Indie producer/rapper siylk shares his debut album nuLL, an 11-track conceptual album centred around moral and spiritual themes. The juxtaposition of the themes extends beyond the songwriting but also the production style which weaves a wide tapestry of musical styles ranging from traditional and modern rap to classical and funk.

Audiences are thrown into the mix on the first track “null (intro)” with its brooding piano riff and offbeat vocal introduction. The track switches up into a smooth mid-tempo piano-driven bouncy track with contemporary elements. Here siylk employs a mix of melodic flow with impassioned rap flows to drive his message about breaking from the norm. This is followed by “The Cave”, a dark cinematic pop tune that starts with soft chords and proceeds into a gripping piece peppered with brooding strings, industrial sound design and punchy drum grooves. The vocals are sometimes drowned out by the engulfing backdrop and can be distracting but for the most part, the vocals do cut through the mix. Next up is “Thrill”, introduced by urgent brass stabs and siylk’s use of staccato vocal runs and his knack for going against the norm seems to be his forte.

With 3 tracks deep in, one can attest to his extensive use of abstract imagery in painting his message and stream-of-consciousness approach to his rhyme schemes. This aspect of his art is further shown on tracks like “I Want It All” and  “Bells of Time” where he pushes his production boundaries to the deepest experimental side of things. “I Want It All” is as brooding as they come and is anchored on self-consciousness, doubt and how societal weight can make or break one’s mind while “Bells of Time” explores the concept of time and its nonlinear nature. The production of the latter is quite scenic and sounds like the score for a drama-thriller flick but the fun doesn’t stop there as he switches the pace on the second verse. “Toll Collections” is a potpourri of sounds that is quite difficult to box in. From the punchy drums, sparkling piano riffs, and moody textures or the edgy dark pop aesthetics, audiences are thrown deep into the mix of the action as he details his life experiences. Siylk’s off-beat flow and unbridled impassioned energy take precedence as he effortlessly weaves through the rich backdrop laid before him.

“Call-Out” starts with a soaring string and when the verses start, the mood tones down allowing the vocals to shine through. Here, siylk pours out his frustrations on the system that continues to put its boots on the necks of the masses. Lines like “Not gonna lie, wanna be in your place/Green screen, all taste the spotlight with a gold frame…Now I’m living with my eyes closed/Like am I supposed to when everyone, everywhere tells you there is no way” digs deep into his pain and gives audiences a glimpse into his life. The final track “seekers through the sand” is a 5-minute medley that takes listeners on an aural adventure with siylk in the lead. Over the soaring piano riffs, he paints a vivid image of a man soul searching while faced with nearly insurmountable odds. The rap verses are punctuated by gripping harmonies and interjected by melodic vocals peppered by dark sound design that rises to a plateau as the hook comes in as siylk sings “I need that fresh water”. By the 2 minute mark, the song switches into a dark trap piece with pounding 808 drums and siylk employs some K-Dot-inspired raps with insightful bars that look at self-doubt and the never-ending journey to find his true North. Other tracks include the moodily reflective “Wings and Wheels”, the playful “The Human Show #1 (interlude)” and the aptly titled “HellHound” which employs dark elements to depict a dystopian world filled with dejection and despair.

Overall nuLL, is an extremely experimental piece that requires thorough listening due to its dense and non-conforming style of music. Siylk doesn’t rap like everyone else and it might be a bit off the first time until you really get into it with an open mind and repeated listens.