The Chainsmokers and Gallant

Today I have round 2 of ACL features! One of the newer and bigger artists made an appearance at the festival these past two weekends. The Chainsmokers have recently gained quite a bit of popularity and fame. But what is nice is that they continue to do their own thing, make music the way they want, and create music that speaks to so many people. This is definitely a different vibe that we get from The Chainsmokers. A lot of the time, they are known for being a super energetic duo, one with more hype music than anything else. But this song is a nice step back from that and is a great exploration of something completely different. This song by The Chainsmokers is one that is more about getting you in that atmospheric frame of being. It is more along the lines of being melodic house, which is a genre that gets overlooked and overshadowed by things like house, trap, and dubstep. But melodic electronic music is where my hear and ears really belong, which is why this song was such a breath of fresh air. When we get to the actual song, the breakdown starts with the soft guitar plucking and soft percussion beats. Eventually it builds up to an explosive climax, one that is like a firework going off. This is also a somewhat vocal intensive track, which means we really appreciate those vocals a lot. The singer is a Swedish artist by the name Charlee. I haven't heard anything else from her, other than what I get with this song, but I can tell you right away that she has such a wonderful EDM voice. Hers seems like it has the ability to create something fun and funky, or sing with vulnerability and emotion. She does the latter with this song, and I think she does such a beautiful job. No longer is this a chillstep kind of song, but it has turned into an emotional ballad. That ability is something we don't see as much with other artists, but the fact that Charlee is able to sing something so sentimental and lovely, and then turn around and perform it at a show, is simply incredible. This second song is on another spectrum of music. This is by an artist that I am madly in love with. This song is part of the wonderful world of underground music, the kind of music that you can't believe took you this long to find.Gallant has these soaring falsettos, sleek hooks, and deep songwriting, all things we get in this song. At the beginning we get Gallant's soulful and softer side. And then we get to the chorus which is an explosion of  power and sound. This song is so well mixed and boasts a wonderful mix of sounds. One of the things that is so great about this is that Gallant's R&B vocals are juxtaposed with this blusey bass guitar, creating this slow and sexy kind of jam. Normally people don't associate guitars with R&B music, but Gallant makes it work just so, so that the guitar blends in perfectly well with the breathy vocals. There is this simplicity to the music as well, a simple percussion and synthesizer to accompany the guitar. Which is absolutely perfect, because then we get to hear the complete dynamism and range that Gallant has. We get to hear is falsetto, his lower notes, and can indulge in his incredible harmonies. That is actually another thing that Gallant does ridiculously well. He knows how to harmonize in a way to make that shine over the chorus, and he knows how to layer those harmonies perfectly. We don't get weird layering or awkward meshing of sound, rather, a thick sound and flowing sound, kind of like the way something moves through molasses. Strange comparison, I know, but once you hear the song it will make complete sense. This is the kind of song that is good for chilling or lounging and is also a great addition to the sexy time playlist. Man I just cannot get enough of that blues guitar! It works so incredibly well because it is played in that perfect blues style that you would hear in a smokey bar. It has that seductive appeal while also giving Gallant a wonderful support. Just like honey, this song is smooth, sweet and golden. I hope you enjoy the music and please feel free to comment!