Strong is an interesting song for many reasons – not least the refusal to adhere to the usual trappings of work in this genre. It’s classic songwriting that has enough spice to mark it out as a thoughtful development on Mark’s previous releases.
Songwriter
You can set aside an hour, can’t you? Even in today’s hectic world? NO? You should… when you can fill it with Compassion. In fact, you need to listen to all of it. For the songwriting, for the vocals, for the skill, for the magic… I don’t do politics, but in an age of Brexit and Trump, I find myself running towards Compassion with open arms. It’s worth it.
Maxime fuses an organic folk sound with a mildly theatrical performance style for this EP, paying tribute to effective and raw musicality as much as his family background in theatre.
The simplicity of the composition can either seem heavily juxtaposed with, or completely at one with, the very idea of infinity.
He uses his voice for texture as much as for carving out an individual niche as a vocalist and I’m led to the conclusion that Ete serves the song. Whatever is needed to serve the song is the right artistic choice, and I can only applaud decisions like that with all my heart.
The melodies that Megan delivers capture that breathlessness, cleverly using her breathing as a part of the instrumentation. The way she wraps her delivery around the sweet anticipation and nervousness as she hits the big notes on the chorus is tantalising and exciting indeed. Faster made my heart beat faster. It’s a brilliant piece that deserves your attention.
The whole thing makes for an artistically brilliant and clearly well thought-out production, pop-art at its finest. A strong and impressive introduction to both Folded Dragons and the artist and mind that is SoRi.
“I wasn’t a person who was born being a good performer. It took me a long time to get comfortable playing on stage and creating energy between me and the crowd.”
An achingly poignant lyric that (sadly) still holds true today, By My Silence essentially details how it’s wholly possible to be complicit in awful (or just unfair) things coming to pass by remaining fearful, passive and silent about them. It’s a lovely version of a melancholy-drenched tune.
“It’s the creation of something new and exiting. Sometimes, I just don’t know where these songs come from and I’m always on fire when it happens.”
The sweet orchestration of the track; the masterful blending of strings and acoustic guitars is reminiscent of singer-songwriters like Boo Hewerdine, erstwhile of The Bible. The percussion elements are a very welcome addition, too – adding a little drive to proceedings – but the major feeling here is one of reflection and contemplation. Dive in and have a soak.
Lounge Act Jam return with an indie-rock-infused, grunge-soaked yet rhythmically uplifting new single – the lyrically minimalist but conceptually quick to the point When The River Flows.