At the age of 23, KartikG has produced three mixtapes and an album, his latest being the album ‘7 Chakras’, which is the culmination of his auditory exploration and tells a tale of his journey into adulthood. KartikG, an A-Level in Music Technology, is an Electronics Engineer by profession but an artist at heart. He has been endeavoring to formulate a sound and style he calls ‘Kave Music’. Take a step into serenity mixed with melancholic happiness when you take a listen to KartikG. ‘7 Chakras’ characterizes an individual’s journey and meaning of experiences, memories, and self. He crafts an exemplary sound within this album that’s on the path of evolving, filled with humility and authenticity.
This album really shows his unique sound by the effective use of a variety of instruments in his sound. His blend of Hip hop, R&B, plus alternative styles is a mix of sounds which proves auditory greatness. KartikG raps and sings, interchanging between the two, effortlessly, while at the base of each performance there is an aura of smooth mellowness.
On “Moonlight” he runs the production through his gamut of styles, and then just before the end throws in some epic cinematic sounds, just in case you thought he couldn’t do that too!
“The Wrong Time” which is the third track on the album, is the first to truly capture my attention. The song which rides on a captivating percussive rhythm has a number of alluring hooks. Not least the full-rounded rich synth pads, the bouncy bassline and KartikG gentle and melodic voice.
This track is meant to hypnotize your senses. As is, “Daydreaming”, which has all the distinctive qualities of the track before it, but adds a superbly executed vocal stem with just the right balance and weight of effects on the voice. This for me is the outright best track on the album, as it also has a powerful and unforgettable melody.
Obviously if you’re more hip hop inclined, your presences will more likely lean towards songs such as, “Tell Me” and “Don’t Tell Me”, when it comes to ‘best-of-bunch’ choices. Though to be honest these songs have much more than just hip hop or rap elements embedded into their formulas.
The album closes with the jazzy ambient styled, “Late Night”, which is more of an instrumental with some vocal interludes included for a smoky late night effect. Here KartikG has created a feeling of relaxation and mental wandering.
Across the entirety of the record, ‘7 Chakras’, KartikG carefully creates new and exciting musical atmospheres for listeners to uncover layer by layer. The end result is elegance for the ears to behold—something truly captivating, bred as much by ambient electronica as it is interpretive of alternative R&B and Hip hop, accentuated by rollicking keys, drums, bass and everything else it needs to keep its engines running smoothly. The entire recording reminds us of KartikG’s absolute forte: even when he’s ambitious musically, he’s as subtle as one can be about it.
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