When one thinks of the Milwaukee music scene, they typically think of the thriving Hip Hop scene that has been sweeping the nation over the last year or so. They also may even think about the burgeoning DIY Punk and Alternative Rock scene that has been taking off as well. Both of these scenes have artists that have started to pop off online in a big way, putting more eyes on the city of Milwaukee and its art than ever. Milwaukee does not only have great Hip Hop and Alternative Rock music, though; we also have an Electronic music scene that is growing and starting to make a name for itself. One of the artists at the forefront of this Milwaukee Electronic music scene is Philia. He first started to make a name for himself at the beginning of the 2020s and has gained traction over the last year. Philia grew up in church choirs and has always had a love and appreciation for melodies and harmonies. In his teenage years, he became a big fan of individualistic Electronic music artists like Flume, Odesza, and Aphex Twin, which has helped him cultivate his sound. Philia first started posting remixes on Soundcloud a few years ago and recently started to put out original music. In 2024, he has dropped a couple of very interesting singles and remixes(a couple of which I covered on Eastside Vibes), as well as a very high-quality EP titled Talking With A Head(which I also covered on the blog). These releases, as well as his frequent performances/mixes at bars around Milwaukee such as St. Bibiana and The Sofie, have helped him become one of the top DJs in the city right now. Philia recently dropped a new collaborative single called ‘Clarity’ with Portyl, who is a burgeoning Electronic artist from New York. Below, I wanted to briefly highlight this new single from Philia and Portyl. Please let me know in the comments how you feel about Philia and Portyl’s ‘Clarity,’ and also comment the names of any other new Electronic artists or songs you think I should look into!

As with most of Philia’s music I have heard to this point, ‘Clarity’ has a very sweet and ethereal sound to it. The synths that drive this one are so bright and vibrant. They have a feeling that makes me feel like I am floating when I hear it. The tone of this melody is bound to put anyone in a good mood, as it is impossible to feel down when listening to this. In fact, I will admit I have been feeling pretty down today, and listening to this track has certainly perked me up a bit. The beat for ‘Clarity’ is jumpy and energetic. I really like the even-keeled yet quick House beat this track has, as it just makes me want to move. In fact, it is almost tough to sit still while writing this review, which is certainly a good trait for this kind of song to have. I do not know whether it is Portyl or Philia performing the vocals on this track(the credits cite both artists as the performers) or if this is some sample I do not recognize, but I do want to shout out how enjoyable I do find the vocals on ‘Clarity.’ The way the vocals fall into the tone of the melody makes this track feel so full and all-encompassing, and I dig it a lot. ‘Clarity’ is an exuberant and lively track that will lift anyone’s mood, especially those who are into Melodic House music. It is yet another example of why Philia is one to watch, and it also makes me excited to look into more of Portyl’s music as well.