After a couple singles, Florián Rose launches his biggest project yet: Summer Nights. The debut EP is complete with three songs that, despite its brevity, take you on a journey through love and heartbreak. Becoming an experience as much as an introduction.
What interested me initially about Summer Nights is the opportunity to hear Florián’s sound in a wider setting, and how it would fare across multiple songs rather than the odd single. His debut single ‘Pomegranate Boy’ brought a lo-fi sound that sparkled with muted percussion and breathy synthesisers. Creating something that drew you in with intrigue while also sounding pretty catchy. Fortunately, this is ever-present on Summer Nights, and translates into something you could wish to be lost inside for ages.
‘Boys In Cars’ opens with a mid-tempo beat that snaps some texture into the speakers. The synthesisers are given the time to fill the room with their almost hazy layers. It transports me back to when I first heard ‘Pomegranate Boy’. Florián’s vocals slip between the instrumental with ease, and are backed by direct harmonies that bring extra energy to the track. It’s a great start that eases you into the EP.
Florián explains: “I think of this EP as a sort of short film but told through music. From track number one to number three you can perceive a narrative development, with a climax and an open end. It’s an invitation for people to create their own movie on their minds as they listen to the songs, and hopefully they’ll see their own experiences reflected in them.”
‘Watch Your Back’ does an excellent job at being the “climax” of the EP. It sees Florián bring stories of his youth and summer experiences and weaves it into the music. Car tyres and horns are heard in the background as he details moments of people crashing their cars, driving home the shock of it all. Backed with urgent percussion and bass notes that warp like sirens, it makes you feel the same emotions too. The inclusions of Landon Miller’s vocals add a “bad boy” perspective to the track, and ZALATAN’s guitar work adds to the atmosphere too.
Summer Nights is a superb EP from Florián Rose. It succeeds at being more than just a set of songs. The way they move so effortlessly into the next is excellent, and the storytelling aspect makes it even more enjoyable. The generally laid-back sound does contribute urgency when it’s required, and also adds to the reflective tone of the title track to close things out. It’s great, and what a way to introduce yourself.