TOKiMONSTA’s mini-album Desiderium, out now on Young Art, is “mini” in the sense of time but not in execution. She has managed to make a more emotionally dense record in 8 songs than most are able to accomplish in a double-disc. From the epic orchestration that transforms into a heavy hitting hip-hop beat in “The Beginning” to the offering of vulnerability via Anderson Paak’s vocals in “Realla,” Desiderium touches on everything I’ve felt from self-confidence brimming with braggadocio to self-doubt sprinkled with futility. The vocalists she works with on this record are an extension of the production, articulating the emotion that is implied in the instrumentation.

TOKiMONSTA’s arrangements are unmatched. She blurs the line between rhythm and melody, making every sound she uses embody both. I wouldn’t categorize this record into a genre because it would take away from the truth of its dynamic sound. Arama’s words “I got a whole lot of new things going on”  in the song “Drive” echo throughout the whole record.  With its honesty and fresh production, Desiderium serves as an intimate interview with TOKiMONSTA.