shn shn is the new recording project of Toronto-based Shanika Maria. Something of a shape-shifter of a songwriter, Maria has worked in a number of genres. The music released under her own name focused on guitar, combining indie rock and alt-country in a style typified by 2019’s Subtle Uncertainties. But shn shn sees a pivot in style, moving away from the earnest and direct introspection of the Shanika Maria releases in favour of something far more oblique and dreamy.
Produced, performed, arranged and partially mixed by Maria herself, forthcoming EP structura highlights her versatility as a musician and creator. Turning to ambient pop and beat making, the release is one of cinematic soundscapes and sparse, sleek vocals, the cooly hypnotic rhythm a world away from the organic grit of Subtle Uncertainties.
Two singles serve as the perfect introduction into this new world. With its detailed, shimmering tones, ‘melt’ pulls the listener into a surreal soundscape. Sparkling synths pepper the sound, eventually congregating around the rhythmic pulse at the heart of the track, coalescing into a palpable flow without sacrificing its incorporeal form.
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Offering a more spacious, reflective sound, second single ‘essence’ swaps out some of the bright intricacies in favour of brooding ambient tones. The beat too has an extra weight, lending the track a half-paced motion, a kind of haunted float through which the vocals emerge. The uncertain and atmospheric sound is the perfect counterpoint to ‘melt’, and shows how even within the shn shn project, Maria is an artist always looking for a new dimension to explore.
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