Atlanta-based producer Sejva joins TAU for his debut release, Black Lipstick. With releases on Diynamic and Nervous, among others, he’s al- ready established himself as a remarkable talent who fuses retro elements with a future-facing sound to cultivate a style that is all his own. On Black Lipstick we get four slices of Sejva funk, each of which presents a different side to the artist, demonstrating his dexterity and diversity.
The EP opens up with ‘The Midnight Bells’, a track that is buzzing with vibrancy from the first few notes. Sejva immerses us in entrancing synth lines and a grizzly bassline, with punchy beats and an all round ecstatic atmosphere. By the time we reach the breakdown it’s time to really get loose.
Title track ‘Black Lipstick’ feels as though it’s been transported to the future from the 1980s. A new wave-esque vocal and jaunty production encapsulates a feeling of years gone by, while maintaining the polish of contemporary production levels. Guaranteed to send the dance floor into a state of euphoria and positivity, this is a peak time cut that showcases Sejva’s unique talent.
‘Two Heartbeats’ features more vintage drum machine and synth work, with a shift in mood, taking things a little bit more downbeat. More mesmerising vocals give this track its distinct character, and we’re treated to a wonderfully energetic and captivating piece of music.
Finally, ‘Don’t Tell Me’ ends things on a high, with big room vibes and a melancholy, romantic vocal. Sejva closes his EP with a track that offers a transcendent experience to the listener, an electronic synthony of machine-created melody and rhythm that merges the past with the future to great effect.
