Translating a feeling or vibe into a piece of music is hard to do, Munan however, does it extremely well. Today the South Korean-based musician is releasing his second EP ‘Everything in Between’ that is a journey through and incredible blend of genres, and a collection of tracks that don’t just remind you of certain vibe, but they remind you of some very specific feelings and reactions we’ve all had with the world, that not many musicians are willing to explore. This EP is intriguing, fun, and so freaking cool – a real gem you’ll want to fully immerse yourself in.
‘Getting Old’ is a gentle introduction to the EP, with soft vocals dancing above a slow, yet steady beat, intricate guitar licks, and a cow bell that’s guiding you through the mellow production with the hauntingly comforting feeling of a loud clock in a quiet home. The subtle atmospherics add a touch of whimsy to the track, and the drums eventually enter the picture to accompany the cow bell and guide you through the overall experience because yes, this song is a full experience. New elements slide into the melody throughout the track, with crunchy guitars and smooth bass lines being a particular highlight, before the track suddenly changes tempo and the slow and steady beat is replaced by a heavier bassline, cooling synths, rustling samples, and magical chimes. The new tempo is a thrill and brings ‘Getting Old’ to a riveting climax, before things slow right back down and we’re back to the steady beat bookending the journey.
When ‘Stoked & Stoned’ begins, you’ll notice the steady beat is back again, except this time things are moving a bit faster. The beat is accompanied by a strong bassline and echoing vocals that float alongside buzzing atmospherics and colourful samples that swirl around the vocals like vibrant tufts of smoke. ‘Stoked & Stoned’ is the most psychedelic track on ‘Everything in Between’, with the melody sounding like a very grounded haze of textured samples and gritty guitars. There’s a roughness to it that’s balanced by the lighter vocals and samples, as well as the synths that launch through the atmospherics like shooting stars. There are so many small details that create the tapestry of this track and you hear something new every time you listen to it, but the best part of ‘Stoked & Stoned’ is that you can get completely lost in its psychedelic textures.
The hollow bass on ‘Fake Love Friday Night’ feel so nostalgic. As soon as those first few notes come through, you’re instantly transported into a funky space where deep grooves are created with a light drumbeat, uplifting tambourines, crunchy guitars, and quirky samples. ‘Fake Love Friday Night’ is so uplifting and if you blend that with the nostalgia brought on by the bass, you’ve got a track that really evokes the feeling of joyous reminiscence. This is the song you listen to when you’re looking back on a series of fond memories, not because you miss them, but because you’re glad they happened in the first place. You don’t come across a track like ‘Fake Love Friday Night’ very often, but when you do, you know it’s going to stick with you for a long time, and I guarantee you’ll be coming back to ‘Fake Love Friday Night’ a lot from here on in.
Once ‘Fake Love Friday Night’ comes to a close, we dip into ‘Naked’ an extremely smooth track with sleek guitars, a hard bassline, humming atmospherics, whistling synths, and steady drums that melt amongst Munan’s airy vocals. This track feels so light and breezy, despite the bassline feeling quite thick. Really, the bass is the thickest part of the track, keeping every other element grounded. ‘Naked’ is very dreamy, the production isn’t very busy, and there’s space for each note to breathe. This is the kind of track that would be playing in your head as you’re daydreaming and feeling more removed from reality. It’s really interesting and probably one of the most intriguing tracks on the EP.
As soon as ‘Till The End’ begins, you feel the magic pouring out of it. Airy atmospherics hold vibrant piano tones, twinkling synths, and snapping percussion that instantly makes you want to move. The track blends disco with gentle electronic dance and a sprinkle of psychedelia to create a whimsical melody that doesn’t feel much different to a sparkling night sky. It’s such a gorgeous track and every tone hits just right. ‘Till The End’ is almost euphoric, it’s so comforting and just makes you feel like everything will work out in the end. It carries you on a blissful journey until everything starts to slow down, melting and the illusion suddenly disappears. We’ve all experienced moments like this before, I guarantee it – when everything’s going so incredibly well and then out of nowhere, you’re dragged back into reality and ‘Till The End’ really encapsulates those kinds of moments. Don’t worry though, despite the end of ‘Till The End’ taking a darker turn, things suddenly brighten up on one of the most refreshing tracks you’ll probably hear all year.
The first few notes of ‘Jeju Organic Green Tea’ are warm and vibrant, with a hint of texture to them. Slightly crunchy percussion gallops beneath warped guitars and warm atmospherics subtly build before the percussion becomes crisp, and the vocals take us on a brighter journey through a melody that feels like a summer dream. ‘Jeju Organic Green Tea’ has a zest to it. It’s full of energy without being too fast, textured without being too muddled, and so refreshing, like a splash of cool water on a hot day. The acoustic guitars work so well with the electric notes and dance around the bassline with twinkling samples like birds bouncing around the top of a tree. ‘Jeju Organic Green Tea’ is so fun and a track you’ll want to listen to all the time.
Finally, ‘Everything in Between’ wraps up with ‘Change’, a track that bends and winds its way through its melody. There’s a unique pace to this track that is slightly off putting but is also incredibly fitting. This track really brings the feeling of dealing with uncomfortable change to life. The bassline bounces alongside the drums and Munan’s vocals hover alongside sharp, buzzing synths, while the warped guitars melt into the percussion. ‘Change’ feels so strange, but so familiar at the same time, but that’s simply because it embodies a vibe we’ve all felt but honestly would probably try to ignore a lot of the time. Not everyone feels comfortable with change, but it comes for us whether we like it or not, and ‘Change’ identifies that feeling and translates it into an amazing track, which I never thought I’d hear.
‘Everything in Between’ certainly takes you on a journey. However this journey goes through all of the complex feelings you can experience in life and how they can make you feel either elated, confused, or just downright strange. Munan’s an incredible musician, with such a unique way of approaching his melodies and defying genre by balancing so many different textures and tones, and this EP really showcases that. ‘Everything in Between’ is a remarkable EP and shows you just how well Munan’s mastered his craft. There’s a well of knowledge there and a willingness to explore the more complicated sides of life that will definitely take him extremely far.