The vivacious creative visions of VRITRA, aka Hal Donell Williams Jr.

You already know the portfolio and prestige. From the legendary Atlanta collective NRK (Nobody Really Knows), The Jet Age of Tomorrow, Odd Future, Pyramid Vritra and now just VRITRA — the multidisciplinary shaman pop prodigy Hal Williams delves into the bewitched fun house frequencies in the dizzying dimensions of VOID. A delicately and diligently designed media event is self described as an ‘exploration into fan/artist connection & access to an experience beyond listening / streaming a track.” Inviting audience interaction with access to the stems and other elements, Williams and the world are invited to mine an astral realm of ethereal, lavish experiments that oscillate between elegance and experimental abandon.

VOID expertly shows off the most heady and expansive productions from the house of VRITRA. "Numbers" sizzles on the snare with a lo-fi and languid suspenseful synth progression and a testament to the tenets of strength and power in the movement of the many. From loops and brain swimming swathes of mind expanding sections, Hal dishes out some pure conscious sweeping sonatas with "Melting". Concentrating many music choices on employing only the most expressive and evocative keyboard tones, VOID bridges the lineage of lauded Los Angeles mic laureates with the inventive and future dance fusions of Atlanta's most influential undergrounds. "Wheat" is an arrangement of inexplicable and original wonder that steps with a prosodic epic poem of challenges, penance, pride, purpose and a woozy stream of consciousness confessional.

A dedicated follower of fashions, the future and past of dance trends, technological post-genre shifts and so forth; “Rover” drives with a chug and puff chill lounge progressive house engine fueled by the the snappy Euro acid jazz resuscitated from the Y2K era. The time tripping quality keeps the whole experience completely immersive, such as the backpacker alchemy “From Fire” that blends college rock psych elements with transistor radio toned boom bap backbeats delivered as a sharp post-modern chic. Keeping the production woozy, the VRITRA vernacular orchestrates an all-consuming vibe like the hottest 90s hip hop track (that you have never before heard). Entertaining another green world of Williams’ own inner Eno; the VRITRA VOID thrill ride coasts gently into the melancholic horizons of the stratosphere, soaring high as a kite on the private jet flying “Pilot”. In total, VOID breaks through the vanishing points and ego diversions of vanity to shatter the glass into the dimensions that have no name.

Join us after the jump as VRITRA’s Hal Williams takes over with an exclusive curation:

Affinities, obsessions & affections of VRITRA’s Hal Williams

Anything Dior by Hedi Slimane

Hedi is a designer and photographer amongst many other things but what I specifically love about him was how his photography blog/diary effected my perspective and appreciation for the human body and emotion. I also love his work at Dior, the cuts the denim/pants are still the best I’ve seen. Anything from Dior under his creative direction is holy grail for me.

Figma

One of my main passions outside of music is graphic design and exploring the realm of physical/digital interaction and our connection to the devices/lenses through which we experience digital things. I use Figma for cover art, graphic design, logos, website design, app design, everything, its just easy to get out ideas and share them in a way that people can interact with them.

Porch sessions with VRITRA; press photo.

BTM Records

Collective logo courtesy of BTM Records.

BTM is a collective and record label at surface level but more of a family beneath that. Having a group of people that create and promote the space to be creative and explore ideas and feed off of each other in a safe space is beautiful. Anything goes, no judgement, transparency and support.

Viewing back into the lens with VRITRA; press photo.

Magic Chocolates

Need I say less? or more? Mother Earth has many gifts.

360 video/art and VR

I’ve experienced 360 videos and Virtual Reality games before but with the barrier of entry getting lower, camera tech getting better I can finally make things in that space without it costing a lot of money, which is great, but also AR/VR is becoming more mainstream and I think that content variety in that space is really lacking, there’s so much potential in new experiences people can have with music.

Sun dazed styles by VRITRA; press photo courtesy of the artist.

VOID by VRITRA is available now via BTM Records / Mint Songs.

Veni, vidi, VRITRA