Live Review: FREE DOWNLOAD: Ryan Hemsworth 'Still Awake' EP

Canada is fast becoming known as a global hotspot for experimental music and RYAN HEMSWORTH is certainly earning his title as a young, unique producer. He’s just released a seven-track EP Still Awake which highlights his tight production work and eccentric talents.

Plenty of buzz words have been chucked around in an attempt to categorise his work - “chillwave”, “trap”, “garage” - but he doesn’t strictly stick to a single genre.

HEMSWORTH has established a strong internet presence, especially with his remixes of 2012 hits such as “Genesis”, “Summertime Sadness” and “Thinkin’ Bout You”. Where he spun those tracks into a compressed, deeper interpretation here on the EP he channels a slower, deeper and more atmospheric sound.

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When ‘Empty Thoughts Over A Shallow Ocean’ opens, his signature twinkling synth sets ground for a full textured piece with deep bass and subtle vocals. It’s not quite dance but it’s upbeat enough to put you in a good mood. Whereas, ‘Perfectly’ follows with a pop mentality. There is generally a warm, optimistic feel to all his music but this one really begins to feel like the soundtrack to a seaside love story – romantic, electric and bright.

‘(｡◕‿◕｡) (or, I Want to Stare at Your Face Until I Die)’ is as charming as its title with a swirling synth loops and solid percussion underlying the high melody. HEMSWORTH delves into a more serious, serene sound with ‘Mistakes to Make’ and ‘track 5(crashed)’. It feels very far from home from his bass-driven dance tracks but worth a listen.

With the choppiness of FOUR TET and dreamy Californian haze of TEEN HAZE, HEMSWORTH collates seamless samples and tricky beats to create a sound of his own. ‘All Our Thoughts Are Physical’ is one of the most eclectic, with moody vocals and whining synth. The final track - a remix of Tokyo producer TAQUWAMI's ‘Perfectly’ – had a premature release last week and was held up as a “sunbathing tune” with “silky synth” and “toe-tapping percussion”. Sounds spot on. It’s just too bad we’re entering the colder months down under because this is definitely one for the lazy summer afternoon.