EP: La Mar – Anchor

Just a few weeks ago we fell in love with Mazde’s Shifted Thoughts EP, marking the launch of Stoney Roads Records. Now to follow up we have a debut from Sydney’s Dylan Wright (vocals) and Andrew Grant (production), better known together as La Mar. The duo turned heads upon uploading a demo of Anchor several months ago. The song caught fire and eventually served as the impetus for business talks with Stoney Roads Records. Now La Mar is firmly rooted in the scene with this, their debut EP release. It’s an impressive introduction, and features a noteworthy Mazde remix that cleverly plays with the vocal rhythm of the original.

Track by Track

Anchor – Grant, also a keyboardist, blows the dust off a vintage Fender Rhodes to set the progression, while Dylan’s soulful voice gives direction. This mix walks effortlessly along the line between analog and digital — the warmth and emotion of the vocal harmonies and keys are augmented by the more experimental synths and drum samples. It’s a tasteful balance, and the lyrical hook is extremely satisfying.

Anchor (Mazde Remix) –  The beauty of this remix comes from its wit and creativity. Mazde pushes the tempo and alters the meter from a slow 4/4 to a steady 6/8, and reinterprets the rhythmic pattern of the vocal to fit. There are so few artists that apply this method to remixing, but the yield is high and it’s so engaging for a listener to experience. Another extremely refreshing effort on Mazde’s part, it’s not your typical copy/paste acapella flip.

Check out La Mar here.