Konstantinos Karakolis
Konstantinos Karakolis
With a unique trajectory that was kickstarted by way of SoundCloud almost 10 years ago, Sam Gellaitry has undoubtedly always been carving his own lane.
At 25 years old, the producer has already cemented himself as one of the scene’s most eclectic talents, capturing the attention of millions with his sweet Escapism EP series, while sharing his first full-length project in 2019 with Viewfinder Vol. 1: PHOSPHENE, a pensive collection of instrumentals that expressed his experimental sensibilities in a fascinating way.
Seemingly out of nowhere, for Sam Gellaitry unveiled a massive stylistic shift in early 2021 when he unveiled “Duo,” which preceded his 4-track EP IV and coincided with a prestigious label signing under iconic UK label Parlophone. Marking Sam Gellaitry’s first official foray into singing, IV displayed an artist reborn and ready to guide his listeners to unexpected territory.
Sam Gellaitry’s second full-length project, VF VOL II has now finally been unveiled in full, and masterfully expands on the immersive auditory world that was crafted with IV. Gellaitry’s prowess as a producer, singer and curator shines bright throughout the project, as the boundary-pushing artist’s shift into the world of pop, R&B and dance is made on his own terms.
While his usually maximalist productions are slightly simplified, Gellaitry’s signature style is audible with every beat and melody on the record as he takes this assortment of genres apart, and reconstructs them by way of otherworldly melodies, huge basslines and glossy guitar licks.
Songs like “THE ONE,” “HEARTBEAT” and “TRY” are intimate R&B gems that encapsulate this sentiment perfectly. “NO SIGNS,” “GULLIBLE” and “STUCK,” on the other hand, are infectious dance-pop records that act as a testament to Sam Gellaitry’s unmatched creativity and style. VF VOL II spans across 15 tracks, however, and comes in all shapes and sizes. The acoustic “SEROTONIN” features Sam Gellaitry’s voice over a catchy progression of guitar chords, while the near 6-minute “EUPHORIA (…OK!)” traverses from ambient breaks into house sections that become increasingly complex.
VF VOL II showcases Sam Gellaitry’s creativity at its very best, while displaying an artist who has come into his own, and is proudly expressing himself while blatantly disregarding the industry’s commercial norms and trends. VF VOL II sounds like music from the future, and this is something no one can take away from Sam Gellaitry.