SubSpaceHiWay’s debut EP, ‘Fiendomme’, is a deeply personal and sonically diverse collection from a rising Philadelphia-based artist. Drawing on a decade of musical exploration, producer, engineer, and vocalist SubSpaceHiWay has crafted a short but expressive record that feels intimate, raw, and all-encompassing.
The EP’s two singles, ‘A Nonbinary Ballad’ and ‘Cabernet’, offer a compelling glimpse into the project's emotional and stylistic range, showcasing an artist unafraid to explore their identity and influences.
Up first is ‘A Nonbinary Ballad’,an emotive and wonderfully rustic track that shines through a slow, rhythmic acoustic guitar. It’s a track that immediately sets a tone of wistful introspection, with SubSpaceHiWay’s vocals echoing with a heartfelt longing that is genuinely moving. The track is a slow-burner, with new layers of sound gradually built over one another. Lingering refrains like “I don’t feel good” and the poignant admission, “I no longer know who I am, I switch up at the drop of a hat,” take hold, adding a thread of introspection.
In contrast, ‘Cabernet’ bursts forth with a buoyant, pop-infused energy. The track trades the acoustic simplicity of its counterpart for a more complex and dynamic arrangement. A bright piano melody and delicate brass section lay the groundwork for a more instrumental, forward-thinking piece. SubSpaceHiWay's vocals ebb and flow with a hypnotic ease, weaving through the melodic passages. This song’s forward structure feels almost like a journey, shifting through different musical landscapes with effortless fluidity.
Where ‘A Nonbinary Ballad’ is a quiet, rustic confession, ‘Cabernet’ is a vibrant, melodic statement, demonstrating SubSpaceHiWay's versatility as both a writer and a producer. They’re two songs that help showcase SubSpaceHiWay as an artist, and as a person, as they explained, “My first EP is a collection of songs I wrote about falling in and out of love as a nonbinary person.”
‘Fiendomme’ is an informal yet informative record that is a must-listen for anyone looking to discover a fresh and original voice in music. For more, be sure to follow SubSpaceHiWay today on Instagram and TikTok.
