Andrew Veeder on February 27th, 2014

0

Illustrated is the “EDM” project of Los Angeles-based DJ and producer Sean Layton. The use of quotes on “EDM” is because his style is hard to nail down, often genre-hopping through a plethora of textures within a single track. This is evident in his remix of Dr. Dre’s “Forgot About Dre,” reminiscent of the Castlevania III theme, and earlier track “Subtle Hints,” which has traces of hard dubstep, minimal house and nu-disco. His newest effort is the single “Tidal Wave,” a harmonious EDM track with distinctly pop vocals. The track opens with a synth rush of waves crashing on the shore and seagulls in the air, and continues evolving through multiple incarnations, from an airy xylophone melody, to trappy techno, to double-time electro pulses, to a lush and twinkling interlude, to a surging melodic dubstep chorus of anthemic Transformer flatulence. Illustrated’s new EP “Define Me” is out on March 29 on Five Of Five Entertainment.

||| Stream: “Tidal Wave”

||| Live: Illustrated plays the Valley Lights Electronic Music Festival in Northridge on March 29 with DJ Irene and R!OT.