A man after my own heart, Michael Guard AKA Blunts & Blondes, has been making waves in the music scene since the burgeoning age of 19 when he transitioned from playing house parties and small impromptu shows, to having a residency at the Ritz in Tampa, Florida. From there he got bookings at the legendary Okeechobee Music Festival, Sunset Music Festival, Valhalla Sound Circus, and more. His first smash hit was ‘Routine,’ a wubby collaboration with Bawldy that surpassed 450,000 streams on SoundCloud alone. Now, he celebrates a monumental milestone in his career, the release of his debut 4 track EP Smoking With Friends. To sweeten the moment even further, he’s releasing the EP through Zeds Deads’ Deadbeats label, a testament to the talent he’s showcased in his journey so far, and a sure sign of titanic achievements to come.
The EP opens with ‘Rain Dance,’ a track that makes damn sure it’s raining singles, not H20. The mixture of satisfying hollow wubs, soft tribal chants placed at breaks, and some of the most impressive snare work I’ve heard all year combines into an audio experience that elicits a tranquil trance-like state that coats the body in a calm confidence.
Next up is ‘Run T’he City,’ a song that really makes you feel like you’re a kingpin. Harnessing deep, thick bass lines and using coin samples along with silky smooth vocals, this song has people popping their collars as a reflex. It’s a testament to the vast amount of growth Guard has had over the past several years, with tight, clean sounds, and heaps of little touches that ooze character and creativity.
‘Smoke Break’ is succinctly a damn good time. It incorporates various samples that apart wouldn’t seem to mesh well, but B&B makes it work so astoundingly. He uses a seemingly minimalist approach that turns itself on its head and provides waves of depth. True to its name, this is a prime example of a song to relax and burn one too.
Rounding out this body of work is ‘Take a Hit,’ arguably the heaviest song on the EP. The first drop is like hitting a joint, with short, quick patches of euphoria. This drop has an almost old school dubstep sound, with wobbles so soft you could use them as sheets. The 2nd is like trying to empty a gravity bong in one go, with a thick WHA-BAM straight to the dome. ‘Take a Hit’ remarkably toes the line between dubstep and the ever-growing west coast bass sound, achieving a distinct personality. On a proper sound system this song should readily do damage.
Going back and listening to Blunts & Blondes’ first releases 2 years ago and comparing them to Smoking With Friends is definitely comparing two very different artists. The original intention and style Guard curated is still intact, but the progress he’s made in his sound design and creativity is staggering. His eyes may be low, but the odds of mass success in his future are quite high.
Check out all of Smoking With Friends below!
