We previously featured Mark J Soler when he captured the magic of childhood and the ocean, sharing a heartfelt tribute to his son’s unique spirit with The Seventh Wave, so when we heard that the talented artist was back with Walking in the City, we were curious to say the least, and couldn’t wait to listen and share our experience.

Establishing the mood with textured drums and a cymbal hit, expanding with a dimensional bassline and astral organ riffs, Mark J Soler opens Walking in the City with a playful and optimistic energy. We appreciate the connection between the soundscape and the title of the track.

The chord changes are sublime, and evoke diversity in spirit, which is reflective of what one might expect when walking through a city! The horn sounds tap into nostalgia, whilst the high keys and more psychedelic synths lend themselves to a more progressive and almost futuristic energy.

There is most certainly a cinematic energy that manifests, and we could imagine this being the score for a cerebral comedy like Intolerable Cruelty, or perhaps a TV show like PLUR1BUS. The intricacy is divine, whilst the instrumentation forms a cohesive tapestry of sound. We love the guitar performance that emerges for the finale, adding icing to the already expansive experience.

We learn that Walking in the City is part of Walks, a three-track instrumental EP inspired by the idea of inner life, exploring introspection, meditation and emotions such as desire, regret, acceptance and nostalgia through music as a spiritual language. The song is designed to reflect the restorative power of walking through Paris, where the city’s energy and beauty help transform dark thoughts into a renewed, positive vision of the world.

Needless to say, we are in awe, and have added Walking in the City to our New Music Spotlight playlist, and our TIMELESS playlist, whilst we continue to stream the wider discography of Mark J Soler, including Lazy Song, and Inner Life, from the Walks EP!

The post Mark J Soler helps transform dark thoughts into a renewed, positive vision of the world with new composition, Walking in the City appeared first on KIMU.

Drawing us in with a dimensional piano performance, building with prestissimo arpeggios, punctuated by moments of stillness for additional drama, Mark J Soler opens The Seventh Wave with instrumental mastery.

The piece showcases the range of the instrumental with higher moments and brooding bass moments, together and separately. There is a cinematic allure to the composition which also holds a high emotional quotient.

There is no doubt that The Seventh Wave would serve well for a number of sync deals, perhaps a coming of age movie or a Netflix TV show that touches upon emotive themes. The track’s central build is divine, and we appreciate the layers and intricacies that manifest.

We learn that The Seventh Wave was inspired by the composer’s young son, who loves jumping into the ocean. The track doesn’t try to mimic the sound of the sea, but instead captures the joy and freedom of a boy playing in the summer waves. That said, notions of the ocean also do come to life with the rippling arpeggios as waves, fused with the bolder bass notes that are akin to a human’s engagement with a body of water.

Together, they joke that the seventh wave is the lucky one to dive into, pretending its water brings good fortune. It is noted that this piece is “unusual” for Soler, whose work is often in a pop meets jazz style with funk and soul grooves.

He tells us that for this piece, he embraced a more classical and romantic piano approach. The melody came to him while watching his son wait for the perfect wave before running and diving. When asked how he knew which wave was right, his son simply replied, “The seventh wave.” Soler shares that his son is autistic and full of unique, wonderful perspectives, which inspired the music’s emotional depth.

Mark J Soler is an independent musician who writes, composes, and produces all his work. Born in Lyon, France, he learned guitar with friends before expanding into piano and digital music production.

We love The Seventh Wave, and have added the composition to our New Music Spotlight playlist, and our TIMELESS playlist, whilst we continue to stream Mark J Soler‘s wider body of work, including Soft Wake Up, Hanami, and Piano Guitar Duet!

The post Mark J Soler captures the magic of childhood and the ocean, sharing a heartfelt tribute to his son’s unique spirit with The Seventh Wave appeared first on KIMU.