Barney Artist - LO-FI LOCKDOWN: THE REISSUE
By Christianah Jesudass-Roberts (@mstiaroberts)
Release date: AUGUST 07, 2020
Hybrid sounds have a way of touching me more than music that fits neatly into a specific genre. Maybe this acknowledgment pays homage to my pursuit of freedom in life, however it stands true that music that push the boundaries of specifics, leave me with a feeling of elation. Experimental, expansive music has a way of bringing listeners into several head spaces at once, allowing for a more creative experience of sound, different from what the listen could expect.
Barney Artist is an artist that I have found pushes the boundaries of British rap in such an expansive way that each tune I hear from him serves to educate me on musical fluidity, that represents a multi-faceted character and lifestyle. The British rapper, from east London ( Forest Gate in particular - I have to stand up for my home) released LO-FI LOCKDOWN: THE RE-ISSUE on Friday, a project which represents a versatility and type of musical expression that remains consistently relatable and authentic.
Barney Artist isn’t your typical rapper, his music is an incredibly honest art form, free of the egotistical charade that can easily be associated with British rap. One thing that excites me about his sound is the way he merges his music with the calming simplicity & soulful echos of Lo-fi beats, providing a serene musical environment fuelled by poetic honesty, influenced by culture, heritage and inner London experiences (ends).
“...a serene musical environment fuelled by poetic honesty, influenced by culture, heritage and inner London experiences (ends).”
The really brilliant thing about LO-FI LOCKDOWN: THE RE-ISSUE is the grind behind it. I first came across Barney Artist’s original release, Lo-fi Lockdown, in May, where he released the project - that he had recorded, mixed and mastered all himself - for 72 hours only. The passion project formed out what at the time felt like the manic emptiness of lockdown, acted as an influence of creativity found from within the stillness that we were all collectively experiencing. The project is just as fluid and consistent as Barney’s previous projects, due to his incredible way of creating music that is enticing in its integrity and can be applied to a variety of genres, whilst still staying true to idea of British Hip hop in a way that is innovative and tranquil.
The sound of this project drills me back to my understanding of hip hop, with a sense of alternative soul. It is poetic and genuine beyond anything else. My favourite without doubt has to be track 3, DARK N COLD, an artfully contrasted track that pushes the boundaries of Barney’s typical style. He merges his jazzy sound with the gritty-raw original sounds of grime. His flow on the tune showcases his the influence of the grime we grew up with as East Londoners, simultaneously joint with aspects of new school grime, whilst still keeping his smooth unique style. This project gives me all the feels of British rap, in a way that is traditional and innovative at the same time, it exist in extremes without shouting at listeners, it remains smooth and solid in it’s unique existence allowing for the most easy listening regardless of mood. Overall, one hell of a vibe! LO-FI LOCKDOWN: THE RE-ISSUE is out now on all streaming platforms.