Sounds of Walker – “Ko” [Song Review]

“Ko,” the debut single of Los Angeles-based Latinx artist Sounds of Walker, aka Milan de la Rocha, explores “the transformative power of self-discovery and personal strength.”

Inspired during an hour-long sunset flight between Bangkok and Koh Samui, Thailand, as he gazed at numerous small islands shimmering in the sunlight, de la Rocha likened them to the human condition – isolated yet linked by the need for connection.

As a first-generation Latino living in the vibrant landscape of Los Angeles, de la Rocha’s life mirrors the metropolis, a mixture of diverse cultures and influences. It’s this rich mosaic that ignites his fervor to craft music flowing from his Cuban and Mexican heritage, fusing elements of cinematic electronic music and synth-pop.

“Ko” opens with emerging, trembling tones flowing into a tasty electro-pop rhythm topped by thrumming layers of gliding, vibrating harmonic textures, revealing traces of psychedelia. De la Rocha’s gentle, dreamy vocals imbue the lyrics with warm surfaces, beckoning listeners into a surreal realm.

An oscillating bridge leads to a dazzling piano-filled outro, pulsating with alluring momentum and tiers of swirling sonic coloration.

Drenched in an ultra-catchy, pulsing motion, seductive, and addictive, “Ko” immediately establishes Sounds of Walker as a tour de force.

Sounds of Walker, photo courtesy of Sounds of Walker

Run Time: 4:42
Release Date: September 22, 2023
Record Label: Independent