Producer Eli Evnen, also known as Kashaka (“Bird Is The Word” by Ski Mask The Slump God, “Toothache” by Topaz Jones, and scored the acclaimed Tiffany’s sponsored collab between A$AP Ferg and Elle Fanning) has gotten in front of the mic for a change on his latest song “Satellite.” Besides being featured on Broad City last week (a big look for any NY-based artist and effectively a cosign from the music supervisor wunderkind Matt FX) “Satellite” shows us a new side of Evnen, evolving from percussive and bass thumping hip hop neck breakers to add more versatile and moodier melodic tones to his catalog. The track is smooth enough for a Miguel type to croon all over it, but Evnen’s subtle approach matches the mood of the production much better, and adds more nuance so that he fits in the same sonic world as Syd the Kid or Toro y Moi. Recorded in Nebraska on a respite from the hectic NYC music scene, the pace of the song reflects Eli’s surroundings at the time of the record for an organic track void of the busy anxiety that permeates much of NY’s musical output. Expect much more this year from Eli (@elievnen) and Kashaka both, as he and his Off Record contemporaries (producers A Lau, Jesse Marco and Fresh Direct) set up for a massive 2019.