Establishing the mood with intricate keys and a luscious synthscape, Rustyn and undy open their collaborative single, Darkness with intrigue, dimensionality and the lyrics, “Like a wildfire on a mountainside, and off a ledge the ocean tide, just like the cosmos burning bright, I keep going…”
The opus expands into a dark pop, ethereal, and metaphorical journey with atmospheric vocals, as the duo take us on an astral and transcendental trip through their minds. We appreciate the empowering lyrics which are full of assertive hooks such as, “Anyone who thinks they can stop me, has another thing coming, better reconsider, cos I deliver darkness…”
The vocal design has an EDM twist for the choruses, and the dimensionality of the synths is simply out of this world! We love the way that the composition builds, and evokes a though-provoking and anthemic energy, allowing us to embrace our Darkness!
Speaking on the meaning of Darkness, Rustyn and undy tell us, “This is about stubborn perseverance in the face of underestimation. It encapsulates that scrappy feminine determination fuelled by the constant need to prove ourselves to keep up and gain respect.”
We learn that Darkness was mixed by Daniela Rivera (Mariah Carey, Rihanna, Justin Bieber, Coldplay) and mastered by John Horesco (Kygo, Usher, Janet Jackson, Nelly), which explains the stunning quality of the piece.
Rustyn is an independent music producer, songwriter and guitarist from Sydney, Australia who collaborates with a range of vocalists to create predominately pop and electronic songs. Drawing influences from Flume and ILLENIUM, he confesses, “I write and record all the music and instrumental side of things and get different vocalists from around the world to write lyrics and sing to these tracks.”
undy is a Nashville-based writer, producer, and vocalist specialising in piano, image-driven lyrics, and strong, conversational melodies. Her charming, youthful, and emotive vocal tone (similar to Bebe Rexha and Julia Michaels, although also unique to her!) has graced demos and releases for producers all over the world.
We love the magic that the pair have created, and we have added Darkness to our New Music Spotlight playlist, whilst we continue to stream their wider discographies!