Buffalo producer DroMello is the latest addition to growing list of promising beat makers to emerge locally in the past few months, which includes Spike Scott, Dahlhaus, and Sparklebomb. Each of these promising young artists bring their own flavor to their instrumental based work, often leaning towards an ethereal, reflective sound. Despite showcasing such a mature sound, DroMello is surprisingly still in high school, a senior at St.Joseph's Collegiate Institute to be exact.

From an initial listen to the opening track of his debut beat tape, Second Grade Alchemist, it's clear that the young artist is full of potential and has a clear vision for what he is trying to communicate with his tracks. Influences like Flying Lotus, J Dilla, and Madlib are evident throughout the collection, with songs like "Strut Long" and "Astral Connection" employing a soulful, highly melodic style. Other standout tracks include "That Sound," "Rememberance," "Fall In Love" (a J-Dilla tribute), and "Soul Mate," which is reminiscent of Bastard-era Tyler, The Creator. From the crisp percussion, to the overall laid-back hip hop feel, each track could imaginably serve as a creative spark for a thoughtful MC. The entire album is available as a free download. Listen below and hopefully we will have more material from the young producer in the months ahead.