Gengahr x LYAM

Whilst lockdown for the most of us largely involved waking up at 1 pm every day, going on forced family walks and developing an unhealthy Tiktok obsession, it has become apparent that for many artists, this instead was a time of creative discovery and production. Our ears are currently reaping the benefits of this quarantine boredom, as the past few months has seen a wide range of artists releasing new music.

Not to be left out, London indie psych-pop band Gengahr has recently offered their contribution to the post lockdown musical tide, with their latest EP announcement. The EP, which is due to be released on the 16th of October, will feature four new versions of songs from the bands third and most recent album Sanctuary, featuring collaborations with Let’s Eat Grandma, MT Hadley, and sir WAS. The first of these, a rework by experimental rap artist Lyam, has now been released as a single; a little taster for the EP to come...

Lyam himself has described this song as a product of his lockdown boredom, claiming in an interview with DIY Magazine that the COVID regulations allowed him time to reassess and develop his craft as a producer. He described his collaboration with Gengahr as his “first piece of production” outside of making music for just himself, adding that he hopes he has been able to bring “energy and fire” to this song during this time of uncertainty and darkness.

Lyam’s chosen song to remake from the album was Never a Low, and aside from adding an extra N and W to the title (the new version is called NNEVER A LOWW), the producer has undeniably provided his own unique take, both vocally and in terms of sound production. The originally slow-paced ‘Never a Low’ has been transformed into an energetic, electronic concoction, featuring an RnB twist with rap vocals from Lyam himself. 

Although originally being a relatively moody song, the London producer has succeeded in making lead singer Felix Bushe’s vocals that extra bit more haunting, the tones desperation and pain somehow even more apparent. As he cries “I’m out of control, I’m out of control” the song builds in its agitated neuroticism, allowing you to sink into the uncontrollable mania.

In this sense, Lyam has succeeded in his goal of bringing “energy and fire”, as the song builds into a fiery crescendo of anguish. The re-work is certainly a great introduction to this latest EP, and hopefully the rest of the album will be able to follow in its footsteps.

By Rebecca St. Vincent

LinkedIN