The A-side “All I Need” starts with a slow, sultry RnB-infused intro before switching gears. The female vocal hinted at in the intro opens up to an infectious yet restrained verse, riding over piano chords and classic liquid bass. When the chorus comes, Polaris’s trademark lush orchestration kicks in, with layers of pads and synths washing over the track as the piano picks up alongside percussion and bass flourishes. This one is the rare tune that befits any season, any time on the clock, and any mood.

The B-side “Absolute” is led by a wistful summertime piano and talk-box vocals, soaked in shimmery pads that evoke good times and romance. The drum breaks hit harder than one might expect, but it somehow fits as the temperature of the dance floor rises. After an extended breakdown, the beat drops back in more straight ahead. The piano explores the space with a new male vocal snippet emerging to help wind down a tune that is truly a constantly evolving journey for the listener.

Highland Recordings is back with renewed energy. It is clear that Polaris is planning an emotionally charged, exciting palette of sonic offerings, and “All I Need/Absolute” is a tantalizing glimpse of what’s to come. Stay tuned.

All I Need / Absolute

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All I Need

Absolute

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While Toronto has long been known for the grittier side of drum-n-bass music, the Romanian-born, classically trained Polaris brings an altogether different sound to the fore. At once melancholy and hopeful, jubilant and wistful, he has forged a musical identity that elevates drum-n-bass on a cinematic scale. After rising in the ranks of the Toronto DnB scene, he entered the global awareness in 2016 in grand fashion. His fruitful creative partnership with fellow Torontonian, Schematic, would see the release of their “NBD” on Inner City Dance, and “Please Don’t” and “Bring the Heat” on Technique Recordings, which also released his collaboration with Stranjah, “Aquarius”. Hospital Records came knocking as well, putting two Polaris tracks on their “Future Sound of Canada” EP, his goose bump-inducing stormer with Schematic, “Conduit”, and his own “The Light In Your Eyes”, which would go on to be voted one of the top ten Hospital tracks of 2016. To cap off the year, Med School included his “Found You” on their “New Blood 2016 LP”. He would link up with Schematic again on the Technique “Summer 2017” LP with “So Long”, as well as a pair of tracks in 2018, “City Life” on Inner City Dance, and “Sculpture” on Hospital’s “Sick Music 2018” LP. The label also released the majestic Polaris tune, “Blue Sky Thinking” on the “Hospitality in the Park 2018” LP, as well as two tunes for their soundtrack to the video game Forza Horizon, “Lessons Learned”, and “Empire”. Now hard at work on a solo EP, fans of lush, evocative drum-n-bass have much to anticipate in the next year and beyond.