Uploaded July 2019 | Updated September 2026, 3 hours ago
Rock With This (http://rockwiththis.com) helps you discover your new favorite songs. We deliver the best of what's breaking and uncover the left behind tracks that need to be heard. Subscribe for more music, it's free. ;)
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"5 A.M." by Kartell
Curated by: Maddie Swarr
Spotify: bit.ly/5AMKartell
Genre: #downtempo
What makes a song great? I realize this is a rather subjective and maybe pretentious-sounding question, but, hey, if it weren’t you probably wouldn’t be on this site. You don’t necessarily have to agree, but let me list out a few things that, in my opinion, are essential to the making of a “great song”, and whether this particular song passes the test (spoiler alert: it does).
First off, a great song must be well-mixed. Imagine a song where unbalanced EQ causes audio clipping or the highs are so high it shatters your ear drums. Unacceptable. Secondly, a great song must be original. Even if you like a particular song, if someone creates something that sounds just like it, by default it is the original one that you like, not the latter. Finally, to achieve greatness it must be meaningful. While the two preceding criteria can be evaluated relatively objectively, this one might have to get a little more philosophical. So then what makes a song meaningful? Usually the answer might be “the lyrics”, because as humans we understand words as having meaning. But can sounds be meaningful in and of themselves? “Absolutely”, “definitely”, “no question about it”, I can hear you all saying. As long as a song can make you feel something, who’s to say that isn’t meaning right there?
This particular song checks off each of those three boxes with a permanent marker every time I listen. “5AM” is dynamic, engaging, and all-around groovy, and the man behind it deserves some recognition. Kartell is a key member of the label that houses other beloved French musicians like FKJ and Darius, and he can definitely hold his own alongside. Since 2012, he’s been pumping out music under Roche Musique, developing a unique sound that’s been helping to push the Parisian electronic scene ever further ahead. His most recent EP Last Glow, which houses “5AM”, was released back in 2016, so keep your ears peeled for what will hopefully be some satisfying new releases in the upcoming year.
Rock With This (http://rockwiththis.com) helps you discover your new favorite songs. We deliver the best of what's breaking and uncover the left behind tracks that need to be heard. Subscribe for more music, it's free. ;)
Follow us on:
Instagram: instagram.com/rockwiththismusic
Spotify: bit.ly/SPRockWithThis
SoundCloud: bit.ly/SCRockWithThis
Facebook: facebook.com/rockwiththis
-----------------------------
"5 A.M." by Kartell
Curated by: Maddie Swarr
Spotify: bit.ly/5AMKartell
Genre: #downtempo
What makes a song great? I realize this is a rather subjective and maybe pretentious-sounding question, but, hey, if it weren’t you probably wouldn’t be on this site. You don’t necessarily have to agree, but let me list out a few things that, in my opinion, are essential to the making of a “great song”, and whether this particular song passes the test (spoiler alert: it does).
First off, a great song must be well-mixed. Imagine a song where unbalanced EQ causes audio clipping or the highs are so high it shatters your ear drums. Unacceptable. Secondly, a great song must be original. Even if you like a particular song, if someone creates something that sounds just like it, by default it is the original one that you like, not the latter. Finally, to achieve greatness it must be meaningful. While the two preceding criteria can be evaluated relatively objectively, this one might have to get a little more philosophical. So then what makes a song meaningful? Usually the answer might be “the lyrics”, because as humans we understand words as having meaning. But can sounds be meaningful in and of themselves? “Absolutely”, “definitely”, “no question about it”, I can hear you all saying. As long as a song can make you feel something, who’s to say that isn’t meaning right there?
This particular song checks off each of those three boxes with a permanent marker every time I listen. “5AM” is dynamic, engaging, and all-around groovy, and the man behind it deserves some recognition. Kartell is a key member of the label that houses other beloved French musicians like FKJ and Darius, and he can definitely hold his own alongside. Since 2012, he’s been pumping out music under Roche Musique, developing a unique sound that’s been helping to push the Parisian electronic scene ever further ahead. His most recent EP Last Glow, which houses “5AM”, was released back in 2016, so keep your ears peeled for what will hopefully be some satisfying new releases in the upcoming year.
