2hollis Explores Maximalist Ambition and Genre-Bending Sound on Fifth Album Pirouette
The Los Angeles artist delivers a sprawling, sixteen-track odyssey through diverse electronic and pop landscapes.
1Maximalist Artistic Evolution
2hollis has released his fifth studio album, Pirouette, marking a significant shift toward maximalist production. The record spans fifty minutes and sixteen distinct vignettes, moving beyond his previous dance-trap roots. By integrating diverse influences like pop-punk, ambient IDM, and trance, he attempts to redefine his sound within a competitive musical landscape.
2Narrative and Conceptual Framework
The album is structured as a non-chronological odyssey narrated by a character named One. According to the artist, the project explores the overwhelming nature of the human experience, specifically focusing on love in its destructive and tender forms. This conceptual layer adds depth to his established, cult-like digital presence among fans.
3Production and Collaborative Scope
The technical scale of the album is immense, with some Ableton project files containing over 300 individual audio tracks. Notable collaborations include Mk.gee, who co-produced the glitchy track Human After All. Additional production credits are shared among Skai, Ginseng, and Andrew Aged, contributing to the record's dense and layered sonic texture.
4Genre-Bending Sonic Experiments
Pirouette ricochets between hyperpop, industrial, and pop-punk styles. The opening track, Spring (Love Me), serves as a full-fledged pop-punk anthem, a departure from his earlier work. Meanwhile, tracks like Sophie utilize scuzzy, bright guitar bombast, while others lean into the industrial textures previously hinted at in the single Hurt.
5Standout Tracks and Euphoria
The album finds its strongest footing when blending club euphoria with sharp, concise songwriting. The track Sex channels the energy of late-aughts electropop, while Skin utilizes a drum-and-bass riff to create a visceral experience. Warhorse stands out for its complex polyrhythms, showcasing the producer's ability to incite a genuine listener frenzy.
6Critique of Derivative Choices
Despite the ambition, some critics argue the project occasionally suffers from derivative influences. Tracks like Sophie and Betrayal are noted for echoing established sounds from Green Day or early indie-folk, which can dilute the artist's eccentricity. This creates a tension between his desire for innovation and the reliance on familiar genre tropes.
7The Producer's Technical Ambition
The artist is clearly grinding to build a multi-disciplinary catalog that defies allegations of nepotism or trend-chasing. While his clobbering drops and layered synths capture a cathartic energy, the sheer volume of stylistic shifts suggests a need for more editorial tightening to ensure every track maintains a core, singular identity.
8Future of the Persona
Ultimately, Pirouette cements 2hollis as a compelling figure in modern pop, provided he balances his maximalist instincts with focused execution. His ability to create sensation-heavy music remains his greatest asset. Moving forward, his success will likely depend on whether he can refine these sprawling experiments into a more cohesive, singular vision.