun” play with compelling yearning, bolstered by gentle guitar twangs in the second half, which fade as the calming bass pulse and crackling effects close the track out in compelling form. “california sun” is an enveloping, vibe-y success from Cartography.
Misplay, who also works in film and TV, elaborates further on the track:
“I made this song in just two short sessions, a huge step forward for me as a producer. In the past, I tended to overcomplicate things: too many elements, too many lyrics. I pushed so hard that the music started to feel insincere. After taking a break from music the past couple of years, working in film and TV sound for comedy folks like Conner O’Malley, Edy Modica, and Jo Firestone. I came back with what feels like a brand new perspective. Film sound design sharpened my ear for texture, tone, and dimensionality, and now I want to make music more freely, with less emphasis on lyrics and more focus on feel.”
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This and other tracks featured this month can be streamed on the updating Obscure Sound’s ‘Emerging Singles’ Spotify playlist.
