Genre/Influences: Wave-Pop.

Format: Digital.

Background/Info: Gleaming is an Austin (Texas, USA) based project which released a few singles thus far. “We Dissolve” features five songs.

Content: This work is definitely driven by good-old Electro-Wave influences. The composition isn’t sophisticated but efficient through simple tunes and retro-strings. I also noticed a more EBM driven bass line in one of the tracks. The vocals are half spoken – half sung.

+ + + : Gleaming is a cool discovery dealing with a simple but efficient sound approach. Both debut songs are cool exponents carried by dark bass lines and efficient, vintage sounding string parts. I think this is the kind of project that might be signed to Negative Gain Productions or at least it will catch the attention of the fans of this label.

– – – : The work is maybe missing a little extra like a more explicit melody line or a club mix by Rob Dust.

Conclusion: This is a project I want to keep an eye on; great Electro-Pop with a personal touch.

Best songs: “The Voyager”, “Run Faster”.

Rate: 7½.

Artist: www.facebook.com/gleaming.atx Read the news on ‘We Dissolve’.

About Gleaming

Gleaming is an electronic project based in Austin, Texas, fronted by a musician who previously drummed in screamo and indie/dream-pop bands before moving into synth-driven, wave-influenced solo work. The project released the single “Run Faster” in 2022 ahead of its debut EP.

“We Dissolve,” reviewed here, arrived in February 2023 as Gleaming’s debut EP, followed by further singles including “Prancing” (2023) and “Head Shot” and “Bleed” (2025).

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Austin, Texas – based electronic act, Gleaming has just unveiled details about an EP, “We Dissolve”. The EP also includes a collaboration with Vestite, and was mixed and mastered by Iacopo Bigagli (Kaelan Mikla’s Live Engineer).

Behind Gleaming we find Darryl Schomberg II who has been experimenting with synth-driven electronic elements since 2008, releasing one-off singles and EPs under the name No Master and various other monikers. With Gleaming, his sound combines elements of dark synth and electronica.

Darryl Schomberg II: “After drumming for a handful of different screamo and indie/dream-pop bands, I found my way to electronic music. I wanted to take the inspiration and influence from artists I love and blend it with my experience in the indie and dream/synth-pop bands. Creating a dark, danceable tone with really catchy melodies and lyrics, hoping to capture the perfect segue from dark to light. The EP is an ode to one’s former self and depression, habits, partners, family, friends, etc. It’s an attempt to bring closure to a darker past and to celebrate life in a more positive and meaningful sense.”

The first single, “Run Faster”, is out now together with a video you can view below. Read the review of ‘We Dissolve’.

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Chief editor of Side-Line – which basically means I spend my days wading through a relentless flood of press releases from labels, artists, DJs, and zealous correspondents. My job? Strip out the promo nonsense, verify what’s actually real, and decide which stories make the cut and which get tossed into the digital void. Outside the news filter bubble, I’m all in for quality sushi and helping raise funds for Ukraine’s ongoing fight against the modern-day axis of evil. Besides music I’m also an SEO and AI content flow specialist and have an interest in everything finance from stocks to crypto. There is music in everything!

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