Sunday, November 2, 2014

Koven - Hereinafter EP

Now known as one of the melodic dubstep masters, Koven, a.k.a. Max Rowat and his new vocalist partner Katie Boyle, has released a new 2 part EP through Viper Recordings. The powerful EP, Hereinafter, features songs so epic and so well crafted, they shape the future of EDM. The first part of the EP was released on October 19, 2014. The second part was released just this morning (November 2, 2014). Today being 4 days before my birthday, this made a pretty awesome birthday present. This EP has been supported by so many named producers, promoters, and organizations, and from my perspective, this attention is very well deserved.

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The first part of the EP starts with a track premiered on EDM.com and is respectively titled "Number One". This song starts with a riff on guitar that slowly transforms into the explosive intro to the song. With a very modern sound including Koven's signature low end, this song opens your ears for the rest of the EP. As if it didn't happen, the song transitions naturally to Katie's voice.

"The only thing that matters to you is what you want."

Not only a beautiful lyric, it's a motivational statement that makes the first track intriguing and makes sure that you will not stop listening until you reach the end of the EP.



The next track off of Hereinafter was the first released and previewed on BBC Radio One with Phil Taggart and Alice Levine. This track starts with a very pop-like piano chord progression and a drum beat that continues driving for the entire song.

"Have you found what you've been searching for? Ask yourself has it been worth it all."

Again, uplifting lyrics that leave all interpretation up to the listener as they try to answer Katie's questions. One of the most beautiful parts in this song is at 2:16 when the chord progression is altered slightly, accompanied with Koven's cinematic-ready strings. And then at 2:47, a release of nothing but reverb then Katie's gorgeous voice left unaltered. It is a Miracle that we get to listen to such a beautiful song.



Next up on Pt. 1 was "Eternal and You". This song was the only off of Hereinafter to receive the full package of a Music Video and promotion on UKF Dubstep.

A photo posted by @katiekoven on


Max and Katie both posted on their instagrams announcing the music video and some very awesome looking behind the scenes of an ever cooler music video.

This was also one of the only tracks off of the EP that followed a somewhat "typical" type of structure used for dubstep, however it makes an excellent closer to part one, "with both eyes open, I'll watch it burn."

"But wait, there's more." Yes, there is more for this EP. Part 1 also included a drum & bass and club mix of "Miracle". These two are also very good renditions of "Miracle".



Part 2 of the EP kicked off with "Your Word". This track also received an EDM.com premiere. Starting with a bright, almost future-like, loop and some bell tones, this track grows into a raw, gritty, and in your face intro. Katie's voice is put under a filter that makes this song edgy and keeps you the edge of your seat. With a tempo of 154, it makes this song a little bit quicker than typical dubstep and helps the listener feel the song in halftime and single time.



The next song on Hereinafter Pt. 2 is "Let Go". This song teaches the listener that all of the intensity that is built up in the previous track must be let go of, because this track is taking an easier approach and it's taking "it slow" until it shows any form of energy. Koven begins this song with an ostinato of plucked strings that will continue as some heartfelt piano chords are added with rhythm held in the bass guitar. Bathed in reverb, the next section adds Katie's voice and chords from a clean guitar and some beautiful chords on violins. Soon harmonies are added in the vocals and a slow drum beat featuring the tambourine that has been prevalent throughout the EP. The listener waits until 2:31 for a giant dubstep "drop". I am cautious in using the term drop because it is not typical. The atypical structure of this song, like almost all others on this EP is what makes it so special. Katie did admit this song was her favorite off of all of Hereinafter in her appearance in the UKF Podcast.


This song also was featured as a live version that featured Max on drums.



The last song off of Hereinafter is the amazing "Final Call". This is emotional, heart-wrenching, and somehow through all of that, it is still motivational as the subject is "finding strength in the arms of someone else." This song has an atmospheric intro with just bass, Katie, and a woodblock for tempo, then adding in some strings for chords and more lyrics. At the ever so popular 0:55, everything is dropped out except piano and Katie as she starts to get more intense. Strings are slowly added back in and the bass returns at 1:20 making an amazing soundscape that is ready for film. Around 1:40, the song transitions and everything is toning down making the typical EDM listener ready for the drop, however a romantic melody starts to play on the piano at 1:45. At 2:05 Katie returns with the lyrics "I'm finding strength in the arms of someone else" and then Koven releases all that their name promises. Katie's voice, the thick growl bass, perfect strings, spellbinding melodies, reverb, and to top it off, one of the cleanest mixes you could ever get with such a wide range of sound. The end of the song build and builds and ends with the scream of a synth echoing for what seems like forever. The thing about this song is that

My personal opinion: This EP is one of the greatest collections of diverse songs that stand to change the way EDM is being made and listened to. These songs defy standard song structures that can be found in any EDM tutorial and song on YouTube and continue to blend elements of different genres and styles to create a special sound set that is unique to Koven. Using strings as a synth that would otherwise fill space makes it seem incredibly versatile as a film score and possibly a pop song. The various uses of normal rock guitars add depth to songwriting as chords and melodies can be shifted from guitar, to piano, to synth, all sounding as if they should fit. The sound set is so organic that it feels like all sounds were made for each other.

My favorite song off of the EP is "Final Call". The composition of this song is by far superior to what any other EDM producer has tried, is trying, will be tried, and will be doing. I see that from now on everyone will be following Koven in their footsteps and trying to reproduce the songs that this EP brings to the table of EDM. The chords in this particular song is amazing. I really connect with the emotional spirit in the lyrics, but the part of this song that I love the most is it's structure. It has the intro, verse, and breakdown, it just so happens that it is split up over a long period of time. The organic build up that is presented up until 1:40 works so well that the piano breakdown flows perfectly and does not distract from the flow of the song. The melody in the piano is great because it follows all of the chords that were created in the beginning of the song, but adds a melody that is all new and has not been heard yet. The transition to the drop is beautiful because it awakens the listener without even becoming much louder, it just adds a full pallet of sounds. The melody the piano plays is then transferred to the orchestra. The violins continue playing that melody while the cellos and basses break off and form a harmony. This excellent scoring could stand alone without the growl bass and the drums, not saying it should though, it is amazing the way it is. The best part about this song is the melodic development of the song. Not that using drums to build a song is a bad thing, but it's become overused as it is an easy way out of building any form of tension. Max and Katie expertly build this song without the use of overpowering white noise risers and drums build ups. This is a song that I will cherish for a long time and will not be afraid to show any music student that knows anything about music. As a music student myself, I value their use of music theory in this song to build tension and release that tension in the music. Great job Koven, I have been a big fan since the beginning and continue to be blown away, and I really think Katie and Max are a great mix as Katie really fits into the sound set that Max creates for himself.

The full version of Hereinafter will be released November 16, 2014 and include live versions of Let Go, Miracle, and Your Word, all recorded at Mill Hill Studios in London.



Coinciding with the Hereinafter EP was a remix by Koven of Amy Steele's "The Wolves". This remix was released on UKF Dubstep on October 29th. UKF described "Amy's vocals lead us up to a huge drop into a world of energy, pulsing synths and dark basslines."

Buy Hereinafter Pt. 1: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/hereinafter-pt.-1-ep/id923441270
Buy Hereinafter Pt. 2: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/hereinafter-pt.-2-single/id923439455
Buy Hereinafter EP (available Nov. 16): https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/hereinafter/id926901987

There's some EDM For Thought,
Ryan

posted by EDM for Thought @ 4:13 PM   0 Comments