The New LoFi

Bosnian producer, Arms and Sleepers, delivers some chilled out trip hop vibes to ease you into Wednesday

Arms and Sleepers started as a duo consisting of Max Lewis and Mirza Ramic in 2006 in Boston, Massachusetts. With Lewis being less active for the last three years, Ramic has taken over. This year sees his first EP emerge with a more experimental spirit. Arms and Sleepers musical catalogue has developed over the years as an exploration of genres spanning from trip-hop and electronica to downtempo, ambient, hip hop, and subtle pop. Mirza decided to continue the tradition and not stay loyal to one type of music on this EP.

“I conceived the idea behind this EP after seeing the World War II painting “Flanders (Where To In This World?)” by the artist Franz Radziwill,” explains Ramic.

Ramic’s goal in music is to be absolutely honest while writing tunes based on what is impactful for him at the moment. Originally from Bosnia, the current war in Ukraine brought back childhood memories to Ramic.

“It’s a striking image portraying the horror of war, which has been an important part of my identity (having experienced war in Bosnia as a child). It was also a reminder about the continuing horrors of war, in places like Ukraine that has been an important part of my life. I’ve been touring in Ukraine as a musician every year over the last decade, and some of my fondest music memories were made there. So to see the country bombed and destroyed, in a similar was that my country was bombed and destroyed, was deeply upsetting and sad. With so many new refugees now looking for a different life somewhere far away from home, like I did in the 1990s, I started processing all those familiar feelings of trauma, despair, and uncertainty. I wanted to create a release that processes those emotions through music, if nothing else then for me to find a breath of air in a world that sometimes feels like it’s sinking fast”

Check out our favorite single from the EP below, and look out for the full EP on Stereofox Records.