I love the spark of finding a new sound and immediately falling in love (this was also the case with okvsho's "Where moments wait").
As a victim of the algorithm (though it seems like I have taught mine very well), I discovered "3454 (thoughts)" as it randomly played on my Spotify, and it was an instant click. Those magical harp melodies instantly pulled my attention away from my Friday admin, and I just had to pause for the next seven and a half minutes and sink into Brintex Collective's magical sonic world.
Silky keys and harmonies, joined by a gentle groove and soothing, rich horn themes, with an emotional impact that reminded me of Ibrahim Maalouf's "True Sorry" (we played it with the jazz orchestra I was part of a few years ago, and it remains one of my favourite tunes that my soul just can't resist). The track moves and flows so beautifully, keeping you excited for what's next. And wait for that drop, where the groove goes all over the place, yet the rest of the instrumental somehow keeps its dreaminess and calm.
Brintex Collective are a Rotterdam-based band led by keys player and composer Brenn Luiten, also known as Brintex. "3454 (thoughts)", featuring harpist Ranie Ribeiro, is part of their debut album Make It Make Sense (Sep 2025), exploring themes of grief, heartbreak, and getting back on your feet. With influences such as Robert Glasper, Alfa Mist, and Joe Armon Jones, this album truly reflects their own sound. I'm excited to listen to the full project, and hope you like it too!
