By: Belinda Cai

Honolulu’s MR•CARMACK is a true master of trap, a genre emerging from Southern hip-hop that features 808 drum machines, screwed samples, synthesizers, strings and an assortment of effects. “insomnity (again)” exhibits all of the most recognizable components of trap, with an experimental and unearthly edge. “insomnity (again)” and MR•CARMACK’s other tracks are ideal to both dance to or chill out to, depending on the listener’s mood.

MR•CARMACK knows how to build delightful, synth-y and stirring tension with “insomnity (again).” The vocal sample cooing, “Where are you going now?” is otherworldly and sublime, easy on the ears in contrast to the progressively noisy industrial clatter happening in the background. After the initial bubble of suspense, MR•CARMACK releases the build with a climactic drop at about a minute in; this instantly and irrevocably hooks the listener.