Ambition has never been an issue for Jeremi Johnson, better known as 10th Letter. From creating dizzying soundscapes to psychedelic music videos, to recording a live album with the 10th Letter Ensemble, Johnson is constantly trying to push his brand of jazzy electronica to new heights. This year, Johnson has two new LPs planned, the first of which is Escape from ATL, his musical take on a summer blockbuster. Fittingly, his premiere for the album is an action-packed cut which doesn’t sacrifice explosive beats for catchy synth lines.

“Nada’s Dream” is more inspired by John Carpenter’s post-apocalyptic films than his pulsing synth scores, but it captures the thrilling mystery that underlies Carpenter’s most successful films, especially Escape from New York. Like his previous material, this track is exceptionally busy, but when the pressure from incessant beats and throbbing keys grows too strong, he backs off and allows the listener to breathe.

According to Johnson, Escape from ATL is his soundtrack to a post-nuclear fallout Atlanta. It’s a world filled with cyber punks and mutant motorcycle gangs, populated by tracks like “Nuclear Summer” and “Arcade Riot.” If “Nada’s Dream” is just a sample of what we can expect from the LP, this should be more than an experimental rewrite of ’80s tropes. Instead, 10th Letter is crafting something unique to Atlanta in an increasingly chaotic world. “Nada’s Dream” exists in different realm than John Carpenter, even if Johnson’s inspiration is grounded in sci-fi history.

10th Letter compositions are never straightforward jams, but compared to the songs from last year’s Portals and Compasses, “Nada’s Dream” relies more on futuristic pop melodies than electro hip-hop breakdowns. Still, the torrential outro of the song is proof that he still isn’t afraid to pour some gasoline on the fire and deconstruct a perfectly good beat, just because he can.

Escape from ATL will be released on June 21.

More Info
Web: 10thlettermusic.com
Bandcamp: 10thletter.bandcamp.com
Facebook: @10thLetterMusic
SoundCloud: @10th-letter
Twitter: @10thxletter