Blasé and Mikewave Has Resumed Their Conquest With Their Latest Single, "The Hangover"
First, we saw the duo produce "Focus" and "Chica de Tequila" from 2018. These juicy entries unite Mikewave back to his soul-sampling production beginnings as the pair ignite their reintroduction to the world. With 2020 on the horizon, the duo confirmed their R&B/Hip-Hop inspired extended play would be release featuring, "The Hangover," a single carried by familiar trending rappers from the Maryland music scene, Stretch Dynamo and RMS. The well-produced song features a sensual guitar loop that surrounds the track like a muted sunlight. It leaves an impression if you stare long enough, but it's not overwhelmingly needy of attention.
It sings and marinates in the backdrop, emphasizing the superiority and accurate precision of RMS and Stretch Dynamo's lyrical eloquence. Each statement lands solidly and with affluence even as the single collapses into a swirl of involved recollections. The duo creates ripe, sonorous moments with space in the verses while boasting with more aggression in the pre-chorus before the defining addictive hook.
This song comes and goes with all the usual suspects of contemporary R&B endeavors, tight 808's on the low end, flashy production twinkles during transitions, and tasteful vocal effects for anyone focused in enough to notice. Still, the direction these producers take is refreshing. It's like catching a big glittering fish as it breaks through a frozen lake, to have it resubmerge in the same moment, leaving ripples throughout your consciousness. You are immersed at the moment with fascination, marveling at the delivery of the rhythmic lyrical play. The track is laced with an addictive production and a masterfully written hook that bestows this song with excessive replay potential. With great articulation and a dynamic crew featured on this single, Blasé and Mikewave have made up for the down-time from their past and are making way for big things in the future.
You can listen to "The Hangover" here.
Welcome to BuzzMusic Mikewave and Blasé! We're totally invested in your sound, thank you for joining us. How would you describe the process that you two typically follow when a new song idea is on the burner? Does it translate from instrument to DAW or vice-versa?
Mikewave:
For our album writing process, we spent 10 days sending demos back and forth while I was in Tennesse for grad school andblaséwas working in Virginia. Most of the songs started with me making beats in Ableton and then recording guitar over them with the voice memo app on my phone because I had left my interface at home.
Blasé:
Every time Mike sent me a demo, I would try and write a hook and verse on the same day. I had a microphone ready to go, so I would often record on the spot. A lot of those initial takes actually made into the final cut of our album.
How do you think you two have grown as artists and producers since you first started making music together in Highschool?
Mikewave:
I would say that our efficiency has gotten a lot better over the years. Initially, we would have a tough time taking an idea and translating it into a song. Personally, I became more confident in mixing. I came to really enjoy making each element in my mixes blend while allowing certain instruments to pop.
Blasé:
I would say our writing/creative process is more meaningful than it used to be. Honestly, I think some of our songs back in the day were some of the best I've ever written, but our newer content definitely has a more polished and mature structure. We still occasionally write about a silly love story, but if you listen carefully, there's always an additional message (sometimes subtle) that listeners can learn from.
You two are based out of Montgomery County, Maryland, and have found great success in finding collaborators in your area to work with. What attributes do you look for in a collaborator when you're deciding whether to work with them?
Blasé:
While I attended the University of Maryland, I was involved in various music-oriented clubs across campus. The majority of the people I've worked with so far have come from those communities. If you listen to our music, we do a good bit of genre-bending. As a result, I'm not too picky when it comes to the genre of a collaborator. Generally, I just try to make sure that it's someone that is enjoyable to work with and that I can trust to bring their best to the table. I always try to put on my friends, especially when they're crazy talented.
Mikewave:
One of my favorite songs that I've worked on is No Forever because we collaborated with Alex Rapp and Joseph A, the remaining members of our old high school band. Apparently, I am picky about who I work with, but I'm happy with the connections I've made so far and I'm looking forward to making more.
It was an awesome featuring you here on BuzzMusic! Are you planning on releasing more new music this year, and are you planning on collaborating with any more original artists in the future?
Blasé:
I'm always writing, so I will most likely release something again this year, but I don't have a date in mind as of yet. I'm sitting on a few songs that I plan to eventually drop with my friend, KTrek. At this point, it's really all about proper timing.
Mikewave:
I’m collaborating with people I’ve met on Tinder, which is new! I'm trying to expose myself to different music styles while having fun along the way. I'm releasing something this year for sure, so stay on the lookout.
What are you working on now? We can't wait to hear what's next from you!
Mikewave:
I've been going back to my roots by incorporating real guitar and bass into my music. I've been taking a more relaxed approach and letting my creativity flow without any restrictions.
Blasé:
I think I'll be doing primarily singles for a while, but there's potential for an EP somewhere down the line. Last year, I registered our label, 3:33AM Multimedia Collective, as an LLC with the state of Maryland. My plan is to invest more time and energy towards cultivating a community that can foster more creative collaboration in the future.