It’s been a minute since I covered fellow Australian player Artwork Kennedy. He’s an interesting figure because with every new release he puts out, it comes with a different sound from the one before, and he’s doing it again with his third! So let’s talk about it!
So, this is an album written and produced by himself. He’s testing how much of a ‘one-man band’ he can truly be, and with that, he brings seven new tracks with just under 20 minutes of content to be shared.
Across this album, there are no features, just him and his limits of creativity. Even though this offering is short and sweet, the variety of sounds is staggering. Let me explain.
If I had to describe this new projection, it reminds me of ‘Vince Staples’ in the way that after leaving OF, we all thought he would follow Earl in the dark and moody venture of music but ends up surprising everyone by constantly switching up his style from electronic to G-funk to everything in between.
This is Artwork now! We went from gangsta-style rap in the ‘NEED MONEY FOR PORSCHE’, then game soundtrack vibes on ‘Auto Trigger’, and now he’s providing us with more funky/80’s synth pop vibrations with elements of Vapor Wave and Synth Wave.
There are hip-hop influences to be found in doses, but since he’s overdosing on so many other musical aspects on this one, it feels like the only main element keeping this record a ‘rap’ record is the verses by Artwork himself, similar to the heavily electronic songs on Vince’s album ‘Big Fish’, but regardless, it all sounds dope!
This album sounds like a fun time, sounds like the kind of record you’d want to dance and groove to too! (This next line could get me in hot water considering he’s Australian too), but this album has slight 360 ‘Falling and Flying’ vibes with the dance and pop tunes over the rap ones. I quite like those hit singles off that album for their catchy, mainstream, and infectious feel, and this album features a lot of the same energy in my opinion!
Now, as far as the rapping skills go. Once again he’s switched up his cadence and studio characteristics to fit this more variable sound palette, and he sounds good doing it!
He has a softer tone to his raps this time, with smoother flows that run like a river, providing layers of introspective lyricism and skilful pen work to really have his words stand out for all the right reasons!
He sounds as confident as ever on this project; he’s passionate, precise, and honest with his audience and intentions on this one, and I love that. All he’s doing is sharing his ideas and original concepts that only he can pull off!
In the past, I’ve heard him spit personal stories, real bars, bragging bars, and to hear him just rap for the sake of creative thinking and having a blast with it is such a heartfelt thing to hear and witness because I know he’s a solid dude, and the fact he’s in a position to be able to go on sonic adventures of this calibre, I’m nothing but proud and happy for the Kennedy!
If you’re looking for a project that’s interesting, refreshing, and beyond creative, then this is the one for you!
https://open.spotify.com/album/5UhJtX7TdWfGVJqXw1q5s7?si=YRZvcMxDTsWeThqv96E_uw
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