- South London's cktrl explores heartbreak on this modern classical EP.
- Active in the London scene as a DJ and producer for over a decade, cktrl is an artist whose music ranges from club and grime to R&B and classical. His latest EP, robyn, is an example of what he calls "improvised, freestyle classical music." The six-track record, released on Touching Bass, shows cktrl's audience the softer side of his sound.
robyn is the type of music that can bring you to a standstill. The heartfelt ambience of the songs allows you to truly connect to the messages he conveys—messages rooted in the experience of heartbreak. The EP begins with "lighthouse," a symbol of safety, strength and hope. With cktrl on clarinet alongside Duval Timothy on piano, this mellow-sounding tune offers a sense of reassurance fitting to its title. "robyn" is a vulnerable piece reflecting the loss of love. It captures this feeling as the saxophone alternates between gentle and harsh sounds, then moves toward brighter harmonies towards the end of the song. "will the feelings leave" is the standout track, with the alluring solo clarinet at the start immediately grabbing your attention. "as you are" draws this journey to a close with birdsong samples entwined with Purple Ferdinand's delicate vocal snippets and Coby Sey on the bass guitar. A more upbeat track compared to the ones that came before, it's the musical embodiment of light at the end of the tunnel.
Tracklist01. dreams of you are too much to speak
02. love and all the things
03. lighthouse
04. robyn
05. will the feelings leave
06. as you are