(3.5 / 5)
Singer/Songwriter Mateo is finally ready to release his first official studio project. The 7-track EP entitled “Love & Stadiums II” is a collection of new songs, fan favorites and the well-received single “Say It’s So” featuring vocals from Alicia Keys and Swizz Beatz.
Mateo continues to push the envelope of genre, and rightly excels at blending styles and sounds with ease. The Ohio native has successfully proven he can stay true to his base of R&B, but expand upon it through his love for alternative, and in turn create his own niche.
The preceding single, “Say It’s So,” which Mateo says was influenced by The Beatles, leads the EP, and sets the tone. Backed by hard-hitting drums and eerie synths, the track pulls us into his world, finding him recollecting over heartbreak and loneliness. A theme that continues throughout the project, hence ‘Love’ in the title to cover the subject matter. However, we mostly only hear the dark side — love gone away. For those not familiar with the past mixtape release, ‘Stadium’ covers the musicality of the project for the ‘big’ sound of the tracks.
One of the highlights from the project is clearly “Doubt.” Featuring a strong falsetto vocal performance from Mateo, brought together with big, Phil Collins-style drums. The emotion and feeling presented here is undeniably real.
The EP comes to a close with Mateo’s remake of Cutting Crew’s 1986’s power ballad hit, “(I Just) Died In Your Arms,” which is surprisingly tolerable, with the unique arrangement. For the pop / dance fans the last track is a well-done dance remix to Mateo’s early buzz single “Get To Know Me.”
Mateo’s “Love & Stadiums II” EP will hit digital retailers on December 6, so head over to iTunes or Amazon and ‘get to know him’!
Tracklisting:
01. Say It’s So feat. Alicia Keys & Swizz Beatz
02. Love Is A Gun
03. Don’t Shoot Me Down feat. Ab Liva & Goapele
04. Doubt
05. Fool For You
06. In Your Arms
07. Get To Know Me (Dance Remix)
i cant wait <3333