While other artists chase viral TikTok moments and disposable streaming numbers, Dabin has spent nearly three years crafting Aura Park, an album that prioritizes depth over drops to explore what it means to be painfully human.
The Korean-Canadian producer and instrumentalist today released his fourth album, which functions as an audio journal of contemporary relationships. Its 13 tracks navigate heartbreak and hope with tact and tenderness.
The paradox of Aura Park is how something so carefully constructed can feel so organically emotional, like watching tears form in perfect geometric patterns. Look no further than “Deepest Water,” where Dabin produces a distorted synthscape that washes over a walk-on-air electro drop as Syd Taylor sings about the messy promise of unwavering loyalty.
Elsewhere, Stephanie Poetri’s vocals on “Not Enough” deliver self-preservation wrapped in melancholy, with Dabin allowing space before uncorking an effervescent four-on-the-floor drop. It’s the sound of moving on, delivered through weightlessly euphoric dance music.
The fan-favorite “Hollow” finds Dabin at his most experimental, entwining fluttery future bass with the ferocious dubstep and metalcore of Kai Wachi. With its existential vocals from Lø Spirit, the single, which was named by EDM.com as one of 2023’s best electronic tracks, is a risk that pays off.
“I See You,” one of the album’s surefire highlights, is vintage Dabin. Co-produced by NURKO, it’s a melodic bass tearjerker elevated by the typically stunning vocals of Skylar Grey, whose visceral performance reminds us that electronic music can still trigger genuine goosebumps. The same can be said of “In The End,” his latest joint effort with longtime collaborator Said The Sky, where Clara Mae’s haunting vocals conjure the presence of someone who was never there.
All said and done, Aura Park isn’t revolutionary in its approach, but its execution is immaculate. True to form, Dabin has crafted an album that demands you dance but insists you feel something in the process. And in a genre that often sacrifices substance for style, that’s something worth celebrating.
You can listen to Aura Park below and find the new album on streaming platforms here.
Follow Dabin:
X: x.com/iamdabinlee
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TikTok: tiktok.com/@dabinmusic
Facebook: facebook.com/dabinmusic
Spotify: spoti.fi/2Krxnxb