Ansel Elgort & Logic and 4AM

Today I have some music for you by an artist that has stayed under the radar but has remained very active in the music scene. Most people know Ansel Elgort as being a heartthrob for teenage girls, the kid from The Fault in Our Stars who left every girl swooning. And while I cannot deny his talent as an actor, there is a lot more to him that tends to stay in the dark. And if I am to be quite honest, I think his music is way more brilliant than his acting. Why you may ask? Because the man started out as a producer. He spent a lot of time being a DJ, playing at shows like Electric Zoo and has played sets all over the world. I have to say, he is extremely talented in the music department, and I really do enjoy his music. Now what makes this song a little different from what his DJ alter ego produces, is that he writes, sings, and produces for this song. Within the world of electronic music, this is still a very fresh take. A lot of times we see bands and acoustic singers making their own music from start to finish. But with DJs, it is a little different. They may have some hand in writing the lyrics, but very rarely do they every perform for their songs. They are generally the masterminds behind sick melodies and wild beat drops. But Ansel Elgort throws a curveball and participates in the process from beginning to end.

So to start out, let's talk about him as a DJ and producer. There is a lot of skill that we hear going into this song. It starts out with him on the piano, knocking out some nice piano bars which set the stage for the rest of the mood. After that, we hear how Ansel Elgort weaves his electronic skills into the song. He uses the piano as a nice background melody and then brings in some soft synths. There is a nice electronic subtlety to this song during the verses, and I really like that. It lets us focus a bit more on him singing and makes the piano more prominent on the soundscape. The piano is what gives this song a bit more of a pep and nice energy to it. The best way to describe how the piano is used in this song is a conduit for tropical jazz. It makes no sense at first, but when you hear the transition from verse to chorus, the blend of piano styles works so incredibly well. The song retains the spunk of jazz piano with the laidback atmosphere of a tropical twist. The piano-driven EDM beat is oddly great for the summer.

Now we cannot forget to include the featured artist in this song. Logic makes a wonderful guest appearance and it is absolutely brilliant. His bridge adds so much to this song. Logic and Ansel Elgort together make a great vocal combination as well. I will say, you take more away from the vibe of the song rather than the lyricism, but Logic provides a change of pace. Logic has a softer voice when it comes to rap, and that couples very well with Ansel Elgort's deep, resounding vocals. Ansel Elgort's soothing croon has just as much ability to sweep us off our feet as does Augustus Waters. He has this nice huskiness which is so endearing.

I have to hand it to Ansel Elgort, he really took off with this song. It's such a smooth jam and a great song to listen to at pretty much any time of the day. He's been rolling out a lot of new music lately, so I am definitely excited to see which directions he takes the music and where he goes within the industry!

Today's instrumental song is by 4AM. These guys have such a great sense of using the soundscape effectively and always come up with fresh beats and melodies. No song sounds the same and they all have so much character. This song is one of my favorites by them. It is super chilled out and is an enjoyable and smooth listen. They take future bass and turn it into a bit more of a jazz electronic sound. This is a DJ duo that is definitely worth looking out for! I hope you enjoy the music and please feel free to comment!