Lithe

Artist blog.

Lithe has caught my attention this past month, and I am pleased to say he is one of my current favorites. His sound and style are captivating, with a dark, moody, yet cinematic vibe that draws you in. His reach is impressive, and it's clear to see why people are gravitating toward his music. While not entirely new, Lithe's voice and the way he mixes it is unique and different from other artists. His soulful and melodic tone, along with his distinctive flows, are showcased throughout his discography. Lithe's earliest work, like the 2018 single "Picture on My Wall," demonstrates his raw talent, even though his flow is less refined compared to his newer music. As he evolved, Lithe experimented with unique and niche sounds in tracks such as "Limbo," "Nothing's Changed," and "I Tried." In 2019, his sound took a significant step forward with improved production and better vocal mixing in singles like "Getaway" and "No Friends." “Getaway” would be the first single of the year and one that feels like the biggest jump in quality yet. The production is a lot better, and Lithe’s cadence and vocal mixing here is much better. This is basically the sound he’s got now. He was still playing around with things but his atmosphere and aesthetic has already begun to form. 2019 would continue strong with a total of 6 singles released across the entire year. “No Friends,” “Pipe Dream,” and, “I Say I See” are my personal favorites. He continued to release high-quality music in 2020 and 2021, with standout tracks like "Born" and "Too Far Gone" showcasing his growth and progression. His voice feels like it’s reached a completely different level here. His vocals on “You Don’t Feel The Same” are incredible. I love the simple yet impactful design of this track. It hits the hardest from an emotional side but doesn’t even have a beat. It truly puts his artistry on full display. “Out Of Touch” would be his first small pack of music, this is something he would continue to do moving forward.

2021 wouldn’t be much different from 2020. He kept a consistent release schedule and he would end up releasing more and more powerful pieces like “Too Far Gone,” I Just Wanna Feel Something,” and “Stressed.” His vocal tonality, overall cadence, and flows are on another level here. He has begun to bring a different level of dynamics to his cadence. His flows reached a much more complex state where it wasn’t linear anymore, it has character now and moments of unpredictability. His voice has also reached another level this year. He started harmonizing more, reaching higher notes and creating vibratos, and crescendos. He started to really sing in these tracks. In 2022, Lithe's sound and aesthetic reached a different level of quality with memorable releases like "Lot of Love," "SUV," and "Don't Send For Me." The atmosphere in his music here is something that is truly remarkable. His vocal style is the most emphasized and stylized it’s been at this point. It’s really something special, the production perfectly matching and blending with the vocals is something I don’t really hear often. This is also when you can really see him fully embracing his darker moodier aesthetic through his cover arts. This is when he became a full package, with quality on all fronts. From the music to the visuals to his wardrobe and social media presence. 2023 would deliver Lithe's best tracks to date, with "Hold Out" being a standout piece. The instrumentals create a powerful and meaningful atmosphere, making it hard to describe but impossible to ignore. There is something very special about this track. The feature from FRVRFRIDAY was a pleasant surprise that really enhanced the track. Lithe’s performance on this track is unreal. Everything from his delivery, to the way he emphasizes each lyric with these unique vocal tone shifts and flow changes. It’s just a masterpiece that I feel like I can’t get enough of. I really looking forward to seeing where Lithe's music takes him next and hope to hear a full-length project from him soon. That would take him to the next level career-wise. His sound and aesthetic are ready for the world, I just can’t wait to experience that full-length body of work.

Written by Maxim Bayarsky