London producer Antonio James’ online presence is scarce; save his debut (and as yet only) single ‘Midnight Mirror’ on his Soundcloud, the top Antonio James offered by a Google search is the famous American murderer. It’s somewhat appropriate therefore that James’ ‘Midnight Mirror’ is a gloomily ambient slice of neo-R&B blended with haunting, hypnotic vocals.
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Released late last month, deep bass pulses through the veins of the track as James muses over his own alienation, flying his “imagination to the moon”. In a style reminiscent of eighties dark wave bands like The Cure and Depeche Mode yet with a modern edge à la The Weeknd, the sound of ‘Midnight Mirror’ is darkly dramatic and refreshingly full-bodied.
Unapologetically chilled-out and mysteriously enticing, throbbing guitar and shadowy synths allow the listener to drown in an ocean of sound, a marriage between Disintegration and Xx, and surely a sign of more striking things to come from Antonio James.
Words by Kristen Sinclair