It seems ILLENIUM is on a mission to make an unassailable case for Artist of the Year in 2021. Expectations for the producer’s fourth studio album here high, and then he delivered with a near flawless 14-track LP this summer. Fallen Embers was one of the most highly anticipated albums of the year that, for the most part, lived up to the hype. Just two weeks before the record’s debut, the artist lesser known as Nicholas Miller, opened up Las Vegas’ Allegiant Stadium with his four-set Trilogy show that broke the attendance record for a single headlining dance music event in the United States. Then came the album tour, a headlining performance at Lollapalooza, three straight sold-out nights at Red Rocks, and Miller’s upcoming Ember Shores destination festival to boot. For ILLENIUM and his rabid fanbase, it seemed not much else could possibly continue to bolster the native Coloradan’s resume in 2021. Then came the IDs.It started when William Black premiered his long-rumored collaboration with ILLENIUM at Lost In Dreams festival. Then came the debut of Miller’s collaboration with 30 Seconds To Mars, “Wouldn’t Change a Thing“, at Life Is Beautiful. The unreleased music kept on coming until there was, in total, five new ILLENIUM tracks to devour. Eventually it would all culminate in a Fallen Embers Deluxe album.Fallen Embers Deluxe features three of the five IDs ILLENIUM had played out in the months following the original LP. Two of them are the aforementioned originals, “Wouldn’t Change A Thing”, the deluxe album’s lead single with 30 Seconds To Mars, and “Superhero” with William Black. The third is a joint Virtual Riot remix of “Blame Myself.” Two of the unreleased IDs, “Story Of My Life” featuring Sueco and “From The Ashes” featuring Skylar Grey, will live to see a post-Fallen Embers Deluxe album release as both were left off the tracklist, giving fans even more new music to look forward to in the future.ILLENIUM has a proven knack for composing thoroughly concepted, cohesive albums with their own narrative underscores. Ashes, Awake, Ascend, and Fallen Embers all have a consistent and distinct sounds throughout each respective project. With Fallen Embers Deluxe, it seems Miller has made a concerted effort to break the mold and experiment with moments of heavy dubstep influence, progressive house touch points, flashes of drum ‘n’ bass, and event a country-meets-dance collaboration. The different variations of sound and cross-genre experimentation heard throughout the ante-upping victory lap only further emphasize the depth of production ability Miller is increasingly known by.With Fallen Embers Deluxe, we see a side of Miller that we have yet to full experience, reaffirming what we saw in him in the first place—a stellar talent who has overcome his own adversity before setting out to unite a fanbase with thoughtfully produced, well-rounded electronic music. Listen to one of ILLENIUM’s boldest outings to date below.Featured image: RukesTags: fallen embers, illenium, trilogy, Virtual Riot, william black
Categories: Music
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