Fresh Finds Experimental

Acrobatic Thoughts

Storme

A Journey

Colorado-based RUMTUM (aka John Hastings), an acclaimed visual artist and up-and-coming producer returns to Bastard Jazz with his first full-length offering: “Isles In Indigo.” Arriving after a slew of successful singles (many of which can be found on the album) and EPs, “Isles In Indigo” both stays true to his established sound, and expands on the artistic vision; a luscious combination of aquatic ambient, lo-fi hip-hop, and mellow, melodic electronic, the record traverses the depths of the ocean to the outer reaches of the cosmos.

New offerings on the album include “Lost My Heart In Space” - an ethereal, downtempo cut - “Half Set Valley,” which explores instrumental lo-fi replete with distant, chopped and edited spoken word samples, “Coastal Ruins” with nods to breakbeat, “Mystic Symbols,” a trippy minimal track, and the album closer, “Commit Way,” which journeys from washed-out ambient to spacey hip-hop. Of course the LP also includes many RUMTUM mainstay singles, including “Shade Fader,” “Tropic Air,” and “Borealis.” 

Electronic producer and instrumental enthusiast RUMTUM has a unique approach to crafting his melodic melodies. May it be his love for native spirits, mystic symbols or even sea life, sampling the natural world plays the biggest part in the dynamics of his writing. Ambient loops and saturated synth lines set the tone while the bass and drums do most of the story telling. 

“Isles In Indigo” is a stunning freshman release from a budding artist on the rise. Stay tuned for the physical LP arriving March 2022, complete with an original art insert.

RUMTUM - Coral Dawn

Natura Sophia

Isaac Symonds is a musician, producer, and songwriter living in Montreal. He spent the past eight years as a member of the internationally acclaimed, Juno Award winning band, Half Moon Run. As a multi-instrumentalist, Isaac is now dedicated to a more eclectic creative path where his own musical projects will allow him to explore particular interests including classical guitar, arranging for string quartets and Ambient Music. 

Fusing a surprising blend of influences, Isaac forges music which has a distinctive character. His approach typically attempts to provoke an emotional response in the hope of releasing tension, grief, and pain, and arriving at a sense of resolve. When asked what he would like to accomplish through his music, his response was, “Peace; a cathartic journey for both myself and the listener”.