No rating
What a year to be alive…
So many things are happening in such a short amount of time. Events that make one reflect on what and how much one actually knows about life and/or the people one is surrounded by.
These musicians we follow, support, and love are just like us. Humans. Fragile bubbles of living matter animated by thoughts, dreams, and problems.
2018 is a year of awareness and improvement against a threat that seems to be the closest to us than ever before: mental health, and its potential consequence, suicide. More than ever, these have been the cases for musicians in the past 12 months or so.
Hard bass prodigy KAYZO wisely decided to skip some gigs during his spring North American tour to keep his growing depression and homesickness in check, receiving overwhelming support from his fans for this decision.
The biggest warning sign of where mental struggle can bring an artist – specifically, an electronic music artist – was definitely April the 20th. That pitch black stain will never be removed from the heart of millions of music fans.
In the aftermath of that, American house master Kaskade shared a letter of compassion and reflection aimed at any people with mental struggles. So did Above & Beyond after him.
Tim Bergling wasn’t certainly the only one, and will not be the last one.
Another well-known scenario was Chester Bennington’s. The Linkin Park frontman took his own life away in circumstances I’d rather not prolong on. Linkin Park was my first introduction to the world of music, the first act I actually loved.
My tears were unimaginably bitter.
If we take a look back in the past, Porter Robinson himself was struggling with depression and critical artistic uncertainty in 2015, right after he delivered ‘Worlds’ to the people. Gladly his family, friends, and team took great care of him, helping the American musician to snap out of it.
More recently, an over-intoxicated Two Feet – an American producer widely known for his sexy, lustful bass-meets-R&B releases – attempted at killing himself. Again, gladly everything ended up well and he is now under mental therapy with massive support from his fanbase, and his loving family.
Other electronic music acts, decided to be an example for people, raising the bar in terms of mental struggles awareness by sharing their stories.
One of the most brilliant minds in bass music, Alison Wonderland admitted having dedicated her latest album ‘Awake’ at telling her tale of fighting against the consequences of an abusive relationship, which brought her on the dark grounds of suicide attempt.
About a month ago, EKALI took on his social media to release a statement explaining his everyday struggle with a excruciating ‘epileptic phenomenon’, a true threat to his psychological endurance.
Mental health, from my perspective pic.twitter.com/fa54njICqk
— 🍃EKALI🍃 (@EkaliMusic) July 30, 2018
Lastly, is the example of Illenium. He’s definitely not a stranger to profound and personal expression through his music, but his latest single was on a whole another level…
… and that’s exactly why I’m talking about it today.
Right after the sunset of my favorite summer month, I take a look back at August releases with a bit of appreciation for them giving a solid soundtrack to my vacations.
Right at the dawn of the month, though, you find ‘Take You Down’ by Illenium, which is a juxtaposition to what a fair bunch of electronic music names decides to release during the months of festival season.
This real tearjerker of a song defines a change in Illenium’s lyrical style; he goes beyond his relationship-focused safe game and instead brings a much darker and deeper theme.
This statement is better than me at explaining the context:
Today, finding an honest and personal record that tells a significant life story is nothing short than pure rarity. So I join the rest of the community in applauding Nick for this act of human expression – not that one could expect anything less from him.
This song is in fact so special, that I decided to avoid giving it a number to try expressing its value, so immense that is. A heartless assault: that’s what I consider attributing a sheer number to a song that talks about an endangered drug addict son-parents relationship.
I can discuss its composition, but that would be it for now. A more objective insight will eventually come… Over time.
The single features uncredited vocals from Tim James, one half of the songwriting duo Rock Mafia, but those have been pitched so to make the male voice hardly distinguishable from that of a girl. Interesting choice, it makes everyone able to identify with the singer’s voice.
Fans have little to get disappointed from this important release, as its the perfect embodiment for an Illenium melodic bass vocal release. The package includes dominant acoustic guitar strummings, Nick’s beloved false second drop, nicely designed vocal chops, and an overall darkness-light approach between the lyrical theme and the drops nature.
The element that stands out the most is obviously the beginning. Yeah, the first 4 seconds: rewind a little bit back. A desperate scream of agony sending shivers down the spine. It makes for an incredibly memorable frame for such a canvas of human soul and truth.
Artists whose electronic music has proven many times to bring more than just a 4/4 beat with a bass drop – Porter Robinson, Steve Angello, Illenium, Wasted Penguinz, deadmau5, Above & Beyond, Phuture Noize etc. – truly are oases in a saturated desert of unsubstantial noise.
What do you think?
Show comments / Leave a comment