Every track on ‘Ultra Kitsch,’ new EP, is a kaleidoscope of emotions capable of speeding up and slowing down your pulse in just a few minutes. The compositions refuse to sit still, moving through your ears like a hypnotic roller coaster.

‘PLAYTHEDRUMS,’ the opening track, begins dramatically, with waves of sound and vocals emerging like an echo that embraces the listener, draws closer, then recedes, capturing their attention. The percussion bursts in, delivering on the promise of the title, while layers gradually build, inviting listeners to surrender to the dance floor.

‘Après Ski’ brings the record’s sound into sharper focus. Opening with heavy percussion, the track weaves in synthesizers and echoing vocals that stir deep emotion, even as the lyrics blur and dissolve into pure sound.

‘Spring, Be Kind’ and ‘Feel Better!’ are the collection’s two most optimistic tracks, featuring infectious beats that repeat like a guiding thread for the listener. Both subtly incorporate acoustic guitar, bringing freshness to the electronic textures. ‘Feel Better!’ also weaves in elements of nature, including birdsong heard in the distance, which enhances its bright atmosphere.

‘Featherweight’ and ‘Ichiro Suzuki’ bring the journey to a close. The former occupies the EP’s most dramatic end of the spectrum, with intense percussion that reinforces the prominence of beats and pulses. The latter plays with metallic timbres and an atmosphere that seems to transport listeners into a futuristic anime scene.

Behind Skateland is Dorian Williams II, an American singer, songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist based in New York, who began developing the project in his bedroom after moving from Las Vegas to study at the University of Texas. However, before he could arrive at these six songs, he had to step away from music for a while and reconsider what he expected of himself.

As he explains, he had become obsessed with turning himself into a poet, a voice for his generation filled with depth and nuance. The pressure eventually left him bored and irritable until he found a way to rekindle his enthusiasm in his hometown.

“Vegas is neon, goofy, fun, sleep-deprived, and extremely unserious in the best way possible,” he says.

“I wanted kitsch!” sums up his new approach. The phrase is a statement of intent for an EP that freely blends danceable electronic music, atmospheric dream pop, and inventive art pop, embracing exaggeration, layering, and sudden changes in direction.

‘Ultra Kitsch‘ finds its greatest appeal in that constant movement. Skateland lets the songs breathe, spill over, and cut off abruptly, embracing and shaking things up with equal ease. The only real complaint one could make about this EP is that it ends far too soon.

Discover more of Skateland’s music:
Instagram // YouTube // TikTok

Photos by Rae Mascardo