a.gris — the new solo venture of Alex Delamard (Hoorsees, Heavymodern) — introduces himself with Gris, a debut EP that feels both raw and meticulously sculpted. Written and produced alone in his basement over a month of isolation, these five tracks play like the strange dream of a collaboration between A.G. Cook and Bruce Springsteen — at once earnest, glitchy, and emotionally unguarded. Here, he showcases all his influences: from Alex G’s digital folk to Deftones nu metal, via George Clanton’s electronica.
This unique balance of acoustic instruments and production, which approaches PC music, creates a distinct soundscape in the first EP, set for release on March 27.
The latest preview of gris’s anticipated solo debut, “bar,” is a stunning introduction to the left-field sonic worlds the artist can create with his hands. The mesmerizing and unpredictable single toes the line between an electro-pop anthem and acoustic balladry, with harsh distortion set against colorful acoustic riffs and dreamy vocals. There is a danceability beneath these layers of experimentation that gives this off-kilter performance infectious energy and palpable, colorful textures. While one can break down every nuance of “bar” and trace it back to an influence, gris is seemingly deadset on creating something he can call his own, and this single brings him one step closer. The way the artist packs the raw emotions of the poetic lyrics into this rhapsodic cacophony is a testament to the artist’s innate prowess and masterful approach to tone. The solo self-titled debut from a.gris is shaping up to be something special, and “bar” is just one slice of this promising EP.
