Recommended Tracks: “Your Option,” “Long Road,” “Through The City”
Artists You Might Like: Midnight Pool Party, Funk LeBlanc, Cosmo’s Midnight
There are times when musicians, producers – any and all makers of music – may run out of inspiration. It’s sad but true. And then one day, they come across a sound, a feeling, season three of Élite, and the inspiration is restored. For the past decade, French producer and songwriter Slowz had been releasing his own singles and EPs and had worked with icons like Sia, Lizzo, and Idina Menzel, but he had not tapped into any ideas for a full-length debut album. In 2020, however, Slowz was immersed in season three of the television drama Élite, blown away by its soundtrack and art direction. Inspiration hit, and he was ready to make his debut album, Digital Love, which “could be a whole soundtrack to a TV series,” he explains.
On Digital Love, Slowz gives us plenty of colorful tracks that would not only make for a dynamic soundtrack to a scripted television series, but also as a moving soundtrack to real life. If you find yourself in complicated relationship matters, there are songs to accompany the moment like “Your Option,” which features vocals from genre-bending artist J.O.Y. The vibrant melodies and synth-wave spirit provide some comfort to lyrics like “Don’t you deny / That we’re something in between / I can see your disguise” and “If you get in my way / I just get nothing from your love / Only getting the pain,” making it a thoughtful and bright listen. We also have “One Night” and “Don’t Let Me Go,” which focuses on support. On the former, we are whisked away by the soft 80s pop ballad sounds, transporting us to a tender and cozy place. Featuring the vocal talents of Australian singer-songwriter Angus Field, the track dives into the art of making the most out of a moment with someone, conveyed through pleading lines like, “Baby, I got / One night / To make it all right / And I got / One night with you.” With “Don’t Let Me Go,” a similar vibe comes through, where Angus reprises his role as the character who wants to know what to do to make things better.
Meanwhile, there are other sweeping songs on the album that are perfect for those moments when you want to either plunge right into a relationship or leave it behind. Ready to assert her authority, UK singer-songwriter Belle Humble bares her soul on “Lay My Head.” She touches on the ways in which she is ready to make her own choices in this relationship, her dreamy and sweet voice singing, “I keep on running ‘round in circles / I let you draw around me / Prisoners in a game / Minimizing what I’m feeling.” Pulling from the power of the retro indie pop production, she confirms, “It’s up to me where I lay my head.” On the opposite end of the spectrum, noted French artist Senpu wants to go the distance on “Long Road.” Taking us on a journey, the producer and singer compares a relationship to a long drive out into the unknown. Even though he has doubts and knows things aren’t perfect, he wants to keep going. We are definitely more than happy to go on this “long road” with him, his soulful R&B vocals willing to take us there.
Rounding out the project are the tracks that are purely and uniquely Slowz. He draws us in on “Hazard Lights,” the slow and cosmic music enough to grab anyone’s attention, despite its deflective title. In between the pronounced downbeats, Slowz gives us hazy, electronic vocals that capture that rousing sensation of being close to someone special. He sings, “Yeah, I can’t give up this feeling / That I get when looking down from this high / When I’m with you.” We then get two instrumentals that prolong these sensations. On “Power,” for instance, we get to bask in splashes of synth, rhythmic guitar, and techno beats. The wonky drops allow us to recharge, giving us moments to collect ourselves and get our “power” in order. With “Nostalgia,” Slowz trades in that power for a sense of wonder. The steady downbeats lead to celestial riffs that bring us into the cosmos. It pairs well with “Through The City,” which trades off between moments of gliding through the air and moments of bustling down the street. We are given a beautiful story through these contrasts, enhanced by the digital effects that tie into the title of the album.
Overall, Digital Love is anything you want it to be. When describing the album, Slowz explained, “‘Digital Love’ is an album I hope you’ll listen to while you’re driving, watching the sunsets, partying with your friends, or making love.” He continues to say that it’s an album for happy or “joyful” times, but it’s also an album that would provide comfort during the “sad ones, too.” We can feel this through the range of sounds and colors, each lyric or each production style invoking the highs, the lows, and the gray area in the middle. By smoothing out some of the more serious songs with his 80s-style soundscapes, he reminds us that we do not need to dwell on bouts of sadness or anger. It is best to put the priority on love, whether it’s digital, manual, analog – whatever inspires you the most.
You can listen to Digital Love on platforms like Spotify and Apple Music.
Keep up with Slowz: Facebook // Instagram // X // TikTok // YouTube
