Shivum Sharma unveils full-length project 'River's End'

Shivum Sharma has this week marked an evolution in his artistry by sharing EP 'River's End'.

A moodier, more introspective body of work from Shivum - opposed to 2022's 'In Transit', launched at Peckham Audio with the artist's vocal performance followed by a DJ set - 'River's End' consists of more live instrumentation, strings, horns and percussives.

The four-tracker - produced by himself, Alex Burey and Karma Kid - opens on '7am', a dreamy leftfield cut with R&B-meets-pop influences, before the heavier, grungey 'Steel' positions as an ode to the resilience of the queer community.

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Titular track 'River's End' is the focus of the EP, modelling as a soul track which lays prime foundation for the musician's vocals.

“I scored the strings and horns digitally here and hearing them played later on real instruments was amazing," he explains. "I recorded the vocals for it at Hackney Road studios which was also a pretty emotional experience. I was tearing up in the booth as I was singing it out loud for the first time. I feel very emotionally attached to this song and so excited to have it out. I hope it resonates with others too.”

Closing the EP is 'Storm', a euphoric number, accompanied by two remixes fromShanti Celeste - who reworks 'Storm' - and Planningtorock, who provides 'Planningtobefull Steel (Planningtorock's Version)'.

“Moving into 2023 I told myself I’d carry less shame around my intense emotions and be less apologetic for them,” Shivum explains. “This feels to me like music to listen to in solitude in all of its moments - sad, sexy, enraged. It also feels quite nocturnal. It was super fun to engage more live instrumentation, I feel very lucky to work with Alex Burey and Karma Kid.

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"Shanti Celeste and Planningtorock are two of my absolute favourite artists in the dance/electronic world - which is a world I engage with and relate to hugely but don’t always get the chance to express through my own musical project, so this feels super special.”

Shivum Sharma - 'River's End' is available now, check it out here.

Niamh Ingram is Mixmag's Weekend Editor, follow her on Twitter