Aptøsrs, pronounced like the ‘apatosaurus’ dinosaur, might be a brand new project but the artist behind the alias is no stranger to the music world. Composer, songwriter and bestselling author Paul Terry is a Los Angeles-based artist who’s been crafting his own musical world for years.
Having scored multiple films and documentaries, receiving recognition with nominations for Best Original Score at the 2020 Sydney Web Awards and Best UK Short Film at the Raindance Film Festival, he’s also released multiple well-received singles, EPs and full-length records under his solo alias Cellarscape. Now unveiling the Aptøsrs endeavour, he’s venturing into a synth-driven instrumental sound.
With Aptøsrs, he stitches synthwave stylings with cinematic orchestrations, lead bass guitar, piano and drums that stands at the crossroads of downtempo, breakbeat and rock. With an upcoming album titled Elders on the horizon, Aptøsrs now reveals the project’s sound with the debut single titled “Rust Mountain,” mixed by Adam Noble, who’s previously worked with the likes of Biffy Clyro, Nothing But Thieves and DON BROCO, and mastered by Grammy nominated engineer Robin Schmidt who’s credits include iconic acts like Wolf Alice, Royal Blood and Pixies.
With “Rust Mountain,” Aptøsrs crafts an immersive sonic landscape that deftly balances mesmeric atmosphere with melodic and rhythmic intensity. Opened by the ominous textures of synths, gently sweeping through an airy aesthetic that slowly stretches and builds up, the song launches with the bold strike of punchy reverb-drenched instrumental shots and rattle of drums.
Progressing with the marching shuffle of the drums and arrangement, eerie instrumental elements contrast the steady piano lines that ground the piece before the staccato charge of strings ushers in an energetic shift. Flowing through a dynamic scene of changing rhythms and melodic ideas, “Rust Mountain” is an astonishingly creative instrumental piece that invokes vivid imagery to announce the Aptøsrs in spectacular fashion.
It’s a truly superb first outing that unveils the artist’s new sonic intentions while firmly placing Aptøsrs on the map of must-watch projects in the instrumental music sphere. The forthcoming 8-track album Elders is set to drop at the end of next month and if “Rust Mountain” is anything to go by, we can expect a truly enveloping listening experience that distils the full scope of Paul Terry’s new venture under the Aptøsrs name.
Listen to Rust Mountain below
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