Lo-Fi Sundays 085 - S-ilo

Bringing a warm, soulful spin on traditional lo-fi and hip-hop flavors, S-ilo is a production powerhouse from Malmö, Sweden. His music has an unmistakable connection to R&B, utilizing smooth harmonies and groovy bass lines in abundance. He’s got a massive assortment of tunes to sift through, and manages to maintain a unique quality to each production. The moods range from sensual to mischievous, but always with the recognizable touch of S-ilo.

Hand-crafted breaks and turnarounds are a front and center for every S-ilo track, and are often mixed to a markedly high fidelity. The bright, transient punch of his downbeats contrast wonderfully with the dreamy, airy choice of samples often present in each arrangement. His music feels like it has direction and motive; the moods and chords elaborate, evolve, and emulsify themselves amidst the background noise of crowded city crosswalks and the conversations of passerby’s hurrying along. His habit for germinating his compositions with sparse, effective bass lines gives his catalog a lofty stereo presence, often in contrast with much of contemporary lo-fi music. It adds to the refreshing taste his catalog leaves on the palette, with each listening session feeling like a full audio meal.

S-ilo rightfully comes off as an extremely diversified musician and producer. He’s released over 140 tracks in just the last two years. Eschewing the “quality over quantity” adage, his music channels power through simplicity. It’s not always about how many sounds fit into the mix It’s how they’re fleshed out that makes the difference.

FOLLOW S-ilo: Soundcloud / Spotify / Bandcamp

Lo-Fi Sundays 081 - DLJ

Hailing from Toulouse, France, DLJ has spent the last two years producing a steady stream of top tier lo-fi content. A standout member of Retro Jungle Records, DLJ is a constant practitioner of musical cleanliness. His tunes are full of life and specificity, giving his catalog an approachable, well-rounded veneer.

Using simplicity as an attitude, DLJ’s discography focuses on strong arrangements and stronger chord phrases. It’s the unmistakable motif of smokey cafes and autumn afternoons combined with full-bodied compositions, with each of his tracks being just as moving as the next. Songs like “Take me with you” embody a slow, successive build of emotion over the course of each measure, melding sultry saxophone lines with fanciful piano phrases. Other tracks, such as in the vein of “Bright”, are strictly keys and percussion, the classic pairing of ingredients that lo-fi junkies are so fond of. No matter where you turn throughout his releases, the chances of stumbling onto your perfect daytime anthem stands near 100%.

With over a dozen varied releases under his belt, DLJ is forging himself into a one-stop shop for all things lo-fi, traversing a plethora of tempos, keys, and imagery. His release cycle is steady, with at least a new single appearing just about every month, marking DLJ as a veritable production powerhouse. While we’re gushing over his available collection of tunes, it’s only a matter of time before his next batch of summer day sonatas reaches the public sphere.

FOLLOW DLJ: Soundcloud / Spotify / Bandcamp