Single reviewsThe Other Side Reviews

Magenta Dusk – Time (2023)

Rising from the depths of the Covid-19 pandemic, a spark of light emerged with Magenta Dusk. The brainchild of music producer Ross Swift, the UK-based artist aims to “bring a stylish modern touch to a retro sound”. Since its inception, Magenta Dusk has gained critical acclaim from international audiences, as well as garnering a loyal following with his performances over the past few years. It was in April 2021 that he astonished us with his debut single ‘Give It Up’, but today we take a gander at his most recent release ‘Time’.

The first release from Magenta Dusk in two years, ‘Time’ adopts a softer, slower, more intimate sound as compared to ‘Give It Up’. A nostalgic whiff of 80s dream pop breaks through in the mellifluous melody but a tribute to early 2000s electropop can be heard. An electronic transcending of time and space, ‘Time’ sets you floating in a whirl of kaleidoscopic beats, ethereal vibes and a husky haze of the sublime.

Recorded and produced remotely in his living room, Magenta Dusk’s melodies soak up the comfort of a warm day huddled under the blankets; however, there is also a starkness slithering through the tune. Collaborating with various singers across the globe, the fairy-like vocals bring a whimsical haunting to ‘Time’ – an oscillation between light and dark with intricate composition. I find it particularly interesting that while the vocals have a mystical swirl, melodic precision belies the intricate emotions in ‘Time’.

“The song is about the immutable disposition of time and the realisation (or lack of) that you’re burning through life at a breakneck pace, often under an illusion of permanence waiting for something to happen as though you’ve got all the time in the world. The sadness is that you’re waiting for something that will never happen, but with a message that you won’t find what you’re looking for in the past.” – Magenta Dusk on ‘Time’

The lead single from Magenta Dusk’s upcoming EP Last Light, ‘Time’ is a sincere, sentimental, introspective and honest brush with the philosophical question of time. I am eager to hear more from this talented artist.


Find out more about Magenta Dusk on his official website, Facebook, Instagram and Spotify.

This artist was discovered via Musosoup #sustainablecurator


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