NO SHADE is a self-produced solo project by New York native CJ Arey. For those who listen to nothing.nowhere, Machine Gun Kelly, and Pierce The Veil, you’ll love CJ’s debut EP. This project stemmed from practicing guitar in the artist’s room, keeping his mind occupied after a break-up. Even before learning that bit of information, I could already feel the heartbreak through each track.

“Comeback” is a great introductory song for the EP. Opening with a song that contains various metalcore and punk rock elements sets the expectation for what the audience will be listening to for the next 20 minutes. The second track, “Alone”, is not as heavy as its predecessor but that’s what makes it a great sequel and the perfect transition to the next track.

“Fading Away” has some hip hop elements in the beginning instrumental that doesn’t take you out of the overall experience of the EP. Instead, it gives a brief moment for the listener to relax before instantly going back to the familiar rock sound once the second verse kicks in.

“Stay Too Long” is my favorite track in this release. It’s the perfect balance between punk and pop-rock. The use of two vocal channels sprinkled within the song really helps the song stand out. What really perked my ears was the small snippet at the start of the chorus. It’s that brief pause just before the music crashes in. This brings the point home that CJ is done with the games his previous love interest was playing.

Broken Down is truly a stunning piece of work. The myriad of musical elements, CJ’s strong voice, and how polished each song sounds amplifies the overall listening experience. I’ll be keeping a close eye on NO SHADE’s future releases. And you can too by clicking the links below.

NO SHADE

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