Darkstates - Motionless (Self Release) [Alt-Pop]

Darkstates is a producer, vocalist and songwriter residing in the alternative warehouse community of North London where he's been honing his voice infused, tempo varying fusion of acoustic instruments and contemporary electronica for the last five years. Despite keeping a low social media profile and a less is more approach to releases, he's been simmering in the underground shadows, and with BBC radio and major editorial playlist (not to mention TSMM playlist) interest recently, people are starting to take note. It's an old cliche that it takes ten years to become an overnight success, but never a truer word was said, and I have a sneaking suspicion that Darkstates might come in ahead of schedule.

In March this year Darkstate will be releasing his debut EP, he's even added some colour to his artwork to mark the occasion, and "Motionless" is the well worked title track. The track tips a hat to the 90's golden age of trip hop, but the production is decidedly new millennial, and so it should be in 2026.

A big system heartbeat breathes life into the track as a gently throbbing synth invites our boy to introduce his heart-rending, alt-pop leaning vocals and lyrical abstraction, his voice gliding effortlessly over the brooding, simultaneously low gravity and low frequency anchored production. The beats are assisted by a rumbling bass line that won't sound good on a phone speaker, the pads are set to ambient and an emotion prodding piano line has echoed through the decades to accentuate the track's bittersweet qualities. Trip Hop didn't die it just moved with the times and Darkstate is currently leading the way.

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Playlist Companion

Find Darkstates in the Slow Alt-Pop Playlist.