01. EPOCH - Vicci Martini
DownloadVicci Martini – a relatively unknown quantity, with a SoundCloud account with only thirteen tracks in total after releasing his debut project EPOCH. Vicci has managed to generate a small but niche following in Durban, performing at places like the Werehouse and also being able to grab attention from WTF.
The EP was initially meant to be titled “Existence” and packaged differently until a creative decision was taken by his management team to have him on the cover. That all gave birth to EPOCH which means “a particular period of time in history or a person’s life”. This basically plays around with the concept of “Existence” but from a different perspective, it’s based around the time Vicci recorded EPOCH. With all those decisions having to be made, it delayed the release date of the project but it was worth the wait.
EPOCH opens up with Pressure, a smooth confession to a lover around the pressure she puts him under. Based around a toxic love where she’s no good for him “I lose my breath when I’m around you, I don’t need that kind of pressure”. She seems to be the one thing that derails him from his vision. He effortlessly switches between singing and rapping that it becomes so difficult to tell the difference between the two. Enemies is where we find him marking his territory, disassociating himself from people that want to work with him, he refuses to collaborate with them because “they need better work”. So assertive of his own abilities, he may be a new brand but he’s already equipped with a seasoned sound and approach.
I’ll Take You There signifies the beginning of his journey, as he dives deeper into his dark R&B realm. He throws out the singing-rap for a soul filled and vocally balanced aesthetic. The trip to psychedelia begins, “don’t you worry my friend, I’ll take you there” a drug induced lover talks to him. He expresses his struggles of indecision whether to stay with her or not. The narrative of EPOCH becomes more identifiable the more you listen. The song is very much in the mold of The Weeknd’s Kissland, with background screams and anime samples. You can also pick up the catalogue of his music choice.
Just like his music, Vicci Martini has a distant demeanour, he arrives at shows, he performs then he leaves. He let’s the music be his identity. Till The End opens up with an acoustic guitar that he recorded himself, the whole of EPOCH is produced and mastered by himself . The project was created in his bedroom in the North side of Durban, all on a Dell computer and a mic. As he put it himself “it works perfectly for me”. The guitar becomes more and more prominent in the second half of the project. Should’ve Known continues with the theme of love, though this time the love is lost, she was the one but now it’s too late. He let her go. “Fucking all these niggas bitches got me losing energy” he croons. When the 808’s drop, you see how comfortable he is with hitting the high notes. He manages to use his voice as an instrument so well “oh baby, I should’ve known”.
Take Me Home probably the most sexual song on the offering as he sings with a filtered voice. “will you kiss me till I fall asleep” it’s sexual but more of a drug induced sexual. Before the project dropped, I actually played the unmastered version to a few people and some people were convinced that it was a lady on the vocals, which all that signifies his abilities to use his voice and understanding his limitations. Higher And Then Some and Several Days usher out of Vicci’s EPOCH, with a crass mood to substance “you should be higher than me” he croons on Higher And Then Some. His style of music seems like a dosage of prescription medication taken without one – the sound is addictive. At this point, it’s a matter of when he blows up not “if”. Stream it below and download the project above.
