Caseyland is the solo project of Virginia-based Casey Cichowicz, who produces an intoxicating form of darkly infectious synth-pop. Cichowicz’s creative process is inspired by Brian Eno’s lateral thinking technique Oblique Strategies, where cryptic prompts like “What to increase? What to reduce?” and “Work at a different speed” inspire artists to overcome creative blocks. Additionally prompted by “vintage synths, drum machines, and dark nights in the basement”, Cichowicz explores a calmly contagious approach throughout stellar new track “Secrets”, where his understated vocals glide alongside squiggly synths, soft keys, and nocturnal guitar twangs. These squiggly synths enter and exit sporadically, the emphasis alternating between the consuming vocal melody and atmosphere-building elements like the Chromatics-like guitar stylings and hypnotic drum machine use. It’s a sound I’m definitely hooked by.
