Switching gears after the release of the collaborative EP Illuminations, the Nashville-based producer Waterchild bears his sharpened edges and refined sonic palette on Perennials. Prior to the EP’s release tomorrow, the track “Smokin” is premiering alongside a dedicated music video, courtesy of Earl Kelly of METAnoia Art, utilizing visual assets from UON Visuals.

“Smokin” has the groove and stereo fullness that’s come to characterize previous Waterchild releases, but his sound design and mixing chops have undergone a total facelift. The track eschews the liquid, harmonic layering present in much of Waterchild’s earlier music, instead sporting a streetwise attitude mingled with viscous textures and brazen breaks. “Smokin” is a straightforward jump into Waterchild’s evolving musical perspective, setting the perfect stage for Perennials as a whole.

Waterchild’s sonic journey has come to encompass a diverse set of genre niches, with Perennials adding yet another tooth to his master key. In seeking to grow as an artist, he’s venturing head-on into new territories with both inside and outside of the studio. In his own words, “Tracks like ‘Smokin’ and ‘Boondocks’ represent a more uptempo version of Waterchild that up until now has mainly been reserved for live performances. I’m blending the chilled out sound I’m known for with something a bit more modern." That strive for modernity pays off nicely, and “Smokin” puts that newfound infusion on display, paving the way for an actionable variety future Waterchild releases.

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