EP RELEASE: Ceeow – ‘Sofar’
EP RELEASE: Ceeow – ‘Sofar’
WORDS BY DALE BURGESS
Born and raised in Brum – Manchester has been home to vocalist Ceeow since 2016, where he’s been honing his talents and building a presence as part of the collective A Broken Camarilla and adjacently as a solo artist.
Ceeow radiates a sound that is all his own, laced with hip-hop, soul and funk – an artist riding his own unique wave with a vocal delivery inimitable by anyone. Rapping, singing, reciting or simply speaking to his audience, Ceeow visibly adores every second of what he does – a vital element to both progression and fulfillment within the industry.
In true Ceeow fashion, humility through inclusivity is the underbelly to his outputs, as he invites the rich pool of talent lying in his peripheries to contribute towards the production, promotion and overall creation of Sofar – his debut solo single/EP release. Complete with a modish video which premiered at a packed out Ancoats General Store for the EP launch party – Sofar is a full-bodied release not to be slept on.
The title of opening track Velvet is heavily personified in Ceeow’s mellow intones, enticing the listener in. The blissfully refined minimal-trap beat lends itself to the artist’s style and lays the canvas exquisitely for the remainder of the EP. Velvet is bite-size in length but hearty in vibes, as Ceeow flirts with sporadic pitch raises throughout the track – teasing you in for what’s to come.
Title track Sofar is one to lean back on but by no means one to drift off to. In contrast to Velvet; bluesy keys and strings flutter over a natural drum sequence – combining to create a wholesome beat for Ceeow to work his magic over. The shackles are off on Sofar as that trademark vocal swagger he is known for erupts throughout – what I would imagine James Brown and Rag’n’Bone Man’s lovechild to sound like, or thereabouts. The hook on this one will have you singing all the way to the download link.
Penultimately – Try Again boasts a unique yet simplified beat, where less is more. Ceeow’s bars are given room to breathe and his lyrical creativity takes the stage. Intelligent pop culture references, irresistible wordplay and another catchy hook ring true for two and a half minutes.
The production on closing track Bonita takes us back to that bread and butter hip-hip sound, oozing vibes of thoughtful reflection within the beat and lyricism. Drawing elements from all 3 tracks on the EP, ‘Bonita’ serves the purpose of a perfect round off to an enjoyably versatile record.
Sofar is no doubt a small taste of the future of Ceeow, but while you wait for that be sure to check out his monthly residency on MCR Live, for further insight into the artist and the music that inspires him.
