More often now than ever before, we are witnessing modern creatives proudly redefining traditional music structure, proving some of the most successful works of art are created outside of standard genre labeling. Seattle visionaries Levitate and Kumarion collectively emerge at the forefront of today’s hyper-creative society, delivering their newest collaborative piece ‘Can’t Escape.’ In merging the creative capabilities of both artists, the track is an impeccable blend of multiple sound influences and models a precise execution of sound design.
Accompanying the collaborative track is an exceptionally illustrated promotional video and artwork fashioned from the ingeniously diverse mind that is Levitate. He elaborates on the creative process from which the track was birthed.
“Omar (Kumarion) and I trade music, WIPS, ideas and things like that. When he showed me the WIP for ‘Can’t Escape’ I think that was the first time in a long time, I heard something that made me drop everything I had going on and dive into a project. I love that kind of sound and vibe, it was too dope. Something about the way that industrial percussion mixed with the bass and vocals was just right, not aggro-blown out like an arbitrary sounding banger, it was a song that I had to finish. Not at all because I didn’t think he could but because it resonated with me so deeply, and I’m so glad he let me do so. Also, the process of making the fulltime DnB part at the end was extremely fun as well, we just sat together and hashed it out, everything worked as smooth as butter, creatively.” – Levitate
Sitting at just over four-and-half minutes in duration, the introductory portion of ‘Can’t Escape’ successfully channels an ominously-toned aesthetic with the use of Levitate’s haunting vocal performance. An eerie elucidation of one’s insatiable need for escape, the distorted lyrical arrangement maintains a sinister experience throughout the track’s entirety. Unconfined by conventional song structure, ‘Can’t Escape,’ operates richly and fluidly before advancing into Kumarion’s alluring interpretation of drum and bass arrangement.
“This track makes you feel like you’re stuck in a boiler room and you can’t escape. The cymbals and the white noise in the background sound like pipes letting off exhausts. It kind of really sets the theme. Levitate did a fine job of representing that in his artwork as well. I think we nailed the vibe we were trying to achieve.” – Kumarion
To say the track is a seamless depiction of both Levitate and Kumarion’s technical skillsets would be an understatement. It is melodic, grim, sentimental, and lush all at the same time. Needless to say, ‘Can’t Escape’ further solidifies the notion that one does not need to remain within the bounds of an excessively-organized framework to invent an artistically compelling piece.
Words by Sydney Verbrugge
