Straight from Croydon, South London, Satchit is bringing a magically eclectic blend of r&b, South Asian classical, and a host of little sound bites to the fore in his aptly titled album, ‘the garden’. Because in many ways, that’s what his EP sounds like — soundscapes that are as luscious as a bright and flowery terrace garden. Satchit’s talent as a producer is immaculate; each track is so meticulously composed with such a broad and diverse collection of little sounds.
Having spent his university musical career with the hugely successful a cappella group, Semi-Toned, Satchit gained experience performing and touring internationally at several large international events. After graduation, he knew music was the path forward. He recorded and released his first EP, Glass, back in 2018. The project was an introspective look at one’s own emotions and their product. Three years since, he’s matured and developed his sound immensely.
Like many albums coming out now, ‘the garden’ was inspired by the pandemic and its effect on individuals. Entirely self written, produced, and recorded, his musical prowess across the board is undeniable. But it’s the sonic elements he’s able to weave together that makes Satchit special. Somehow infused with influences of Rahman, Daniel Caesar, and Frank Ocean, he’s crafted a lane that melds carnatic singing with alternative r&b alongside heavy electronic elements. There’s also a really cool animation to the album I’ve uploaded down below.
https://video.wixstatic.com/video/185c88_f276856b6a854f308b3324d0f7eda952/720p/mp4/file.mp4
At six tracks long, ‘the garden’ leaves you eagerly waiting for more from Satchit. ‘Rosy’, the opener, presents the ethereal and dreamy vibe that he brings out perfectly. Powered by an emphatic bassline and drum progression, it paints a picture of an island getaway where everything is, well, rosy. The followup, ‘Tulips’, is my highlight from the album. It’s a much more mellow and easygoing piece that has a floating air to it. Using a sample from a Lakeith Stanfeild in the middle alongside an incredibly soothing chorus, it’s the most Frank Ocean reminiscent piece on the project. ‘tulips only bloom in the springtime, like our love they need a little bit of sunshine’. Just magical.
‘Sunday’ samples an actual Wimbledon tennis game to create a snare. There’s a continuous ticking in the background that leaves you on edge, urgent, and anticipating. Satchit’s carnatic singing background reveals itself here and on the follow up ‘See You’. His small rap interludes in these songs also just add to the eclecticism on the project as a whole. I don’t want to spoil the entirety of the album, as the outro and closing track have such a bundle of surprises and experiments on them that they’re best heard without any expectations.
‘the garden’ is a remarkable album. Not just for Satchit’s ridiculous talent and mastery of his craft, but for the purity of the emotions he’s able to espouse on each piece. With his lyrics, melodies, and soundscapes, his compositions are able to entirely encompass you for every moment you find yourself listening to him. If I had a complaint about ‘the garden’, it would be that it just leaves you wanting six more pieces. It is, without a doubt, a Special One. Catch tulips on the Special Ones playlist and ‘the garden’ out on all platforms!
Check my playlists here!