SHOLTO - The Changing Tides of Dreams EP
Enter the world of SHOLTO and the stunning sounds of his debut EP ‘The Changing Tides of Dreams’
Inspired by soundtrack composers from the 1950s-1970s like Piero Umiliani & David Axelrod, ‘The Changing Tides Of Dreams’ refers to the way our lives and selves are constantly transforming, learning and growing; never fully sculpted or content. Written during a time of personal transformation for SHOTLO, the project balances unapologetic ethereal textures with a deep sense of nostalgia and longing, drawing on disciplines from the world of film & classical music, as well as jazz and experimental arrangement techniques.
“I wanted the music to reflect welcoming of new dreams, or departures of previous ones, letting go of old ways to navigate the challenges life can present with a sense of calmness. Ultimately, I also wanted to make something pretty – I’d made lots of louder angrier music when I was younger, but allowing myself to make something more delicate meant more to me than anything had before.”
Sitting alongside cinematic soul-soundtrack contemporaries like Robohands and The Ironsides, tracks like ‘The Peal That Glitters’ highlight SHOLTO’s abilities as an arranger, with a nostalgic edge and shimmering string arrangement that reflects its title. Lead single ‘Vampire’ was arranged in collaboration with Syd Kemp at Haha Sounds Studios, a composition built around contrasting dark choral vocals and heavy beats with soaring flutes, cascading harps and swirling Wurlitzer pads.
Cuts like ‘Over The Sky’ simmer in tension, with a growing urgency displayed as the swung grooves intensify, harkening to the emotive jazz fusion of Makaya McCraven. However, psychedelia looms large on ‘The Pleasure Principle’, where synths create a wall of sound decorated by Arthur Sajas’ playful flute interjections. Filtered drums and percussion suck the listener further into SHOLTO’s hazy dreamscapes, ensuring there’s no escape from the journey ahead.
Buy ‘The Changing Tides of Dreams’ on Bandcamp below: