New York has been responsible for some of hip-hop’s most intriguing experimental sounds lately, and multi-faceted musician Caleb Giles has been at the epicenter of it all. On his latest single, “Quicksand”, the Bronx-based artist mixes soul samples, jazzy instrumentation, and glitchy effects to form the soundtrack for his stream of consciousness.
From the moment it starts, “Quicksand” feels like its being played live. Every moment of the track feels deliberate, whether its the initial stab of the song’s intro or Giles’ tightly crafted flows interwoven throughout the song. Pink Siifu, whose 2018 project ‘Ensley‘ also possesses a similar live feeling to it, adds a guest verse that matches the track’s soul and builds upon the motivational tone of Giles’ verses. “Just trust in me; just run with me”, Giles pleads on the uplifting hook just as the beat erupts into a soulful choir and buzzing bass line. Listen to “Quicksand” below: