129. Album Review of KUDYX ERA by mavdv
Originally Published on May 12th, 2025
About the Artist
In listening to some of the more recent music submissions that have come my way, I’m beginning to notice a very interesting shift in electronic music. When I started Fifteen Minutes of Fame, electronic music was a genre I listened to a lot of; mainly through my admiration of Thom Yorke and all of the impressive solo work he has done as a DJ and producer of electronic music.
In addition to Yorke, my love for electronic music stems from early 2000’s releases from artists like Moby, Maps, Jóhann Jóhannsson, and bigger mainstream artists like Fatboy Slim and Daft Punk.
The genres around electronic music have changed significantly in the last few years. What once was simply just described as techno in mainstream music, a plethora of underground sub genres have emerged and brought their own influences into the music industry. All the way from dubstep, drum and bass, to genres like hyperpop, electronic music is inserting itself into directional shifts across the entire spectrum of categories of music.
Within the genres of electronic music itself, some really impressive music is emerging, stylistically. My most recent discovery is an artist out of Kerala, South India, mavdv.
mavdv, 19, began releasing music in 2023 with his debut EP, Six Step Process. Prior to this August release, he released 4 singles to promote the EP. Six Step Process contains 6 songs and runs just under 20 minutes. At this point, saying mavdv is an experimental artist almost seems like an understatement. It feels more exploratory as he attacks his music like a chemist; mixing synth effects and beats, adding and removing effects and segments to each song. Bridging music with ambient backing layers behind every sequence and every track.
Right after Six Step Process, mavdv released a couple of collaborative projects, marking his first work with vocal music. In August 2024, he released the song The Brown Unit, which features the rapper dis!theartist. Then, FREAK!, which features the rapper Pantone.
In March of 2024, mavdv released a follow up EP to Six Step Process, the EP Until Undo. Like Six Step Process, this 5-song project is instrumental, however he begins to experiment with vocal samples here. At this point, mavdv is exhibiting a talent to recognize placement of older genres and he is incorporating them into this progressive style in very interesting ways. The production value of the music is truly incredible, and it’s not typical, showing us that mavdv is still experimenting with his sound.
MV Type Beat, releasing in July of 2024, would be the last release of 2024 for mavdv.
About the Album
KUDYX ERA is the debut LP of Indian recording artist, mavdv. It is a 9-song electronic and experimental instrumental album that has a run time of around 20 minutes. It released on April 27th, 2025 through SM 0032268 releases, and was produced and recorded by mavdv.
About the Music
KUDYX ERA opens with the song 1151 S. Forest Avenue, a slow jam that samples string synths and a choir. There are some really cool industrial effects incorporated midway through the track, as well as a filtered vocal that is modulated. The production quality is beyond impressive.
This transitions to Tarnation, a track that showcases a very dynamic and complex percussion performance. At only a minute in length, Tarnation is demonstrating that mavdv has an impressive arsenal of programming capability.
November 4th Type Beat opens with a synth that rapidly pans from side to side, the effect is so evident, it actually messed with my equilibrium. I say this in a good way. For music to be so deliberate that it alters my physical state, I think is so profoundly impressive. Even if it puts in a state of discomfort, it did that! Once the panned section dies down, a saw synth fades in, along with an organic percussion, transitioning to a really cool piano part that gives an old jazz vibe. This is probably my favorite song on the album.
31706 opens with a layered synth accompanied by a sample that sounds like a train crossing indicator that’s pitch is lowered, then raised. It incorporates a variety of different percussions and mixed samples. The detail that has gone into this track, let alone this album, is unimaginable. Addressing the sound-gap question, mavdv has filled every space with meticulously crafted rhythms, melodies, and layers. It is as if he is recording through a microscope.
Another favorite of mine is The Darjeeling Tea which opens with a sample of traditional string music; a cultural nod, I presume. It is sampled to an older sounding record, then skips out as the track continues on to a more progressive style; first incorporating percussion, then an eerily performed synth. Sampled percussions that sound like water drops are performed in the background at different pitches. This is an absolutely brilliant song.
This is followed by August 17th Type Beat which has a deep and enriched pad effect towards the beginning. It feels like a soul being pulled towards the heavens, giving a climactic feel. A recorder plays over the pad, along with an organic percussion that is slightly saturated in reverb.
The album closes with Post Credits, where mavdv puts on a clinic of how to layer and transition synth performances. Every sample is orchestrated in a way as if a listener is walking through different doors, but each “room” is outdoors. The scenery is just simply changing through the passing of each door.
Final Thoughts
When submitting this album for review, mavdv stated, “I’ve been working on this for almost an entire year, and so far, it is the culmination of my 2 years of producing.”
I am taken aback by this sentence because of the information it gives me. First, to hear how much time and effort that was put into this album is admirable and it most certainly comes through in the work. This album sounds like much care went into the production of it. As I stated at one point in speaking of one of the songs, it sounds meticulous, like every song was analyzed with a fine comb. Sometimes, when that happens, a project can sound overproduced. That’s not the case with this. There is no artistic integrity lost with this record. It almost summons emotional reaction throughout.
The second thing that struck me about mavdv’s statement with regards to this album is the fact he has only been producing for 2 years. He is 19 years old and he’s only been doing this for 2 years. Yet he produced a quality, imaginative work of art that transcends electronic music and practically re-defines “experimental,” as he has taken the concept to an all new level.
Admittedly, I have less of an understanding of electronic music than I do with more organic, instrumental music, from a performance standpoint. I have attempted it, I’ve even released some of it. I discovered that it isn’t easy to do. I could certainly incorporate more time and effort into producing it and I may revisit it one day. As a listener, I love the genres.
I say that to say, I know how complicated it is to produce good music in any electronic genre. It can takes years to develop a talent for it; even if someone is a seasoned musician. To understand the complexity of what Mavdv has done in two years, paired with the quality of work he has produced, is mind-blowing. The only explanation I can think of is he is manipulating time. Like Tom Cruise and Santa Clause, he has found a way around a seemingly (mission) impossible task.
All jokes aside, mavdv has proven he is capable of so much in such a short time. I am curious to see where he goes next. We have heard him collaborate with a couple of rap artists. I would love to hear a collaboration with a singer. His music is so dynamic, I think it would be interesting to explore a variety of different performance options. I know he is more than capable.
As far as KUDYX ERA is concerned, mavdv has broken ground on a new era of electronic music. This is his era.
Follow mavdv:
Additional media:
Listen to KUDYX ERA:
In this era, you most definitely want to GO PRESS PLAY!
Comments
Post a Comment