So Easy by ZeeCogency adopts a laid-back attitude towards electronic music while still maintaining a substantial presence that holds your interest. The song lies comfortably within the realms of downtempo, trip-hop, chillhop and electronic music. Its tempo comes across as slow and unhurried, providing the track with plenty of room to unfold. Yet the groove ensures that it doesn’t become static. The bass plays a major role in the sound, giving the production a deep and tangible sensation. The drums and the programmed parts fit well around it, while the atmospheric textures contribute a more sombre tone. You can detect the influence of live instruments in the way the low end and the other musical elements sound as if they have been played rather than being entirely mechanical. There is space around each individual element in the production, which is why So Easy works well when listened to on headphones; it never seems crowded. Instead, the track develops its atmosphere through small details, repetition and texture. A cinematic quality is also present here, but it doesn’t dominate the groove. The end result is smooth, slightly mysterious and easy to get used to.
The focus of the lyrics and the way the vocals are delivered is on creating a certain mood and emotion rather than on making the song a major vocal display. This approach is in keeping with the way the song has been produced. The notion implied by the title, “So Easy”, sounds interesting in contrast to the more sombre musical atmosphere. There’s an impression that the things are allowed to happen in a natural way rather than being forced. The track provides the listener with sufficient room to interpret the words in their own way. Instead of presenting a large chorus, it relies on the rhythm and the atmosphere to do most of the work. A particularly strong aspect is the way the vocals are placed within the production rather than being completely dominant over it. This decision contributes to the song retaining its calm nature. It seems that ZeeCogency realizes how much can be conveyed through the bass, the rhythm and carefully positioned sounds. The more than 20 years of musical experience that lie behind the project can be understood when you consider how the various influences are dealt with. Although hip hop, big beat, grunge, metal and trip-hop might appear to be very different origins, here they act as background elements rather than as clear genre identifiers.
What I prefer most about “So Easy” is that it remains relaxed without turning boring. The rhythm contains sufficient movement to make you want to nod your head, and the more sombre tones add some character to the song. It would be a natural choice for a late-night playlist, for a slow drive, for a creative working session or for an event where you’d like people to move without the energy becoming too intense. Those who enjoy trip-hop and chill electronic music will find plenty to like in it, in particular people who appreciate bass-heavy production and atmospheric tracks that still have a distinct pulse. The song also seems appropriate for visual projects, dance pieces and other creative situations since the music allows room for imagination. “So Easy” has a pleasant accessibility without coming across as empty or over-polished. ZeeCogency provides the track with enough texture to make it worthwhile to listen to again. If you’re looking for electronic music that can stay in the background while at the same time drawing you into its groove, then this is a good choice.