Since his euphoric debut album Escapism in 2019, Audien has launched his “Progressive House Never Died” concept brand, turned the vision into a national tour, and continues to play shows under the name to this day. And just this past Friday, he released his sophomore album, First Love, a soaring progressive house ode to the rollercoaster of love.
The album includes some songs we already knew and loved from him, including “Wish It Was You” from 2021 and “One Last Dance” from 2022, as well as newer tracks he’s been showcasing on tour. The full track list boasts an impressive roster of some of EDM’s favorite vocalists – including Skylar Grey and Julia Church. Collaborators include huge names in production, such as Shallou and Arty.
These names made the intended impact. Audien said in an interview with Cultr, “My goal was to bring the focus back to the music – the melodies, emotions, and vocals that people feel in their hearts and remember forever.” And “emotions” definitely run through the entirety of First Love, from the internal torment of a breakup in “Slide Away” to the euphoria of new love in “Living in Color” to the confusion of being everything in between in “Bittersweet.” “The songs are about all stuff I was going through,” Audien said about the album. “There’s no filler, it’s all really emotional.”
While largely staying true to the progressive house brand, the album also spans a range in sound. The first track, “Make Me Forget,” features the uplifting synth piano chords that characterize the hits he rose to fame with (think “Something Better”). “Lose It All” is quintessential progressive house, with big nostalgic Sander van Doorn-esque drops. “Bittersweet”, the first single (and my personal standout), is melody-driven with a dreamy, roaming bassline reminiscent of old Mako. And “Cold”, arguably the biggest and most unique departure from sound on the album, is a drum & bass hit with Fred V on the feature.
But even with such a wide range, the album is still tied together with unifying, common threads: echoey percussion, synthy chords, billowy vocals, and the overarching theme of yearning in love.
Audien described progressive house to Cultr as “very melodic, uplifting, and euphoric house music; a nod to a period, particularly in the U.S. around 2013-2014, which felt very connective — some people call it the Golden Age of dance music in the U.S.” Like he’s done for over a decade, Audien has remained steadfastly loyal to this “Golden Age” with First Love. This album masterfully conjures that nostalgic feeling to a T, bringing listeners back to a time when dance music was all serotonin and smiling at the sky.