Rising Maliek Miller‘s Sonic Epiphany is a 7 track body of work that explores topics ranging from loyalty, love and a bit of introspection. The project is quite diverse in terms of sound and production value is original and somewhat edgy as well.

Sonic Epiphany starts off with “PEACE + ANXIETY” featuring PYNES. The record has a surreal and atmospheric backdrop which slowly builds up with its sweltering choral vocals and moody textures. Here, Maliek Miller reflects on his journey through life and the many hurdles he had to face within and externally to find true peace. The track is divided into 2 halves with the second half having punchy drums which adds a bouncy feel to the track as well. “CRASH THE PARTY”  is next up and is made up of sombre instrumentation with melodic downtempo drums and rich glitchy synths. The vocals that open the track have a telephone effect before Maliek comes through with his bravado-laden raps and no-holds-barred demeanour. The track further progresses into a punchy trap drum-driven piece with extra dark synths and PYNES appears with a fiery rap performance. Overall the track is pretty dynamic and edgy as it blends downtempo, electronic elements with punchy trap grooves and off-kilter sound design to match. “BAD DREAMS” sees Maliek digging deep into real-time issues that pertain to his own life. Over a drill-infused backdrop, he shares his thoughts on daily struggles, his inner demons and naysayers trying to distract him from reaching his full potential. Armed with his varied flow and impassioned demeanour and lines like “This could be like that one time I had when I was up in LA/Gave my heart to someone who laughed while she threw it away/And people will justify why they had a reason to hate/‘Cause I been doing the things that they wished that they could be”, he flicks a middle finger to the haters in his own fashion.

“BETTER DAYS” is as dark and moody as they come and captures Maliek in introspective mode as he reminisces on his journey thus far and how things have changed his perspective over time. He acknowledges that better days and securing the bag are the only things that keep him sane as he tries to deal with all the madness around him. The production here has a dark moody synth pad and thick pulsating bassline with the classic punchy trap drum groove to match. “COLOURBLIND” sees Maliek teaming up with PYNES once more and they both deliver another emotive trap track ripe with engaging lyrics, sublime melodic runs and an overall cinematic soundscape. The lyrics are candid and remind us to be aware of betrayal and disloyal people who come into the circle for their own agenda.

The project closes out with “E’RBODY” and “TOUCHDOWN” featuring PYNES, and Nick Moses. “E’RBODY” has a funky bass synth to start with and it slowly rises into an experimental drill-infused track that sees Maliek in grind mode as he weeds out all the negative and distracting elements in his life. His flow here is quite expressive and he changes his pace as required by the dynamic production laid before him. The final track “TOUCHDOWN” helps wrap it up on an anthemic note as he goes for gold with an engulfing and off-kilter production made up of glitchy vocals, sizzling arpeggios and distorted synths layered over punchy drum grooves. The vocals don’t come into play until past the 1 minute mark and it is punctuated by special effects and expansive sound design that raises the ante in many ways.

Overall, Sonic Epiphany is pretty different in terms of sound and style. Maliek Miller is not afraid to push the envelope and uses non-traditional hip-hop elements as an accompaniment to his raps. The overarching motifs are the unapologetic use of sound effects, dark aesthetics and dynamic arrangements.