Based in the coastal city of Brighton, UK, Lewis Broad-Ashman explores genres such as Chillstep, Electronica, Future Garage and Downtempo under the mysterious moniker of Luga. According to the artist himself, much of his music is grounded in his deep-seated love of “sonic experimentation”, something showcased in his latest release Luga – Become to a palpable extent.
The release is a single that features three tracks – Become us, Distant stare and Flying lower – all of which are genre-blending, atmospheric soundscapes that follow on from Luga’s previous material. The opener Become us is perhaps the brightest track production-wise, with intricate melodies and carefully programmed beats combining to create a truly immersive listening experience that is both introspective and uplifting. The wispy vocal samples that weave in and out of the ethereal synths also add to this feeling, giving the soothing impression that the listener is lying in a sun-bathed field, hearing snatches of other people’s conversations.
The second track on Luga – Become is Distant stare, which, as indicated by its title, has more of a spacey, far-off feel. This is achieved through the use of more dramatic percussion and a style of production that makes the breathy, windswept synths of the track seem as though they are floating high above the listener’s head. Closing the release, meanwhile, is the shortest track of the three, Flying lower, which is a little darker and more mysterious in tone. Here, the focus is less on dreamy synths and more on the echoing clicks of the percussion, which create a repetitive, rhythmic feel that has the power to hypnotise the listener within seconds.
Broad-Ashman has only been releasing music under his current alias since last year, but the tracks on Luga – Become are sure signs that he certainly knows what he’s doing when it comes to creating atmospheric, relaxing soundscapes for his listeners to chill out to. No doubt there is plenty more to come from this talented up-and-coming producer.
