all we are / all i need

Florida singer Mixed Matches has been the rising star of the SoundCloud cloud rap scene. His angelic harmonizing and ear for almost-anthemic melodies paint ethereal soundscapes on each track, polishing the distortion and harshness prevalent in cloud rap today. His most recent release, all we are/all i need, is a release of b-sides from his previous two albums. Don't let the b-side label fool you, though. all we are/all i need provides the cleanest examples of Mixed Matches' signature sound, making it his most cohesive release to date.

all we are/all i need explores the process of coping with loss and taking the first steps to move on from it. While the whole project has somber undertones, the lyrical and emotional progression between the album's two halves is evident. The album's sleek production employs trap drums in an almost pop-like manner, making space for Mixed Matches' ultra-layered harmonizations to dominate each track alongside powerful sub-bass. If the stadium rock-esque choruses weren't infectious enough to hook you through the album's 43-minute runtime, he even pulls rock, pop, and dancehall tropes into his cloudy soundscape to keep things fresh.

Outdoing every previous release, Mixed Matches is on an upward trajectory. He is consistently refining his sound to the perfect blend of ambient, cloud trap, and pop, and all we are/all i need is proof that there's no sign of him stopping.