Atem S – Ride and Die (2022)
The solo project of US-based musician Adam Smetana, Atem S takes old-school synth-pop and adds a modern pop meets indie-rock flair atop it. Featured on notable publications like The Punk Head, Pop Fad Blog, and Music Arena GH (to name a few), Atem S has been described as having “a sprinkle of magic in his voice” and “incredibly mesmerising…” In fact, he has also turned our heads with his captivating musicality. In addition to his critical acclaim on the blogosphere, Atem S is building a following with energetic performances. One to mention is his performance at the iVoted Festival alongside Billy Eilish, Rise Against, Tom Morello, OK Go, and many more.
Following his single ‘No Pressure’, Atem S adopts a strong synth-driven tone in his new song ‘Ride and Die’. Similar to his previous work, the track presents a powerful synth-pop sound; however, ‘Ride and Die’ appears to weave a slight indie-rock tone throughout the track. A delicate interplay exists between the pop-inspired synths and Atem S’s gruffer vocals giving it an edgy but light-hearted feel. Add the nostalgic flair and you have an almost “back to the future” edginess as he grips audiences with his fresh but familiar style.
While the melody itself can keep you enthralled with its unique tune and complex production, ‘Ride and Die’ is even more thought-provoking with its intriguing lyricism. Atem S explains that ‘Ride and Die’ is “a song about breaking free for the LGBTQ+ community. The lyrics tell a story of not fitting in and wandering the dark night streets looking for the acceptance we so desperately want in the world…”
Dark, heavy, evocative, provocative, but also rather tender, Atem S elegantly approaches human fragility in his new single ‘Ride and Die’.
For more from Atem S check out his Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Spotify.
This artist was discovered via Musosoup #sustainablecurator
