The Art of Embracing Excess on Skateland’s ‘Ultra Kitsch’

Skateland’s six-track EP ‘Ultra Kitsch’ blends danceable electronic music, dream pop and art pop, using shifting rhythms and layered sounds to create a deliberately extravagant, changeable listen. The release matters as a creative reset for its maker, Dorian Williams II, who says he rediscovered his enthusiasm by letting go of pressure to make profound, generation-defining work.

The EP moves from the dramatic percussion and vocals of ‘PLAYTHEDRUMS’ to the brighter beats, acoustic guitar and distant birdsong of ‘Spring, Be Kind’ and ‘Feel Better!’. ‘Featherweight’ heightens the intensity, while ‘Ichiro Suzuki’ closes with metallic textures and a futuristic feel. Williams, an American singer, songwriter, producer and multi-instrumentalist based in New York, began Skateland after moving from Las Vegas to study at the University of Texas; the EP’s title reflects the playful, neon and “extremely unserious” spirit he associates with Vegas.