GRAMN. - MEDIUMN [EP Review]
In their debut project, ‘MEDIUMN’, Hackney collective GRAMN. cover hard-hitting topics with honesty, grace and just the right amount of edge. This is a refreshingly authentic trio who, with their eclectic blended sound and lead-singer Aux’s unstoppable voice, can consider themselves a cut above the rest.
Singer-songwriter Aux and producers / multi-instrumentalists James Lowe and Johnny Tomlinson are a team who push boundaries. Their influences span multiple cultures and styles, resulting in a confrontational, contemplative style of electronic hip-hop peppered with trap and R&B elements. Standing front and centre of the group is Aux, a talented singer whose powerful voice boasts a rich and soulful texture and fine-tuned emotional sensitivity.
Singing and songwriting is a form of therapy for Aux, who has bipolar disorder. In particular, ‘Freak Out’ sees Aux recreate the feeling of losing it and getting into a space where emotion completely takes over. Her voice swoops and dives - an aural representation of the chaos building in her mind - while James and Johnny build the knife-edge atmosphere with tense pangs of the electric guitar, a smattering of beats, and effects which make things feel off-kilter and a little disorientating. It’s an extremely admirable and candid portrayal of the reality of mental-illness that stands as just one example of GRAMN.’s dedication to sharing hard-truths, made accessible through their pleasurable, grooving music.
Much of the lyrical content found in ‘MEDIUMN’ is inspired by Aux’s experiences, or those she has witnessed first-hand. The brooding ‘Better Places’ for example, is inspired by the domestic-abuse suffered by a close friend. Sonically, it’s a slow-burning, soul infused lament, resting on skittering beats and mesmeric electronic production. Aux’s captivating vocals are full of trepidation and sadness as she reimagines the weak excuses given by her friend, “It’s just a little colour on my face alright?” followed by her own cautious responses, “Alright, well what you gonna tell your mama this time?”
However, it’s not just struggles reflective of their personal experiences that GRAMN. delve into. The group are also politically switched on and deeply interested in shining a light on widespread social issues such as white privilege and toxic masculinity, which are explored in ‘Mini Milk’ and ‘Howl’ respectively. The serious-minded subject-matter never invades the listenable nature of the songs: ‘Mini Milk’ is super hooky and infectious. But hidden behind the song’s sultry vocals and smooth harmonies, Aux is cracking wise about performative behaviours and below-average action from alleged allies, with poetic call outs like, “With ya skimmed hood chat and ya BLM cap / Watch the porcelain crack / Say it one more time, for the people in back / Save your milky tears cos they’re dry.”
Listen to the full project along with the collectives latest release ‘Kitchen’, below: