Vancouver singer-songwriter Mikayla Geier calls her lush, danceable music “orchestral pop,” which often draws from her childhood ballet, piano and violin lessons. In this exclusive commentary, she discusses the creative process behind some of her key tracks, including those from her latest EP, ‘HOT POT!.’ Mikayla shares that she cried when she wrote the track “i don’t feel safe in my body,” a highlight from her 2024 EP ‘here we go again…,’ reflecting on how its vulnerable message has resonated with listeners. By contrast, new tracks such as “ego of a man” and “diva” express confidence and fun; using performance “to say things I might be afraid to say in real life,” she says. Listen now, only on SoundCloud.

Voice Notes: on "diva"

Voice Notes: on "piano in the sky"

Voice Notes: on "dirty shirley"

Voice Notes: on "ego of a man"

Voice Notes: on "i don't feel safe in my body"

This track explains a strategy for getting through moments of nervous system dysregulation caused (in this case) by a spike in anxious attachment. The levels of nervous system dysregulation I discuss, happen to humans when they feel threatened in some way. The different responses are fight, flight, freeze and fawn. Fight and flight are hyper arousal and freeze (and perhaps fawn) are hypo arousal. 

This voice note is simply describing a strategy that works for me when I find that I am distressed due to the absence of a loved one (anxious attachment). I hope that if you find the time to listen to it, that you might get something out of it too!

If you ever do this yourself, you can listen back to your note whenever you need to!

Self talk - anxious attachment strategy

Sydney native SIPPY established herself in Australia’s bass scene before resettling in LA. In this exclusive commentary, she discusses the making of her latest album, ‘Scars in Stereo.’ The album explores the dichotomy of her two cities (“Home”) and putting her vocals forward on tracks like “Wide Awake” and “Ashes.”  While she’s produced official remixes for The Chainsmokers and Zeds Dead, among others, “I feel like my production really leveled up” on “Ashes” in particular, she says. The title of “Like I’m High” is not meant to be taken literally, she explains: “I actually wrote it about the feeling you get when you are disassociating. My brain was completely scrambled, and I was trying to fix it.” Listen now.

Voice Notes: SIPPY on "Like I'm High"

Voice Notes: SIPPY on "Ashes"

Voice Notes: SIPPY on "Wide Awake"

Voice Notes: SIPPY on "Home"

Brooklyn-based DIY techno artist nextdimensional has released ‘Portal,’ the third in a trilogy of new EPs. In this exclusive commentary, she breaks down key tracks from the EP. “Portal 1” grew out of a track she debuted at a beach rave near New York City. “It got a great reaction, and I knew I needed to go home and finish it,” she says. “Portal 2,” written in a Tokyo hotel room, is a “raw, almost minimal soundscape” inspired by that city’s underground scene. “Portal 3” was the product of her first time using a Korg Wavestate synthesizer. Halfway through the song, she added “an intense, dreamy, emotional breakdown. That’s my favorite part.” Listen now.

Voice Notes: nextdimensional on "Portal 3"

Charlotte de Witte showcases her revered deep techno sound on her long-awaited, self-titled debut album. In this exclusive commentary, the Belgian DJ/producer discusses tracks from the album. The track “Domine” takes listeners on “a very personal journey, built on hypnotic layers and ancient sound,” she says. Featuring vocals from Lisa Gerrard of Dead Can Dance on the track“After the Fall,” Charlotte notes how Lisa’s “voice doesn’t just fill space, it opens it.” Another standout, “No Division,” featuring XSALT, is about “erasing the invisible lines that separate us, whether cultural, personal, or emotional,” while “The Realm” is the track that inspired the whole project’s energy and philosophy. As Charlotte puts it: “Enter the realm of the unknown.” Listen now.

Voice Notes: Charlotte de Witte on "Domine"

Voice Notes: Charlotte de Witte on "After The Fall"

Voice Notes: Charlotte de Witte on "The Heads That Know"

Voice Notes: Charlotte de Witte on "No Division"

Voice Notes: Charlotte de Witte on "The Realm"

Ecuadorian-American musician Helado Negro has released his latest EP, ‘The Last Sound on Earth,’ on Big Dada. In this exclusive commentary, the electronic artist, known for his atmospheric, experimental pop music, talks about the making of the project. The track “More” helped him develop a sonic palette for this latest project. For “Protector,” he wanted to explore “darker spaces,” he says; sounds “teetering on the edge of some dissonance.” He says the track “Sender Receiver” came to him quickly; one of those magical moments when a musician keeps grinding until “all of a sudden, the song just kind of happens.” The title comes from the sense of musical connection, and the day-to-day transmissions that have come to dominate our lives. Listen now. 

Voice Notes: Helado Negro on "More"

Voice Notes: Helado Negro on "Sender Receiver"

Voice Notes: Helado Negro on "Protector"

SoundCloud Stories elevates artists’ creative journeys, spotlights vibrant music communities and gives a behind-the-scenes look at the defining sounds of today and tomorrow. Original content includes the Sound Advice interview series, exclusive track-by-track artist commentary on Voice Notes, and the Weekly Download playlist, which highlights essential scenes and groundbreaking artists.

To say that I LoVe muSiC is a bit of an UNDERstatement. I live and breathe the stuff. It is my anaesthetic, my passion, my love.

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