marco luka “Insomnia”
A lettuce and cheddar review
“I think Marco’s greatest skill is that he doesn’t overcomplicate. Ever since Blonde dropped, it feels like every new artist is stuck in a loop of trying to reinvent the wheel. While experimentation in music is always exciting, it can sometimes come at the expense of what we’re all looking for at the end of the day— a really good fucking song. And I’ll be the first to say, no one can make a really good fucking song the way that Marco Luka can.”
Marco Luka is a rising star. The Arista Records signee delivers with his new project, INSOMNIA. Marco’s voice is the backbone of this project. He fits so much emotion into every single line he delivers. The silky, soulful singer from North Carolina is mesmerizing, as both a songwriter and a vocalist.
Insomnia starts off with an angelic ballad in old that sent chills through my soul. The simplicity of the song makes it feel almost like a lullaby, and it makes the heel-turn in rush all that more powerful. While I was expecting yet another soft ballad, the distorted guitar in the hook came in with the force of a tsunami. It’s incredibly rare that an artist can make you want to cry and dance in the same song, but rush provides the perfect balance between the soft, calming melodies of the project, and the energy bubbling underneath it.
company is a beautiful interlude, and while Marco returns to the softer, somber style that dominates the project, I was in love with the way the formant/pitch is altered. It was like a unique seasoning that made the familiar feel fresh. forevermore comes back with a larger-than-life hook. The project continues to oscillate between the more traditional R&B ballads and the alt-rock moments of gravity and energy. The real standout is the Spanish-infused aire. Marco manages to blend Latin flare and rhythm with his alternative, sad-boy style. It is probably the most unexpected song on the project, but in some ways, it’s the most polished. It’s impressive to put together a cohesive feeling project in just 17 minutes that manages to have so many different emotions. There’s a song here for everybody, for every feeling, for every moment of your day.
I think Marco’s greatest skill is that he doesn’t overcomplicate. Ever since Blonde dropped, it feels like every new artist is stuck in a loop of trying to reinvent the wheel. While experimentation in music is always exciting, it can sometimes come at the expense of what we’re all looking for at the end of the day— a really good fucking song. And I’ll be the first to say, no one can make a really good fucking song the way that Marco Luka can.