Zwoog delivers a stirring and adventurous sound with new EP: Flor

Zwoog is the brainchild of Marcel van der Veen, a musician and producer currently based in Worcester, South Africa. The electronic music project began in the midst of the lockdown in 2020. The music is intense and hard to categorise, but it stays true to its roots and genre.

Flor, his most recent project, was released on 25 November and features a sound truly unique in the South African music industry. The EP was written, produced, and mixed by Marcel and mastered by Mark Valsecchi. With only five tracks, Flor takes you on a journey — each song building on the one before it.

‘Soms’

The EP opens with ‘Soms’ which features a haunting electric guitar and an excellent buildup to a funky percussion. ‘Soms’ might be the most commercially appealing of the bunch, but it still has a progression that will catch the attention of any true electronic music fan. It shares the EP’s invigorating, one-of-a-kind feel. It’s a rocky, captivating tune that leaves you wanting more.

‘Keke’

After hearing the tribal vocals of ‘Keke,’ it’s impossible not to experience a sense of adventure — as if travelling through a beautifully barren landscape — while also getting your first taste of what makes this EP unique. The vocals are merged with what sounds like a karimba and finished off with some sirens, melodic rhythms, and lighthearted samples. We definitely recommend adding this track to your next Karoo mission playlist.

‘Akwa’

The track, ‘Akwa,’ changes things up with some mesmerising acoustic guitar melodies and an enticing ambience that forces you to get out of your own head. This song is a great illustration of how electronic music goes well beyond base drops and indulging in recreational drugs. ‘Akwa’ has a lot of heart and verges on poetic.

‘Fladder’

‘Fladder’ stands out because of its tenacity. Compared to the other songs on the EP, this one is much heavier because of its dramatic percussion, moaning, a little reverb, and soulful piano. It’s a bold tune that features one of the most cherished elements of electronic music production: a dirty bassline.

‘Emitter’

The closing track, ‘Emitter,’ is abstract and definitely has nuance to it. There’s a constant philosophical discussion concerning the meaning of music at its core. It features elements from previous songs, such as the mesmerising acoustic guitar and cheeky bass. In ‘Emitter,’ you’ll be rewarded with some truly spectacular twists as the story develops.

Overall, Zwoog has produced an EP that is, quite simply, a breath of fresh air. It shows that electronic music can be honest, passionate, and meaningful. This EP is well worth your time, whether you’re a die-hard fan of the genre or simply curious to hear a local musician experiment and get his hands dirty.