Blending R&B with art pop, The Journey is the debut EP from York Calling discovery DBSock.

By Graeme Smith

The Journey offers a kind of alternative spiritualism filled with ethereal vocals and pulsating electronica. After a striking Intro, Swing tells a gripping story, holding our attention. It flows gracefully in the captivating imagery of Grow Me The Wings.

An experimental, poetic, spoken word Interlude sits at the heart of the EP before Root provides a soulful vocoder highlight. A cosmic Outro closes things.

Thematically, the EP speaks of self-struggle, neurodivergence, and multicultural awareness through some surreal introspection. Together, its track tell a story, which DBSock explains like this:

“From a detached observer of Earth (Swing), to gaining power from nature and seeking to enlighten humanity (Grow Me the Wings), she realizes that in order to answer her calling, she must fall – not fly (Interlude). She must descend to break the barriers holding back humanity’s rise, only to find that true growth comes from the ground up (Root). Finally, armed herself with strength and determination, she becomes one with the fury of the Furies (Outro).”

The project of Shenzhen, China and Los Angeles, USA-based singer, songwriter, producer and illustrator Mingwei Gao, DBSock who takes her cues from the likes of FKA Twigs and Björk. I’m very excited about she is creating, and the authenticity of her sound and story.

The Journey is out now and you can give it a listen below.