DECEMBER 18, 2020
Written By Emily Harris
NO SHADE DEBUTS GENRE-BREAKING EP, "BROKEN DOWN"
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NO SHADE is here with his EP Broken Down! Long Island native, CJ Arey has created and self-produced the EP that reaches your ears today. Seeking to create music without any genre labels attached, NO SHADE creates music that is authentically him- blurring the lines between the stereotypes within the industry. Inspired by the works of Machine Gun Kelly and Pierce the Veil, his influences are as diverse as his sound. In writing the six track EP, NO SHADE hopes to bring listeners on a journey- to a place where he writes his songs. He wants listeners to feel their emotions while his sonics boom in the background.
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The first track of the EP is “Comeback.” The track is nothing short of dirty and gritty guitar riffs. The track starts off with a twenty second long instrumental- including blaring drums bound to transport you to another dimension. The vocals transport you back to the early 2000’s while still interweaving the new wave of screamo in the back. The chorus soars and the instrumentals swell behind it. It’s the class pop punk sound with the new twist.
The second track, “Alone,” goes in a different direction sonically. This has the influence of Machine Gun Kelly throughout it- with low and slow verses with a rap-infused chorus. The track still features the heavy instrumentals known to be NO SHADE, but with a totally different sonic atmosphere surrounding it.
The second track, “Alone,” goes in a different direction sonically. This has the influence of Machine Gun Kelly throughout it- with low and slow verses with a rap-infused chorus. The track still features the heavy instrumentals known to be NO SHADE, but with a totally different sonic atmosphere surrounding it.
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“Fading Away,” the third track, has a bedroom pop vibe to it. It has an overall chill vibe, but the lyrics are aggressive- a slight contrast to the music behind it. With a pre-chorus in a whisper, the chorus hits hard. The lyrics are brutally honest and something any listener can find a piece of themselves in. After the chorus hits the song songs- becoming louder- and grittier. This change allows the vulnerability of the song to sour.
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“Stay Too Long” follows in suit. Its creative use of voice modifiers allows the darkness of the track, and overall EP, to shine through. The chorus is the most unique- someone loud and quiet at the same time. The guitar and drums create a perfect casket for the lyrics to lie within. Its chilling to hear the chorus- especially for the second time when you expect it. It is my favorite from the EP (if you couldn’t tell).
Fifth track, “Suffice,” has a heavier rap influence than previous tracks. Still, it features the edgy guitars NO SHADE has perfected throughout his EP. This song is a testament of blending on genres. There is no clean cut way to describe the sound of this track- someone punk trap? as if that’s a new branch of the industry.
The final track, “Go,” is a unique ending to the journey of Broken Down. The vocals are echoed and poignant - a stark way to end the record. With a melodic guitar riff in silence before the chorus, “Go” is a powerful track to tend the EP on.
Fifth track, “Suffice,” has a heavier rap influence than previous tracks. Still, it features the edgy guitars NO SHADE has perfected throughout his EP. This song is a testament of blending on genres. There is no clean cut way to describe the sound of this track- someone punk trap? as if that’s a new branch of the industry.
The final track, “Go,” is a unique ending to the journey of Broken Down. The vocals are echoed and poignant - a stark way to end the record. With a melodic guitar riff in silence before the chorus, “Go” is a powerful track to tend the EP on.
