Out of all the underground Milwaukee-based or associated artists I have been covering over the last few years, Daark has easily become one of my favorites. His sound and overall artistry are just so unique when compared to anyone else in the Milwaukee scene. Daark creates a soundscape and energy that is entirely his own. His music and visuals always have a grimy Cyberpunk Trap feeling to them. Daark is a super on-the-nose artist name, as his art has a nocturnal and looming essence in the best way. Daark’s instrumentals are always so big and daring, and his vocals totally match that energy. Over the last couple of years. Daark has put out some of the coolest Milwaukee projects I have listened to in the last couple of years. His Nocturnal Circles mixtape series, which I have covered on Eastside Vibes, has been awesome to follow. Not only has he made some super dope and interesting music, but he has collaborated with so many great artists on these tapes. Recently. Daark collaborated with Milwaukee DJ iBn Farmacia on his new project Winter Silent. Below, I wanted to highlight a few of my favorite tracks then give some overall thoughts. Please let me know in the comments what you think of Daark and Winter Silent!

PUMA KOLA

‘Puma Kola’ is the one song from this project that is probably most unlike the others. Whereas the rest of the record has a pretty harsh and intense sound, this track is a lot softer and more low-key than what I would expect. Don’t get me wrong, it still has a low-end dark sound to it, but this one is not so in-your-face. The melody for ‘Puma Kola’ is very melancholy and sort of creepy. Its tone definitely makes me think of a horror movie when I hear it. The beat has a sort of slow-paced Slap music tone. It leans into the typically Milwaukee sound, but is not so fast-paced or high-key. Daark’s low tone fits this melody and sonic theme well. His flow is hypnotic and fluid, which makes this song stand out as well. ‘Puma Kola’ is a low-end Milwaukee banger with a shadowy sound that I dig.

XENA

‘Xena’ is a sound that feels a lot closer to what one would probably expect to hear from Daark if they know anything about his music. This song has a very intense and atmospheric sound and energy. The melody, which is provided by ominous synths, sounds like something out of a dystopian Cyberpunk world. The beat is very heavy, distorted, and bold. It certainly leans into the larger-than-life feeling of the track. Daark’s vocals on ‘Xena’ are low and daunting like the instrumental. His flow follows the rhythm very well and his tone fits the feeling of the track so well. ‘Xena’ is the kind of ultramodern and frigid banger that really sets Daark apart. 

GLOW BUGS FT. KKTHAINFAMOUS

‘Glow Bugs’ is another song that stands out a bit when compared to the rest of Daark’s catalog when it comes to its sound. It also has a feature from his frequent collaborator KkThaInfamous, who always stands out on his tracks. The melody for this one relates to the track’s title. It is an interpolation of the classic Pop track ‘Fireflies’ by Owl City. The melody is obviously very vibrant and bright, which stands out from the rest of the melodies on this tape in a cool way. The beat has a high-key and hefty Trap sound to it that absolutely pounds. Daark’s low tone definitely contrasts with the instrumental, giving the song fun textures. As cool as Daark sounds, KkThaInfamous really kills it on this song. She sounds great on the hook and also delivers a dope little verse. Her vocals give life to the track, creating a juxtaposition with Daark and meshing well with the instrumental. ‘Glow Bugs’ is a fun track that once again shows a different side to Daark.

As I stated in the introduction, there really is no one like Daark. His sound and presence really pop for how audacious they are. On this new tape with iBn Farmacia, that feeling is more prominent than ever. One thing I noticed in Winter Silent is that Daark seems to be expanding his artistry further and further, and is also becoming even more dynamic as a rapper. On Winter Silent, themes of potent and huge sounds that I have come to expect and love from Daark are certainly still there. A couple of these songs especially have that bulky and extreme element that Daark is so good at. I really appreciate the moments where Daark ventures in a bit of a different direction as well. On songs like ‘Puma Kola’ and ‘Glow Bugs,’ Daark takes his typical style and veers in a lighter direction a bit. He puts his signature spin on some more vibrant melodies, which really makes these songs hit extra hard. I also feel like Daark’s pen game and flows get more sophisticated with each project he drops. As he starts to open up more and more with his sound and melody choices, he is experimenting with different rhythms in the way that he raps. This makes Winter Silent pop for me more than ever. I love the distinctiveness between the less dense and harder songs on this project, as it makes the project very spirited and fun. Overall, Winter Silent is another really cool project from one of the most interesting artists associated with Milwaukee. It shows that Daark is still carving his own lane, and I am excited to see how he continues to improve in the future!