Single Review: Alex Vargas - 'Shackled Up.
We love a falsetto. The kind of ethereal, inhuman, almost painful wail that shouldn't be beautiful but somehow, becomes the most beautiful. That's how London-based Alex Vargas' 'Shackled Up' begins, accompanied by a slow-tempo, stripped-back club-esque beat. A beat that immediately reminded us of the bass line to Lost Frequencies 'Are You With Me'.
The intro seems to set the scene for an emotive affair, and if ever their were lyrics and imagery that told a better story of a toxic relationship, I'm lost to find one right now. Vargas' vocals are rich and gravelly yet smooth, and sophisticated. Vocals that are controlled yet textured in a penetrable, spellbinding, passionate way that the listener feels the emotional pull without Vargas having to make himself immediately fragile, or try very hard to coax a reaction.
Vargas takes an unconventional approach to production that combines sleek rnb, disjointed electronics, alt pop and soulful vocals that all together form a refreshing, contemporary, take on a teasingly familiar sound. If ever you wondered what "cool" sounded like in musical form. This is it. You're hearing it now.
Words of Karla Harris
'Shackled Up' will be the lead track taken from Alex Vargas' upcoming EP 'Giving Up The Ghost' released 22nd January via Copenhagen Records/ Locomotion Entertainment. The track follows on from the EPs title track - a sample-laden slice of emotional future R&B-soul,