If there is one thing in my life that I know to be certain, it is that the Milwaukee music scene has been thriving. In fact, I would say it has been bigger and better than ever lately, with so much exciting music coming out over the last few months. For my first post back in a few months, I wanted to talk about one of my favorite local artists, Daark. Daark has been killing it over the last few years, releasing so much great music that truly stands out from his peers. Daark has always been someone who wants and is willing to step out of the box. One of my favorite things about Daark and their music is that you never necessarily know what you are going to get. Daark’s projects are full of so much interesting energy and so many exciting sounds. Daark draws inspiration from so many places with their music. Daark typically gravitates towards low-end end gritty Hip Hop or brightly intense Trap, and the melodies for these tracks can go in a variety of fun directions. A couple of years ago, Daark started their Nocturnal Circles project series. This series has been awesome to follow for multiple reasons. Daark has shown so much growth on these projects and has expanded his style so much. Also, Daark has used the Nocturnal Circles projects as a way to showcase lots of other artists that Daark respects and has wanted to collaborate with. Each of these projects is full of talented Milwaukee, Minneapolis, and even international musicians who all contribute something cool to the records(I have reviewed Nocturnal Circles 1-3 on Eastside Vibes, so go search those and check them out after reading this if you have not yet). This summer, Daark released the next edition of this series, Nocturnal Circles 4. Below, I wanted to talk about some of my favorite songs from this project, and then give some comments on it as a whole to close things out. Please let me know in the comments below how you feel about Daark’s Nocturnal Circles 4, and also comment the names of any other up-and-coming artists you think I should check out!

‘NO SLEEP’ WITH STIX

Although I mentioned in the introduction that Daark’s sound is pretty vast, I have come to expect most of their music to have a pretty dark sound(which obviously fits with the moniker). Once in a while, DAARK will throw in a much more vibrant and gleaming sound, and that is the case of the opening track of this project, ‘No Sleep.’ This song is driven by a very sweet and light sample with a retro R&B sound. This sample is pitched up, which makes it feel even more vivid; when paired with the clapping style of beat, it makes this track positively potent. ‘No Sleep’ is the only track on this project without any other vocals from DAARK. This makes DAARK stand out in the best way. The way DAARK’s low, gruff vocals and quick flow hit this instrumental contrasts it interestingly, which provides so much texture to the track. I would have predicted a more gloomy or heavy sound to start this project, but this switch-up is very enticing. 

‘MEDUSA’ WITH EF AY, SPRAYNEM, AND RØ

‘Medusa’ is a song that has a title that fits very well with its sound. Medusa(the mythological being) is a mean woman who turned anyone who looked at her to stone, and this song has a very big, harsh sound that is crushing. The melody for this song is punishing and foreboding; the amount of distortion it carries makes the song so acute. The beat has a very similar feeling to the melody, carrying its own level of distortion that adds to the heaviness of the track. As interesting as this instrumental is, the coolest thing about ‘Medusa’ is the variance in the vocal styles on this track. Daark, Rø, and Ef Ay all have such distinct tones and styles, and they all pop on this track. I especially like the higher pitch that Ef Ay sings with, as it gives the song an interesting texture that really pops. ‘Medusa’ is a track that fits very well into the landscape that Daark often creates with his music, and it stands out on this project.

‘WATER DANCE’ WITH SYM1, KKTHAINFAMOUS, AND AER

When I first listened to this project, ‘Water Dance’ is the song I was immediately attracted to. It has remained my favorite song from the project, and is among my favorites of the year as a whole. When I chatted with DAARK a while back about his inspirations and musical tendencies, he mentioned that he loves dystopian and ethereal movies(and media in general), and ‘Water Dance’ certainly fits into that style. Although the main melody is pretty harsh and the beat is super pushy, there are some squeaky, colorful synths that complement the track and lighten it up a bit. Daark certainly does his thing on this one, but I especially have to acknowledge and shout out both SYM1 and KKThaInfamous. They both give such interesting textures to the track with their distinctive vocal styles that make this track really stand out. ‘Water Dance’ is such a fun and exuberant song where Daark and his features are really at their best. 

‘TUNNEL RATS’ WITH BIG KIAA, DD THE SPEKTRUM, SIR JAH, AND BEEFY808

If you have come across my blog or my YouTube channel in the past, you know that I get my love of music from my mom. Even if we do not review all of the Milwaukee music I love on YouTube, I usually send the projects to her so she can listen. When she listened to Nocturnal Circles 4, she immediately was enamored with ‘Tunnel Rats.’ Not only does she love the overall soundscape of this one, but she is also attracted to one of the vocalists in particular. As great as the performances from DD The Spektrum, Daark, and Sir Jah are, the artist who stands out the most on this track is Big Kiaa. She absolutely kills it with her tone, flow, and overall delivery on ‘Tunnel Rats.’ When my mom told me how much she loved this track, she mentioned that Big Kiaa reminded her of Rico Nasty, which is big praise coming from my mom(I can definitely see the comparison). ‘Tunnel Rats’ is a larger-than-life track with one particular rap performance that stands out and takes it over the top. 

‘RED DIAMONDS’ WITH SUPERSTAR SEL, TORI LITTLE, AND GUCCO 

‘Red Diamonds’ is the last official song of this record(there is one more track, but it is a spoken word outro). Similar to the opener, ‘No Sleep,’ this one has a pretty different style and tone than the rest of the project. ‘Red Diamonds’ has a very vivid and atmospheric sound that really stands out. The synths that drive the melody for this track are so warm, sweet, and futuristic-sounding. When paired with this fast-paced R&B Trap-style beat, these synths give a utopian element that is so welcoming. Each of the vocalists on ‘Red Diamonds’ is very distinctive and really stands out. I especially love the contribution from Tori Little, as he tone and delivery fit this instrumental so well and provide some contrast and texture from the rest of the artists. Red Diamonds’ is an enticing and balmy track that sends this project off on a high note and shows a sunnier side to Daark’s artistry. 

As I alluded to in the introduction, Daark is an artist who really stands out. They have a sound, demeanor, and overall aura that is unlike anyone else. Daark typically creates a soundscape with their music that is so vast, powerful, and massive. Their music feels so futuristic and otherworldly; it is such a unique and expansive take on Hip Hop. On Nocturnal Circles 4, Daark pushes his sound and artistry more than ever. Everything about this project seems so huge and intense. With that being said, though, it is still inviting and entertaining. The best way I can describe the sound of this project is that it sounds like the kind of music that should be played at a fun yet sort of scary club in the world of movies like Blade or The Matrix. As I mentioned, there are a couple of songs that take a more shimmery approach, and these tracks stand out awesomely. As cool as the instrumentals are on this project, there are so many vocal performances that take these tracks over the top. Daark does their thing on every track. The deep and guttural tone in which Daark’s raps are so distinctive, and the way they constantly switch up their flows gives the songs so much intricacy. Like I mentioned above, there are so many guest performances that stand out in the best way. Daark always does such a great job at selecting features for their tracks. Nocturnal Circles 4 shows this more than ever. Overall, Nocturnal Circles 4 shows that Daark is still honing their craft and becoming better with each release, and I love how eccentric their music continues to be.