22 Nov 2024
UsernamePassword

Remember Me? | Join | Recover
Click here to sign in via social networking

Arjuna Oakes - EP Review: First Nights

07 Oct 2021 // A review by Gaby Ivanov-Giraldo

Arjuna Oakes & Serebii have just released their collaborative EP, First Nights. Arjuna Oakes is a singer-songwriter, producer and multi-instrumentalist. The artist is also an award-winner of The Arts Foundation Springboard, and received a lot of recommendation and praise from his journey with this team of people. Co-producing partner Serebii, AKA Callum Mower, have teamed up to create this deluxe EP; full of intricate sound work, and heated soft tempos. It’s a perfect choice for a bit of housework, study or focused me-time; an album you can really cater to any setting and enjoy. Arjuna Oakes has an array of musical talent, and he brings to us a new form of “sonic language.” The album brings many elements of meditative and energy, while still being jazzy, worldly, soulful and intriguing. 

Holding Cell (feat. Mo Etc.) is the first track of the EP. It’s an unwind into a blissful, spacey hip hop groove, with a head-bopping beat. Glittery layers wrap the song in smooth production, while the vocals soothe the listener. 

The second track, Reset, opens with a ticking groove, luscious keys and layers of chimes and shakes that enliven the groove. Every instrument has its own place in the track, flooding the sound with very calculated movements. The skill of piecing it all together in this track is quite profound. You can hear waves and soundscapes that encapsulate the beat, and really send you off in a drift. 

The third track, Satellites, has a bit more funk and bass that sets your shoulders in sway. The vocals here are impressively captivating and raspy. They complement the band really well, and bring movement.

The fourth track, Tangello, is a short track at 0:55. The song fills space and time beautifully with some crafty production, looped well around a sinking beat. The band knows how to create an auditory illusion very well, mimicking very natural sounds you’d soon find in a forest or desert. 

The fifth track, Even When You’re Gone, has a very talented live session music video that has been released; viewable here! Delicate droplets and a pacifying beat open this track with beautiful, oscillating woodwind instruments. The voice of Arjuna Oakes is soft yet profound, it conditions the song impressively well, and keeps the earthly feel of his music. String instruments and vocal layers build up and descend with precision, met by a wave-like and ricocheting groove. You can hear scores of genres in this song with great production, not to mention a team of dexterous musicians. 

The last track, First Nights, opens with soft keys and the delicate voice of Arjuna. It sends the album into a gentle sway, with loving lyricism. He hits some impressively high notes, while proclaiming his adoration for a human he’s lucky to hold. It's a definite song of tenderness and encapsulates the album brilliantly!

Rating: ( 5 / 5 )
 

About Arjuna Oakes

Arjuna Oakes is a 20-year-old singer/songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer from Auckland, New Zealand. Currently based in Wellington, despite his young age, Arjuna has already been performing for over 14 years.




Visit the muzic.net.nz Profile for Arjuna Oakes

Releases

Sierra
Year: 2024
Type: EP
Recovery Pt. 2
Year: 2022
Type: EP
Final Days w/ Serebii
Year: 2022
Type: Album
Future Lullaby
Year: 2022
Type: EP
First Nights
Year: 2021
Type: EP
Recovery Pt. 1
Year: 2020
Type: EP
The Watcher
Year: 2019
Type: EP
Turn The Tide
Year: 2017
Type: EP

Other Reviews By Gaby Ivanov-Giraldo

Meff Zexx - EP Review: Tahi
19 Nov 2024 // by Gaby Ivanov-Giraldo
Meff Zexx is an experimental duo from Wellington that melds minimalism, post-rock, ambient, black metal, and stoner rock into their own sound. They recently performed at Valhalla this past October and have released a new two-track EP titled Tahi.
Read More...
Banana Mundo - EP Review: Intercultural Appreciation Day
23 Apr 2024 // by Gaby Ivanov-Giraldo
Banana Mundo are a collective band situated in New Plymouth (West Coast NZ) and hailing from various places around the world. The band comprises members from Argentina, Uruguay, Venezuela, France, Switzerland and New Zealand.
Read More...
Em - EP Review: Cloud City
10 Dec 2023 // by Gaby Ivanov-Giraldo
Emily Wheatcroft-Snape AKA Em is a singer songwriter, recording and mix engineer from Tamaki Makaurau. Her career thus far flaunts some serious musicality, working industriously towards her unique goals as an artist.
Read More...
No Life - EP Review: Delinquent
28 Aug 2023 // by Gaby Ivanov-Giraldo
No Life returned to us with a 6-track EP. Band members DJ Fieldes, Mitch Blair, Connor Dickson and Kahi Bettridge have found gold with Delinquent.
Read More...
The Transits - Single/Video Review: Renegade Hearts
26 Jun 2023 // by Gaby Ivanov-Giraldo
The Transits are a NZ-South African band composed of Ryan Lunn (vocals, guitars, synths), Dom Antelme (vocals, bass) and Tyrone Smith (drums). Growing up in conservative South-African landscapes, their sound is thought to push the boundaries of how to be, and how to act.
Read More...
YAHYAH - Single/Video Review: Go
03 Apr 2023 // by Gaby Ivanov-Giraldo
Up and coming artist YAHYAH released her new single and video Go with nearly 7,000 streams on Spotify so far! She’s an electro-pop goddess from Aotearoa, hoping to make her entry to the big world of music.
Read More...
Gig Review: Lorde @ The Outer Fields, Western Springs - 04/03/2023
07 Mar 2023 // by Gaby Ivanov-Giraldo
Blue skies filled the days prior to the Lorde gig; the Solar Power tour had the sun visible and candescent. On March 4th in Western Springs, Tamaki Makaurau had not seen Lorde here for years, and some fans had even had their ticket waiting since 2021, when this third studio album was released.
Read More...
WoLF - Single Review: Underachiever
17 Feb 2023 // by Gaby Ivanov-Giraldo
WoLF is a solo project (Aaron Hogg) with over 25 years' experience as a vocalist, guitarist and bassist. Having a lot of tour and show experience, WoLF is an accomplished artist with international acts and festivals under his belt.
Read More...
View All Articles By Gaby Ivanov-Giraldo

NZ Top 10 Singles

  • APT.
    ROSÉ And Bruno Mars
  • DIE WITH A SMILE
    Lady Gaga And Bruno Mars
  • BIRDS OF A FEATHER
    Billie Eilish
  • TASTE
    Sabrina Carpenter
  • I LOVE YOU, I'M SORRY
    Gracie Abrams
  • ESPRESSO
    Sabrina Carpenter
  • SAILOR SONG
    Gigi Perez
  • LOSE CONTROL
    Teddy Swims
  • A BAR SONG (TIPSY)
    Shaboozey
  • GOOD LUCK, BABE!
    Chappell Roan
View the Full NZ Top 40...
muzic.net.nz Logo
100% New Zealand Music
All content on this website is copyright to muzic.net.nz and other respective rights holders. Redistribution of any material presented here without permission is prohibited.
Report a ProblemReport A Problem