Vishal Naidu - Fragments Of Serenity
A widely uncredited quote by the infamous Charles Bukowski always sticks with me. “An intellectual says a simple thing in a hard way. An artist says a hard thing in a simple way“. This has rung true for whatever art I have chosen to deliberate over. All I have are words at my disposal, and I hope I do this artist justice. This is Vishal Naidu with his album, Fragments of Serenity. Vishal Naidu doesn’t just make music. He has his own company that deals with all things music. He’s an engineer by profession, yet takes time out for his passion. Dabbling in various forms of music, he wields his primary instrument, the guitar, with pride. He’s explored many genres and currently indulges creating in a few. This is his second album after his 2020 EP, Circadian. The shift in tone and sound I had the chance to talk to this artist about his album, and it was an insightful side of him I got to see. “Circadian was mainly a post-rock album which was inspired by Ichika Nito during the lockdown. It was a collection of short songs with ambiance and melodies, and one major complain I got from most of them that heard my album was that the songs are too short (even though it was intentional)” says Vishal, when I asked him about the shift from Circadian to this new album. “I just picked up my acoustic guitar one day and decided to compose something longer and record it, that’s when “Untravelled” was born“. There isn’t enough time in the world to articulate the feelings of an instrumental album. Yet, I channel my feelings after the first listen of these tracks. Memories of A Forgotten Past is the first track on this album. Vishal says ” While neofolk isn’t in the mainstream, it’s something which allowed me to get lost in the beauty of nature with the accompanying instruments. When I first listened to Vàli, it was a magical experience. It was almost like I transported myself into the woods in Norway and explored the forests there.” From the words of an artist, you hear precisely that. It is astonishing how organically close he has come to recreating the several ethereal layers of the forest. You see, the advantage I have is not have visited the place. In some ways, this is Vishal’s epilogue of this mystic and powerful space he visited. A spiritual awakening of sorts, that he words with his strings. Master strokes-by touch A prolific balance of ambience and crafted sound is clear with the tracks. The raw richness of the human touch hasn’t had a digital wipe down, it resonates with the strokes and slides of creative, sound chord progressions. Just the first track warrants a search of his inspirations for this kind of music. “Agalloch was my main influence for nature elements in songs, when I first heard their song “Pantheist” and explored deeper, I found the sound I was looking for all my life. Then followed the never-ending search for similar music. Eventually when I released Circadian, the influences were bound to come out of me for the future tracks and I wanted to make something surrounding nature which eventually turned into a series of songs and the album “Fragments Of Serenity.” says Vishal. Consider his second track, Whisper of Trees. The part of the world is seemingly stitched around you, as you absorb the ambience of these magical woods that exist beyond you. You then hear the trees chant, and luckily they speak through strings. Following that one looped moment that is all serenity. The progression is every bit mysterious as it is provocative-for thought and a demanding visual. Wrapped around by imagination and not reality, we soak in the searing truth of the instrument that is messenger. Collaborating & Creating Says Vishal, about this track Whisper of Trees “As it started getting more traction, I decided to record my next track with a different method of recording based on the inputs (through the mic) and that’s when “Whisper Of Trees” was composed. At this point I was sure that I want to make a full-length neofolk album and there was no looking back “. Tracks like Petrichor and Enchanted Creek are of the singularity of a moment, laid out over several minutes. Each track has the ability to be able to speak without words, and that’s where I seemingly fail. The album has a three word title, and the track a name. I have spent countless letters now typing out something that has taken hold of me, yet I feel the need to deliberate on it. The curse of instrumental music is the thought it can probe into. The curse of good instrumental music is watching a critic fail to describe what he is paid to write. Beyond words & verses “It was a wonderful learning experience where I got to see different perspectives and ways of composition. Even though the genre is the same, there’s obviously infinite ways how songs are composed, so this dynamic was unique where we got to extend each other’s progressions and melodies. On the other side of the process – It was hard and stressful where it took a long time for the song to come online. The sending across of stems, mixing it to sound consistent, and the tempo changes along with re-works on different parts made it very challenging, but it was all worth it in the end.” says Vishal, when I asked about his remote collaboration with Thurnin for Distant Lands. It combines the brilliance of two artists creating a single masterpiece with different strokes. Vishal Naidu also collaborates with Aditya Ramesh, for Enchanted Creek. Making art together during these trying times has been complex, but if you hadn’t read it here, you wouldn’t know. Vishal has worked with Mohit Bagur for mixing Distant Lands and Joshua for mastering, to create the pocket of sound he felt this album deserved. Bravo on sculpting a vibrant world for this music. The artist took it upon his own hands to mix the rest of the album. Imagery-At first glance Now, there is an entire question of interpretation that Vishal has answered, which I will not put here consciously. There is an image that he has, he recreates in a form of art that is his own. The advantage of you listening to Fragments of Serenity is picturing everything he hopes you would visualize. If he comes close, he has been successful. If he doesn’t, he’s created a whole new path of thought for you. I could have pulled out all the stops on this kind of album, it still would fall short. 1000 words in, with nothing to say. It would be foolish to lyrically ruminate over each track that is on this album. I have reveled in mine, lost in a haze, surrounded by a forest. A book wouldn’t be enough to fill in what this album has made me feel. Yet, if I entertain this train of thought, I realize I was lost only in one moment. A fragment of serenity perhaps. Allow me to leave you with a piece of lore from the artist Vishal Naidu himself: Memories of a forgotten past makes its way into the present Trees whisper the tales once lost in these woods Washed away by the cleansing rains amongst the chaos Pieces which fit, remembered by the distant lands Fragments lay beside the enchanted creeks Nocturnal woods conceal the paths untravelled Her chaos destroys, her chaos heals As these fragments of serenity slowly drift into one, it’s all coming back together. Listen to his album below. Do consider physical copies to truly experience the sound: https://vishalnaidu.bandcamp.com/album/fragments-of-serenity
Martin Smith-Dancing In the Fire
Instead of listening to those relentless club anthems that all sound the same, shift to something that cuts out all the noise. I’m talking about Martin Smith’s new single, Dancing In the Fire. With the zeal to make you dance and the fury to make you rock, this is an amalgam you won’t regret experiencing. Opening with a Mark Ronson style funk dance sequence, Martin Smith changes gears with live instruments pulsating right from the first few moments. The synths are a supporting act for the guitars, adding great mass and volume to Smith’s lyrics and somber vocals. That is, till he gets to the chorus. A pumping jive, it is almost impossible to not have this whoop stuck in your head. The industrial heaviness of rock is heard, from NIN to the dance anthem styles of old Panic!, Martin Smith vows to change the atmosphere of the Church, and he is undoubtedly doing so. Testing your faith might not be that easy. Because of the nature of this addictive melody that Martin Smith has written, its important to know his musical journey, the tracks that he originated from. To no surprise, Exalt from 2020 is a phenomenal album with echoing synth soundscapes and motivational lyrics. Changing like the tides but keeping the solid message the same, Smith continues to impress with his latest venture. So when you want that indelible entrance into that party hall, you know what action star track will be playing behind you!
