Elskavon

On Panoramas, Chris Bartels redefines his Elskavon project, creating an album that feels like both a culmination of his work and a reinvention. Known for his creative approach and genre-bending style, Bartels pushes boundaries, crafting a cohesive journey that challenges traditional ideas of what an album—and the human voice—can be.
“This album is a deep dive into everything that's shaped me as a creator,” Bartels explains. “My favorite songs and albums are tied to memories and seasons—beautiful, painful, grand, and small—and those experiences inform everything I do.”
Panoramas builds on ideas explored in 2023’s Origins, venturing further into uncharted territory. This album captures moments, emotions, and sounds collected over years, reimagining and bringing them to life. Embracing creative accidents, Bartels allows the music to “write itself,” blending organic and electronic elements. The result challenges musical conventions, reimagining how vocals, rhythms, and textures can live and breathe within a song.
Elskavon has always been about pushing boundaries and embracing the unexpected. Bartels’ production reflects this, using experimental sampling, re-sampling, and warping to develop ideas that evolve into new forms. Vocal improvisation is key, with chance phrases and lyrical fragments becoming the emotional core of songs. Rhythmic structures arise not only from drums and arpeggios but also from chopped fragments of sound, carefully placed or left to chance. Electronic elements blend seamlessly with ambient textures and pop sensibilities, all held together by melodic threads that draw listeners into Bartels’s world.
Ultimately, Panoramas feels like a life story told through sound—a soundtrack to a journey of discovery, discomfort, and growth. It’s an invitation to explore, an acceptance of fate, and a reminder that sometimes the best art comes from letting go and following the music.