July 9, 2021
Written By Lou Watson
NIGHTLIFE INSTILL A NEW WAVE OF ALTERNATIVE MUSIC WITH THEIR DEBUT EP "NEW LOW"
Soul Punk band “nightlife” have just released their debut EP “new low” and rose to the occasion when the world called to a new wave of alternative music.
Nightlife consists of Hansel Romero (lead vocals), Julian Lofton (bass/guitars), and Isaiah Walker (drums/percussion) who’ve all met while roaming the alternative scene of Baltimore, MD. We’re familiar with the works of Hansel as they’ve helped with the creative direction and productions of music from Pinkshift and In the Mourning, but each of the members of nightlife have a large range of experience in music: from Reggae to Prog. Metal. They’ve truly collected all the infinity stones of genre to create something so unique and refreshing. Nightlife's mission is to exist in opposition to the status quo and bring the spirit of Black music into the view of the mainstream, placing groove, feel, and flair at the center of the new alternative movement.
Nightlife consists of Hansel Romero (lead vocals), Julian Lofton (bass/guitars), and Isaiah Walker (drums/percussion) who’ve all met while roaming the alternative scene of Baltimore, MD. We’re familiar with the works of Hansel as they’ve helped with the creative direction and productions of music from Pinkshift and In the Mourning, but each of the members of nightlife have a large range of experience in music: from Reggae to Prog. Metal. They’ve truly collected all the infinity stones of genre to create something so unique and refreshing. Nightlife's mission is to exist in opposition to the status quo and bring the spirit of Black music into the view of the mainstream, placing groove, feel, and flair at the center of the new alternative movement.
The EP begins with the title track, and it came in like lighting; electric. We’re met with soothing synths that quickly escalate into loud, heavy, yet bouncy, rhythm sections. It then winds down to a more groovy 70s disco-esque sound. This pattern continues throughout the song, making it catchy and alluring. The addition of the horns near the ending of the song really brings it all together as a cohesive tune. New low really sets the mood for the sound and direction of this band. It’s literally what I would see as being the soundtrack of night life. The grittiness of the guitar in partnership with the electricity of the synths, horns, and extremely sexy bass aligns perfectly with the pretty neon lights of the clubs, that is ultimately met with the rancid aftertaste of a good night.. It’s almost poetic.
The second track, “all i know” feels like a whole 180 from the prior track. We went from having a raging dance party to having an existential crisis in the bathroom mirror. All jokes aside, this track is probably my favorite from this small collection. Though this track is beautifully produced in all its aspects: instrumentally, vocally, and everything in-between, Hansel’s vocals carry this track heavily, and their range is insane. In the beginning we’re met with more soft, and serene vocals and as the song progresses, it flourishes into something more lusty and emotionally packed. This track, unlike “new low”, feels more like R&B meets Hard Rock, rather than Disco meets Hard Rock. The clashing of different genres throughout this EP kept me entranced.
And to wrap it up, we’re gracefully gifted a cover of Lonely No More by Rob Thomas (of Matchbox Twenty) in which they named “lonely.” A solid choice to give their audience a song that (most) folks their age are familiar with. In my opinion they blew this out of the water, and dare I say… It sounds even better than the original. This rendition seems smoother and more natural. The guitar is given more room to show off in this version, while the other is bombarded with a hip-hop/electronic backtrack. Also, as mentioned before, Hansel’s vocals are just pleasantly smooth and satin, making everything 10x better.
The second track, “all i know” feels like a whole 180 from the prior track. We went from having a raging dance party to having an existential crisis in the bathroom mirror. All jokes aside, this track is probably my favorite from this small collection. Though this track is beautifully produced in all its aspects: instrumentally, vocally, and everything in-between, Hansel’s vocals carry this track heavily, and their range is insane. In the beginning we’re met with more soft, and serene vocals and as the song progresses, it flourishes into something more lusty and emotionally packed. This track, unlike “new low”, feels more like R&B meets Hard Rock, rather than Disco meets Hard Rock. The clashing of different genres throughout this EP kept me entranced.
And to wrap it up, we’re gracefully gifted a cover of Lonely No More by Rob Thomas (of Matchbox Twenty) in which they named “lonely.” A solid choice to give their audience a song that (most) folks their age are familiar with. In my opinion they blew this out of the water, and dare I say… It sounds even better than the original. This rendition seems smoother and more natural. The guitar is given more room to show off in this version, while the other is bombarded with a hip-hop/electronic backtrack. Also, as mentioned before, Hansel’s vocals are just pleasantly smooth and satin, making everything 10x better.
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Overall, nightlife is a coin toss that will always put you on the winning team. They’re so unique, and aren’t afraid to bounce from one genre to another, and absolutely crush it when they do. If you’re looking for something along the lines of Michael Jackson meets Don Broco, Ne-Yo meets Of Mice and Men, or The Weeknd meets ISSUES, then this band is perfect for you. Best part of all, there’s no way you won’t be having a great time at one of their gigs. You can either throw a party, or mosh in the pit: or both!
nightlife is currently working on a follow-up EP to release in the fall, and are planning to develop a full-length project in 2022 after that. We’re so excited for the future of this rad band. |
