The beauty of instrumental music lies in its ability to spark unique interpretations in each listener. Arjay Smith‘s EP, “Old Man Rookie Instrumentals, Pt. 1: Fives Up,” exemplifies this perfectly. It’s a captivating story told through the power of exceptional beats and masterful musicianship.
Smith possesses a rare talent for weaving emotional narratives without relying on lyrics. He creates space for the listener to fill in some plot details, allowing the music to become a personal journey. This four-track EP offers a fantastic glimpse into his artistic vision and storytelling prowess.
“Afta-U” kicks off the EP with an air of intrigue. The track begins with calming beats that slowly build with layers of sound. This creates an enticing atmosphere, beckoning you on a journey to an unknown destination. Though the path ahead may be unclear, the music casts a hypnotic spell, pulling you in and making you eager to see where it leads.”
There’s a distinct sense of arrival with “Space In Time,” but it’s not quite Earth anymore. With its light, floating melody and unwavering beat, the song creates a sense of wonder, like venturing out into the unknown reaches of space. The song fades out with soft piano notes and the calming sounds of ocean waves, only to be abruptly cut off by a garbled announcement, leaving the listener with a sense of mystery and unease.
The mood takes a sharp turn with the dynamic and intense arrival of “Dead Pres.” It’s a clear signal that the journey is about to take a more serious and potentially perilous turn. The steady percussion drives the song forward with a sense of daring, while the underlying beats create a palpable tension and hint at hidden danger. The track concludes with soulful vocals, adding a layer of unexpected humanity amidst the building tension.
Living up to its title, “The Survival (9 to 5)” throws you back to the drudgery of a full-time job, even amidst the vastness of space. Soaring through the cosmos one minute, this track abruptly pulls you back to Earth with a harsh dose of reality. The dissonant beats perfectly capture this shift in mood, either reflecting a return to earthly woes or even suggesting the insidious reach of capitalism extending into outer space.
“Shaking off the gloom, the EP concludes with “Boom bap’tism,” a track brimming with a classic boom bap flavor. The bouncy percussion and playful, peppy beats provide a fitting, vibrant end to the journey with a welcome return to the sense of mystery that captivated us at the outset. It leaves a lingering sense of intrigue and the promise of adventures yet to come.
What mysteries await in the next chapter? Stay tuned and meanwhile hit repeat and let the journey begin again!