Travis Drews is Casual T. The Austin-based DJ/producer broke out in 2019 with his Lovers? EP, but has been quiet since. Attacking new styles of dance music within the same margins of his signature style, Casual T returns with his first single of the year, “Transcendence.” Although filed under electro-pop, this Casual T original boasts a dark, looming aura that sharpens its shimmery edges. With mutated and immersive synths as its backbone, “Transcendence” feels like surround sound on any speaker. These aural worlds are electrifying and complex while remaining accessible to dance music enthusiasts of any sub-genre.
With sounds as sure of themselves as these, it makes sense they were born from personal revelations. Speaking on “Transcendence” Casual T writes, “‘Transcendence' represents a bridge between the Lovers? Ep and the future of Casual T. I'm moving away from writing love songs and closer toward capturing the visceral, powerful emotions that make electronic music so exciting. Transcendence is about letting go of the toxic people and habits that stop you from being your best self. It is about growing greater than you had thought possible and coming into your own. It’s about transcending and becoming who you are meant to be.”
An impressive 2021 debut for the budding producer, “Transcendence” is masterful, enthralling, and entirely sure of itself.