Hailing originally from Moldova, artist Konstantin Masik has an established musical history in Eastern Europe, working with a variety of metal and rock bands. With experience under his belt, Masik moved to St. Petersburg, Russia, and started his instrumental solo project KOTR. He’s since released several singles and a full-length album expanding upon his signature sound of ambient, electronic music blended with complex electric guitar lines. His most recent single What If? is a total encapsulation of that style and beautifully emphasizes Masik’s skill as both a performer and composer.
What If? starts with gentle, unassuming synths that slowly grow into a rich, textured tapestry of sound. The beat is unquestionably modern and keeps the first half of this track grounded in electronica. The poetry section in the middle of the track is otherworldly, the combination of the soft spoken female voice and the soaring female melody line play off each other wonderfully and give the track an ethereal quality. And in the final section of the song, we finally get a taste of Masik’s intricate guitar work, bringing an organic element and pure rock feeling into the mix for an unexpected but wholly successful combination.
This is a fine sample of evocative, dynamic ambient music. KOTR‘s work will resonate with anyone who enjoys thoughtful production, who understands music’s ability to speak without words, and who can appreciate out-of-the-box combinations that result in pure abounding artistry. What If? contains each of these components and is an excellent testament to Masik’s musical ability. Dive into this sonic adventure for yourself below.
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BELOW: Listen to What If? and connect with his website and social media platforms. Please support KOTR by visiting him online, and playing, downloading, and/or purchasing his music, or attending a live show! And, as always, thank you for supporting real music!
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