Live Review: Shallou gets ambient with 'You and Me'
Chicago producer shallou has returned with 'You and Me'; a more minimal exploration of his unique ambient electronica / dance-pop sound.
It's been a minute since shallou's breakout debut EP, All Becomes Okay, back in May, yet the Chicago singer-songwriter and producer has made a swift comeback with 'You and Me'.
Since May, shallou has enjoyed massive success worldwide, with his debut clocking over 30 million streams on Spotify alone. He's also had plenty of practice for his live chops, supporting Quinn XCII as he tours North America.
Right from the get-go 'You and Me' strikes me as a lot more reserved than earlier singles like 'Begin' and 'Doubt'. shallou has always struck a perfect balance between a chill ambient atmosphere and blaring dance rhythms. This time, he's leaning much heavier into the 'ambient pop' category, letting the ethereal mixture of warm and subtle synths and his breathy, echo-y vocals do the talking. Percussion is stripped back to a simple kick and clap combo, with some hi-hats for good measure. Unlike other cuts from his debut, the percussion isn't side-chained to pierce through the synths; instead it takes a back seat, giving the listener something to tap their toes to without taking control. It's not until the end of the track that it resembles the more vibrant moments of previous works such as 'Doubt'; the rest of the track is the sonic equivalent of floating on your back in a body of water and staring up at the clouds on a warm day.
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Doing away with the thicker production style found on All Becomes Okay, 'You and Me' peels back all the layers of shallou's musical onion and shows the producer can still produce a solid cut with while keeping it minimal. If he can produce a gorgeous track like this right after a mammoth EP and America-wide tour, we've got high hopes for what he'll pull out of the hat next year.
WORDS BY MAX LEWIS
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