<h6 style="text-align: justify;">The project blends ambient electronica, epic piano, and meditative strings</h6>
Hugar&#8217;s new album Rift is out now on XXIM Records.
Inspired by the fault running through Þingvellir, the national park located 40km northeast of Reykjavík, the Icelandic band thought about what happens when you pull things apart — songs, ideas, and even entire countries. For them, the void one creates is fertile ground for new ideas and new beginnings — the rift as a source of creativity, and a life-giving force.
&#8220;There&#8217;s something almost magical about a powerful force literally ripping the land apart, and new life appearing in the space that&#8217;s created. We wanted to translate that scenario onto these great, temporal shifts and upheaval in our world and ask: What happens? There must be something new that grows from them.&#8221; — Hugar on making Rift
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The album comes with a music video for the track mist. The video was shot in the industrial space near Iceland&#8217;s capital, which is an unlikely location for the band to play their music in.
&#8220;There are concepts that are essentially the same but can take different shapes. Like mist is a form of water in disguise clouding your vision. You can&#8217;t see further than your next step. That is enough to keep going. For the the album Rift, there are a lot of these moments. Tiny details disguised as something else. Something unexpected. Elements in the song develop like formation of particles. Something that takes new shape. Like mist that eventually turns into rain.&#8221; 
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Stream the album in full <a class="editor-rtfLink" style="color: #000000;" href="https://hugar.lnk.to/riftLW" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.

Hugar releases new album Rift

<h6 style="text-align: justify;">The Icelandic band shares the final single before the album release</h6>
ævi comes as the fifth single and visualizer of the upcoming album Rift, which will be released this January.
The word ævi in Icelandic means life, as it ties to the overall idea of the project. The band took inspiration from their native country&#8217;s landscape and how the rift near Reykjavik is a life-giving force. For them, the void one creates is fertile ground for new ideas and new beginnings — the rift as a source of creativity.
Stream and watch <a style="color: #000000;" href="https://Hugar.lnk.to/riftLW">here</a>.

ævi by Hugar out now

<h6 style="text-align: justify;">The single comes as the second part of the track from his latest album, &#8220;Grains of Gold&#8221;</h6>
The Italian composer and producer found inspiration in his surroundings to create Satori by the Sea, the continuation of his work on the track Satori.
&#8220;The original idea of Satori came about in Hamburg, when I was living close to a beautiful forest. As soon as I’ve settled back by the Sardinian sea, I was immediately hit by yet another satori. And just like the original version, this rework also unfolded naturally, in a sudden glimpse of clarity and inner stillness.&#8221; — Ed Carlsen
Stream <a href="https://edcarlsen.lnk.to/satoribytheseaLW">here</a>.

Ed Carlsen releases new single Satori by the Sea

<h6 style="text-align: justify;">Lamore revisits her musical influences for the new track</h6>
Breathe comes as the next single of the upcoming album Loom coming out next year. The accompanying video stars six girls in a skate park and is an ode to the carefree spirit of youth.
&#8220;Breathe is a track that is about letting go of your worries, and living for the instant: embracing happiness and freedom. It is also a nostalgic track referencing a lot of elements of early &#8220;french touch&#8221; music that was very influential to me: artists like Air or the band Phoenix.&#8221; — Uèle Lamore
Stream &amp; watch <a href="https://uelelamore.lnk.to/loomLW">here</a>.

New single Breathe by Uèle Lamore out now

<h6 style="text-align: justify;">The release comes with a music video for the EP opener Silent Night Variation</h6>
Olivia Belli continues to draw inspiration in nature and her surroundings, this time showcasing the atmosphere and mood of the winter season in the Marche region.
The EP consisting of six tracks includes classical variations of well-loved seasonal music by Vivaldi and Bach and original work by Belli.
&#8220;The music on this EP sums up what winter means to me. I see it as a time for reflection, warmth and study. I love being indoors with family as we celebrate the season and rejuvenate in preparation for the new year ahead, just as nature is also doing. My music always reflects what I observe in nature every day and I hope that with this winter selection, other people will connect with it and find solace in it, as the year draws to a close.&#8221; — Olivia Belli
Stream the EP in full <a style="color: #000000;" href="https://OliviaBelli.lnk.to/wintervariationsLW">here</a>.

Olivia Belli’s new EP Winter Variations out now

<h6>&#8220;The Dark&#8221; comes as the second single of the upcoming album</h6>
Uèle Lamore&#8217;s new track finds inspiration in the flamenco style. The accompanying visual was created by the Japanese artist Akiko Nakayama. After &#8220;The First Tree,&#8221; this single is another introduction to the forthcoming album project &#8220;Loom.&#8221;
Stream &amp; watch <a style="color: #000000;" href="https://uelelamore.lnk.to/loomLW">here</a>.
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The Dark by Uèle Lamore out now

<h6>The single comes as the second piece of the upcoming EP</h6>
&#8220;In the Bleak Midwinter Variation&#8221; is the arrangement for piano from the &#8220;Winter Variations&#8221; EP, to be released this month. The EP will consist of classical variation and Olivia&#8217;s original work, capturing the seasonal change in the Marche region of Italy.
The music video for the single was shot in the crypt of the Osimo Cathedral, adding another beautiful location to the list of venues Belli is showcasing in her videos.
Stream and watch the video <a style="color: #000000;" href="https://OliviaBelli.lnk.to/wintervariationsLW">here</a>.

Olivia Belli releases In the Bleak Midwinter Variation

XXIM:EXPO is our exploratory series for outstanding young talents from across the whole spectrum of progressive instrumental music. Each instalment is given to one artist to curate his or her own ideal EP, sharing their own unique musical vision. With XXIM:EXPO we want to give young artists a platform, while mapping out all areas and developments of our wide area of music. 

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