Ascend couldn't be a more appropriate title for
Illenium's third album. The Denver-based EDM producer has been constantly on the rise since he began releasing singles in 2014, and both of his first two albums reached the Top Ten of Billboard's Dance/Electronic albums chart.
Ascend hit the pole position, additionally debuting at number 14 on the Billboard 200. All of which is apropos for the artist's most accessible, earnest, and emotional collection of songs yet. Moving away from the festival-friendly dubstep and trap of his earlier work, this is an album of intense, personal songs dealing with subjects such as drug abuse and toxic relationships. The extensive list of guest producers and vocalists include
X Ambassadors,
Bipolar Sunshine,
Foy Vance, and
Georgia Ku. The album's biggest hit single, "Takeaway," is a collaboration with
the Chainsmokers and singer
Lennon Stella.