Near Death Experience, or NDX, hails from Ealing, blending genres as a collective since 2016. Shaping the local music landscape, establishing Ealing Live to support fellow talent and garnering praise from underground blogs and indie radio stations alike, they are poised to end 2024 at their highest point.
Their latest single, ‘Present’ has just been released, bringing soulful sax licks, pop infectiousness and a shimmering sound. Crossing genre boundaries for a slice of sonically diverse joy, NDX let the rhythm section groove, adding a spaciousness through electric and acoustic guitars, and topping it with warming melodies in both the instrumentation and vocals.
The colourful texture calls back to sounds of the past, but it’s reformed into something more unique and rock-tinged than the traditional soulful structure. Behind all that, NDX sprinkles the timeless tune’s lyricism with themes of grabbing every day with both hands and making the big decisions without reservation or regret. If you don’t go, you’ll never know! Pure grooves from start to finish, it’s a strong addition to their discography going into 2025.
The band explains some of their music blend and the themes within the track, “Our driving, funky, infectious single ‘Present’ is an anthem about living for the moment. In an increasingly uncertain and unstable world, the hook to the song “There’s no time like the present” has never been more appropriate. From doing all the things you’ve ever dreamed of, to saving the planet, there really is no time to lose! And we hope that ‘Present’ helps to put a rocket up the arse of the world! Even if it’s simply telling someone that you love them, stop dithering and JUST GODAMN DO IT! The song continues our journey towards the groovier side of psychedelic soul. Although we’re again wearing our love of the 60s and 70s sound boldly on our sleeve – from the Rolling Stones to James Brown and Curtis Mayfield – ‘Present’ follows its own path with Ian Whiteling’s distinctive big soulful vocals, Amar Grovers driving bass guitar, Jack Dawkins’ jazzy sax with a hint of the East, and Joshua Van Ness’s funky drums.”
Listen to ‘Present’ below…
