In a way, this collaboration feels inevitable. Both Nelward and Michael Myerz have made their mark as clever, witty, idiosyncratic artists with a shared fondness for hip-hop and video game soundtracks, and on new single “I’m Phenomenal” the pair are at their quirky, whimsical best. With a banging beat and a flurry of earworm hooks, the track bumps and slaps with irrepressible zeal.
Time and again, Nelward has proven capable of taking even the simplest loop or beat and contorting it into all sorts of unique and intricate shapes. Here, what opens as a crunchy, head-nodding riff soon evolves into a carnival-like soundscape that channels everything from old-school hip-hop to video game and anime music (“For the beat, I was going for golden age hip-hop vibes mixed with nu metal,” he explains via email.) The fact that such divergent aesthetics can come together so fluidly is part of what makes Nelward such an inventive producer, but don’t discount Myerz’s efforts in shaping this eccentric assemblage of sounds. From the opening verse, he’s in full attack mode, navigating each sharp turn and high-speed straightaway with a mix of madman gusto and clinical precision.
Check it out below.
Nelward and Michael Myerz will perform on Tue., Feb. 19 at 529 alongside Eric Wallgren and Turls. Doors open at 9 p.m. Admission is $7. 21+ to enter.
More Info
Bandcamp: nelward.bandcamp.com
Facebook: @nelwardmusic
Instagram: @nelward64
SoundCloud: @nelward
Twitter: @nelward64
YouTube: @nelwardmusic