nkls - merry chillmas

Lofi producer nkls releases a holiday themed instrumental EP titled “Merry Chillmas”. Stylistically this six song EP mirrors nkls’s other 2022 EP, his Halloween themed “Kill n Chill”.

The intro song titled “last christmas” slowly builds like anticipation for presents Christmas morning as a kid. Drums under the melody paired together recall the feeling of looking back fondly on past happy memories.

“jingle bells” plays next taking the namesake song’s melody and flips it into an eerie creation. Hi-hats tik onward like a clock counting time in the cold as you make your way back inside for hot chocolate. Taking holiday cheer met with a dreamlike peculiar feeling comes the next song titled “deck the halls”.

The fourth song, “where are you christmas” holds a similar vibe to the intro song “last christmas”. Heavy bass plays behind soft moments to then be lifted up away as the main melody drops back in. “where are you christmas” retains a feeling of a blossomed flower watching the sunrise on a cold morning.

Similar to the iconic original, nkls’s version of “you’re a mean one” holds a different emotional connotation. The original song has a neutral party describing the horrendous nature of the grinch. nkls’s version feels more personal. As if the song is the feeling of the grinch accepting that others will only see him for his flaws.

Ending with “krampus’ lullaby”, nkls takes  more holiday cheer and blends it with a skin crawling, spooky tone he perfected on “kill n chill”.

Immolating no one instead nkls’s music is instrumentals interpreting the world through a creative lense. Throughout the 14 minute, six song EP nkls sets an atmosphere that would play perfectly in multiple different moods and mindsets of the holidays.