Kowloon’s latest single “Coasting” is a kaleidoscopic journey through the sun-baked streets of Los Angeles, where the lines between reality and reverie blur like heat waves on asphalt. This one-man band, helming from the industrial fringes of the City of Angels, has crafted a track that feels like a lost transmission from a parallel universe where Roy Ayers, Mac Miller, and Mac DeMarco formed a supergroup.
The song’s foundation is built on a hypnotic bassline that throbs with the persistence of LA traffic, while layers of Rhodes piano and shimmering synths create a lush, almost tactile atmosphere. Kowloon’s production prowess shines through in the meticulous layering of sounds, each element perfectly placed to create a groove that’s both laid-back and irresistibly kinetic.
Vocally, Kowloon assumes the role of a west coast shaman, his lyrics serving as a stream-of-consciousness travelogue through the city’s psychedelic underbelly. The delivery is effortlessly cool, reminiscent of Sly Stone’s more introspective moments, yet imbued with a modern sensibility that keeps the track firmly rooted in the present.
“Coasting” exists in a musical liminal space, drawing from neo-soul, alternative R&B, and nu-disco without fully committing to any one genre. This sonic ambiguity mirrors the hazy, dream-like state the song evokes – a perfect soundtrack for cruising down Mulholland Drive with the top down and reality in the rearview mirror.
As the latest offering from Kowloon’s home-studio laboratory, “Coasting” serves as both an invitation and a warning. It beckons listeners to lose themselves in its sun-soaked grooves while hinting at the underlying anxiety and ecological dread that permeates modern urban existence. In doing so, Kowloon has created more than just a summer jam; he’s captured the essence of contemporary Los Angeles – beautiful, complex, and always on the verge of unraveling.
B-Side Guys 
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