Following a string of releases that highlighted a stylistic range that featured tinges of R&B, pop, and hip hop, San Diego, CA based TRACES popped back into visibility last month with the release of the single "idbh.". It's an impressively produced single that stirred conversation and left listeners hungry for more.
Today marks the release of his EP Heart of Gold. Over the course of six tracks, TRACES creates a world of isolation, desperation, and perseverance through thought provoking lyrics, intensely nuanced sound design, and an air of mystery that leaves you interested in what's coming next while still compelling you to revisit the project immediately. As TRACES himself puts it, “The concept of the project is based around this concept of being desperate for a heart of gold, which was a lyric that kept coming up as I was writing. At the time, I had found myself in a place of deep depression and confusion. I decided to write what was going on in my life as a mean of coping and seeking to understand myself. Each song looks at a specific area of learning and confusion for me such as pride, fear, loneliness, conflicts with religion and spirituality, and ultimately realizing the only way to find light sometimes is to walk through the darkness a while.” From slower tracks like the aforementioned "idbh." or the radio single worthy "Black Cadillac pt. 1", there truly is something here for everyone.
Heart of Gold is out now. Listen to it on Spotify, Apple Music, and Soundcloud.
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