‘Mental Sunshine’ is in between the dancefloor and the chillout room

What does introspection in the club sound like? Perhaps SYEYL’s latest EP, ‘Mental Sunshine’, has the answer.

Released on November 28 via Dusky’s 17 Steps, the project boasts 5 full-length tracks and an ambient outro that shimmer with spontaneity while exuding the artist’s philosophical depth.

SYEYL’s been working consistently over the last few years, with an EP to show for his efforts annually: 2023 saw the Delhi-based artist release ‘Dawn Chorus’ on Export Quality, while 2024’s ‘Temporal Drift’ was signed to Krunk Kulture.

This time last year, SYEYL debuted at Magnetic Fields with a live set dubbed ‘Space In Between’. His approach to his live sets, using samplers, drum machines and loops to create soundscapes in between ambient and groove, has left its imprint on ‘Mental Sunshine’.

So has the philosophy behind ‘Space In Between’, which the artist has stated “comes from ‘Ma’ in Japanese, which refers to the time and space in life to breathe, to feel connected to the source energy of the universe.”

Indeed, ‘Mental Sunshine’ is a fitting name for a project which is informed by a similar philosophical-therapeutic approach.

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As the notes to the EP reveal, “There’s space in the songs—space to breathe, reflect, heal, and maybe even dance a little. Mental Sunshine is not the soundtrack to a perfect life. It’s the sound of learning to sit with yourself honestly, finding little pockets of brightness even when the clouds don't fully clear.”

Even though the EP is geared more towards deep listening and introspection versus dancing, there are moments where its grooves take you by surprise, such as on ‘Chimera’ which draws you into a deep breaks journey and ‘Zenosyne’, where ethereal vocal fragments facilitate a journey from 4/4 into 2-step.

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For us, ‘Space Becomes The Mirror’ is the standout, embodying the EP’s blending of “atmospheric electronica” and “textural beats inspired from club culture”.

On the track, rhythmic textures oscillating in the bass are wonderfully juxtaposed by slower crystalline synths pulsating in the mid-range and ethereal pads in the high. The effect? One sonic foot on the dance floor and one in the chill out room.

Purchase ‘Mental Sunshine’ here.

Mengzy is Mixmag Asia’s Music Culture Columnist, follow her on Instagram.

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