Smith, Reuben Vaun
Sounds From The Workshop
Having further honed his craft, Reuben Vaun Smith returns to Soundway Records with a sonic odyssey through lo-fi Balearic and Afro-Caribbean influenced synth. Heralded as one of the best summer releases of 2020 (Beat Caffeine), Warm Nights introduced his unique blend of synth-based balearic grooves, mid-tempo lo-fi beats, and sun-drenched sonic landscapes. A lush debut and an inspiring story of resilience from the former football promise that turned to music production serendipitously after an injury halted his career. Smiths second album continues his exploration into improvised live instruments and programming, while venturing into new territories of music-making and genres including soca, benga and trip hop. Also sliding into the mix are organic sounds and riffs reminiscent of 2000s Villalobos sunrise scorchers such as Waiworinao, keeping the Balearic thread firmly present throughout the album.