Razor-sharp and pulsating with booming reverb, DJ and producer Steller has released her ethereal new EP, “Here & Now.” The South Floridian’s four-track collection intertwines her groovy electronica style with a touch of philosophy. From the gritty, saturated bass tones of “Downslide” to the nostalgic synths in “Eternal Love,” the EP serves as an invigorating reminder to stay fully present in the moment.
Each song invokes a different feeling, almost like a meditation. Though it is not ambient meditation music, it is meant to make you feel good and offer emotional relief. I was working through a lot while writing this and found peace by the end. Hopefully, it does that for someone else, too.”
– Steller
“Here & Now” also celebrates her aptly named debut headline “Here & Now Tour,” which spans across nearly 20 North American cities. Further, the project aligns with her recent partnership with To Write Love On Her Arms, a non-profit movement committed to providing resources to “people struggling with depression, addiction, self-injury, and suicide.” Through her music, Steller brings mental health awareness to the forefront of conversations.
“Here and Now”
One of life’s simplest reminders is to recognize the beauty of time—right here, right now. The EP’s opener and title track, “Here & Now,” doesn’t just transport listeners to a world of dreamy synth drops; it grounds them to the present moment. “Tomorrow never comes,” says British-American philosopher Alan Watts, whose distinct voice sample encapsulates the EP’s central theme. “There is no such thing as tomorrow. There never will be. Because time is always now.”
Reverb-drenched pulses accentuate each beat as ghostly vocal loops are peppered throughout. A rolling snare tap accelerates Steller’s piece forward before erupting into searing bass drops. “The point of life, the place where it’s at, is simply here and now,” Watts declares. With descending, trombone-like beats, “Here & Now” fades into an open-ended pitch, leading listeners seamlessly into what comes next.
“Downslide”
Of the four tracks, “Downslide” cuts through with technologically diverse elements. Perhaps it’s due to Steller’s collaboration with dubstep artist Seth David, a force within the bass music scene. Warbled vocals are layered with a rumbling bassline that feels impossible to contain. A submerged reverb effect deepens the song’s hypnotic nature, driving the energy towards piercing bass drops. “Your space commander has returned from Earth,” a mysterious voice says, perfectly segueing into the next track.
“Down With You”
Simultaneously expansive and uniquely reflective, “Down With You” channels the energy of the previous two tracks into something internal. Once thunderous reverb softens into delicate waves, making this song both infectious and deeply satisfying. “That one came out of a time when I was feeling weighed down mentally,” Steller says, of the release’s third track. “I just let myself feel whatever came up, and it ended up being one of the most raw pieces on the EP.”
“Eternal Love”
“Grooving with the eternal now.” This sample, once again from Watts himself, allows listeners to lose themselves within the song’s transcendental textures and dreamy synthscapes. Fuzzy, roaring synths create a serenity that feels almost nostalgic, except not. There’s nowhere to go but forward, and nowhere to be but here. With swelling, arpeggiated riffs, the closing track ends on an unfinished cadence, perhaps a subtle suggestion that this life is ours to take.
Steller continues to distinguish herself as an advocacy-driven, texture-focused electronic and bass artist. When the weight of nostalgia feels too heavy and the the future becomes overwhelming, “Here & Now” suggests that the most profound escape is as simple as returning to the present.
Listen to the EP on most streaming services and follow Steller on Instagram, Spotify, SoundCloud, and TikTok.
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