On June 14, M. Vaughan will return to the music industry with a different take on his signature style. The Keep in Touch EP explores the indie rock genre with traces of the electronic music influence that has driven the artist’s career thus far.
The artist has previously gained recognition as an electronic music creator from DEPUTY, Permanent advisor, Mixed taste and his fellow DJs. Vaughn spent a decade producing his music for labels such as Freerange Records, Monologues Records and Super Tuff.
Vaughn has lived all over the world, from Berlin to New York to Lisbon, Portugal. His upcoming EP is inspired by the emotions he developed during his move to the German capital in 2021. While there, he suddenly felt disconnected from the city’s club and dance scene.
After moving to Portugal in 2023, Vaughn began experimenting with the music of his roots. He began mixing his early influences of The Microphones, Mark Kozelek and Alex G with his genre-bending heroes Mount Kimbie, Tirzah and Blood Orange. The result is the new sound of “Keep in Touch”, which combines techno music elements with a basic indie rock sound.
“This record is about the last few years of transition, trying to come to terms with my own musical roots while making sense of life abroad and eventually landing in a new place and coming home,” the artist said in a statement provided to the press. “The songs on this record are a mix of my experience as a dance music producer and rock songwriter… I use the tools of electronic music to make rock songs.”
The first lead single from the album, “Tire Swing,” will be released on April 19. The song was written during the artist’s ambiguous time in Berlin and explores his feelings of detachment.
“Tire Swing” begins with an all-encompassing combination of synth and piano, turning into a high-intensity song with the introduction of the drum machine. Pounding drums and repetitive piano lines take us back to the artist’s techno roots. Meanwhile, layered, monotone vocals and subtle harmonies are extremely characteristic of the indie rock genre. The moving track ends with a beautifully swirling soundscape of synths and drums.
The follow-up single to “Tire Swing” will be “Cold Read,” which will be released on May 17. Although the track features the EP’s most upbeat energy, “Cold Read” is a love letter to a home just out of reach. Despite its melancholic themes, the song is rhythmic and fun, ending with an intense electronic synth as another nod to Vaughan’s original musical passion.
Following the EP’s wistful themes, “Nazaré” is a deep exploration of longing. The sound is much more ominous than the rest of the record, due to the underlying, deep synth that continues throughout the track. The chorus features overlapping vocals contributing to a disorienting sound, heightening the song’s emotional imagery.
“All Good” brings the record full circle by observing how restless happiness feels for the artist. The theme of the song is presented through the greatest vocal clarity of the entire record and a more mainstream pop energy to emphasize the theme of happiness, no matter how unfamiliar it may seem. The song offers the most variety in themes as well as the most variety in background sound effects.
“Keep in Touch” is a complete musical moment for M. Vaughan. The record describes the artist as an accomplished musician with influences spanning various genres and geographies. The EP explores themes of heartbreak, excitement, loneliness and adventure, all in a masterful blend of styles. The same drum machine pattern continues through all four tracks, giving each a foundation to build upon to tell their stories.
