adorn by MKSTN | Review

MKSTN’s “Adorn” is an indietronica and chillwave combination perfect for those of us who cannot exactly place what they are feeling, but know they are feeling something…just in time for a moody and introspective summer.

This track calls for the listener’s attention immediately as an isolated, submerged leading vocal sounding as if it is six feet deep in an ocean starts off the song. There is a dreamlike quality to the vocal delivery, a little bit breathy and distant. This emptiness is not left to linger for very long when a surging drum pattern comes out from the wayside–my personal favorite feature of the song. These drums up the intensity of the song: transcendent and wavy vocals are brought to a grounded reality with hard-hitting cymbals and snares. A strong drum fill leads up to the chorus, a great touch to add to the general story-arc of the song.

The drums are just the beginning of the multi-layered aspects of the song: different vocal tracts overlap over themselves, especially during the bridge, and an ever-present omnichord maintains the gleaming, shimmering quality of the song. These different facets of “Adorn” do not overwhelm the listener, thanks to a consistent drum pattern and the steady bass, keeping a secure musical pulse. While “Adorn” can physically only be listened to through one’s ears, it is a listening experience that captures more than just that: it immerses all five of the senses.

“Adorn” is another single in preparation for MKSTN’s upcoming album CONTENT: a record focused on interaction between people and the endless stream of digital media available to us. MKSTN is a producer and now for this album, a full lead vocalist for the whole of the project. Before his musical career, MKSTN was a dancer, making mixes on a computer. Music was still instrumental to his dance calling: he choreographed to trip-hop and electronic music, influences heard in “Adorn.” After an injury, he invested in professional DJ equipment, leading to the birth of unique-to-him and dream-esque songs.

Written by: Inari Gerhart