Jelée - Soil (2023)

‘Soil’ by Amsterdam-based producer and musician Jelee is heavily influenced by video game world-building. Like a beat alchemist, he carefully pours his love for beats into his lifelong passion for video game soundtracks. That far exceeds your typical 8-bits and bobs: Soil unfolds like a challenging adventure game, held together by a sonic palette of hip-hop-minded drum programming, jazz-inspired chords, and synthesized sounds.

The album features tight-knit homegrown collaborations with jazz multi-instrumentalist Guido Hoek, rising deejay Jerrau, producer lofi prototype (“one of Amsterdam’s best-kept secrets when it comes to beatmaking,” says Jelee), deejay, producer, and keyboardist Mo Wrights, and singer Erosi. With influences ranging from Brainfeeder’s roster to Zelda games, Jelee presents a multifaceted take on music.

Jelee’s music has been featured on compilations by Resilienza Records, Stamp The Wax, and Carista’s ‘Modern Intimacy Volume 1.’ Jelee is also known for his expressive live sets, such as the support act for Onra, Samiyam, and Salami Rose Joe Louis.

“I associate the album title Soil to a certain fertility; an opportunity to grow and realize new ideas,” explains Jelee. “But ‘soil’ also refers to the roots to which we owe everything. To me, this album reflects both: on the one hand, it’s a departure from my sample-based sound, while such techniques and influences are still evident. On the other hand, I embrace my roots in video game music. It's one of my first encounters with music outside of ‘pop music.’ Video game music shaped me, and I felt like it truly belonged to me. That’s what 'Soil' means to me.”