Alex Marko — Tranquility

words by Ruby Box

Alex Marko’s debut EP ‘Tranquility’ is a five track collaboration with Flo Creative Events. The lead guitarist of Velvet Bloom, Marko’s talent as a composer and instrumentalist shine through in his new release.

Over the past couple of months, Alex Marko’s passion for home produced music has evolved, while gaining a heightened appreciation for the calming qualities of local surroundings, the combination of which has formed the creation of his debut EP.

The gorgeously ambient collection of instrumental tunes is available for purchase on Bandcamp, with 100% of profits being donated towards Headspace. The donation of proceeds is in order to soothe and inspire in response to the effects of Melbourne’s lockdowns and the wider consequence of the pandemic on mental health. As well as the financial benefit given to mental health resources, the serene energy of the EP has a highly calming effect and can allow listeners to stop and relax for the duration of the pieces.

Each tune creates an entirely new atmosphere, which is achieved through the use of tiki guitars to create a tropical getaway, to the blissful sounds of running water to ground the listeners and take them somewhere deeply calming. Features on the EP include appropriately titled ‘Oliver’s Creek’ and ‘Waikiki’, which possess style and natural sounds that embody the landscapes that he has captured.. ‘From My Windowsill’ allows listeners to sit with Marko on a drizzly day and peer out the window in a meditative state, as the track washes over you.

Marko’s skill as a guitarist seamlessly blends into the rest of production, as each track is an exemplary combination of style and musicality.

Each track offers a gateway to a new world. An opportunity to lose yourself in the composition and float away to a utopia offered by the atmospheric audio and cohesive writing styles of Marko.

In times of lockdown and decreased social interactions, ‘Tranquility’ is what we need, a passive pathway to an escape and an incredibly calming 23 minutes.

You can purchase the EP here <3