15th Bend-Distance
For a young artist that has just begun their foray into music, 15th Bend is an impressive leap. From just March 2020, 15th Bend has released several singles that tackle emotions and moments with musical breakdowns. Instrumental in nature, they are a pivotal move for the artist that wants to create. This is his single, Distance. Using a cinematic sequence of chords that set forth abstract images of vast space, Distance takes time to understand. As the background is fairly simple, several layers come together for a dense soundboard. Clean guitar leads take over to profess the emotion that guides the hand. Distance is an impressive and simple piece of art that says in no words, even what is complex can be simple. This approach and intent is clear in his other pieces as well. Wish, Loss & Ignite, each take the root source of the word and the intangible behind it. It is then melodically reproduced into this rich instrumental we get to hear as a result. Songs like Distance are a popular approach to melody, though the bare stripped nature of the songs can sometimes reveal wider gaps in the composition. 15th Bend has managed to close this gap with persevered effort and a dream that can go the distance. I definitely see this track in an intense scene in Interstellar, where Matthew McConaughey sets foot into a new world and is awe-struck by the sheer size and beauty.
Blake Dagley-The Nashville Sessions
Similar to Chicago’s popular album with the same name, Blake Dagley is here to rediscover his sound. The Nashville Sessions is Blake’s latest album release, a triple A side of energetic, whole soul music. With a bit of folk, Americana and blues whirlpool that he entertains, Blake wants to really earmark a signature sound. Though his voice is instantly recognizable, these are his best compositions yet. Let’s get into it. It is important that you realize your strongest suit. Blake has a semi-husky warm voice that is inviting yet invigorating. Ain’t Going Down Like This uses this to his advantage, paired with simple instrumentals. His track entertains the possibility of really letting a progression marinate before exploding into something larger. As this paper plane unfolds, you start to put together Blake’s design, simple yet effective. The Nashville Sessions are underway with a great track. With a much softer opening, Paradox uses the dreamy, floating tone of the electric. Blake proceeds with his pipes on display, touching lyrics that make you pause for a while. It is a bare to the bones approach to watch someone discover themselves through their art. Not only does it chart your progress, but takes a while for honesty to seep through. The instruments do a 50/50 with the vocals, each lifting the other to an elevated state of thought in performance. A tribute to oneself, executed with truth. Songwriting and purpose Milly has another great simple melody and clean progression. We all love hearing a silky, fingerpicking pattern that dictates lot of the song. Milly shows Blake’s passion for reason, and turning infatuation and affection to something bigger to the best that humans can do. Create. The Nashville Sessions see Blake take an acoustic, often skimmed over part as one loses themselves in crafting instrumentals. It is true songwriting skill here. From Melodies: Vol 1, this is a nice step into the wild. It is something that teaches artists who chase complication or massive airtime the essence. Not only of music and songwriting, but drive. This is a three track Magna Carta from Blake Dagley, and he has foraged for his own sound. As you watch Into the Wild or The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, you'll hear this perfectly fitting into the setting. So go ahead, and enjoy!
Peter Uher-New Reality
There are genre fusions. There are intra-genre relations that give birth to exciting sounds that are rare to hear. The third category is chasing fumes of otherworldly delight. That is where this artist, Peter Uher comes in. His latest album is a compilation of his work through the years, a debut that tries to create his own envelope with the fragments of sound. This is a New Reality. For a short track, Mirror Door is your transcendental portal to Peter’s dimensions. Mere mortals cannot walk through this door, so Peter holds it open for you. It is a confluence of jazz, rock and classical strokes you witness, in a all out medley of leviathan proportions. Exciting, raw and real-you can hear every note as it was composed, as the other instruments dance around the protagonist. To create a flow like a brooks’ babble, Peter chooses and uses a traditional foundation. The gentle whisper of the flute & soft sax guide the track, Look Ahead. His guitar comes in smoothly, in due course of time, carrying with it the magnanimous effect of a leading dancer. The drama, penchant for frills and flourishes is still there, albeit in a new tempo and style. Time seems to melt away by the time the solo acoustic moments create ambient shells for the guitar to caress. What will be tomorrow is the track that now includes parts of ambient progressive. Hopefully you catch the subtle changes listening on your headphones, because they are a psychedelic introduction to the track. The beats have a dissonant echo while the guitar gets by on its minimal pizazz, creating a layered approach to ambience. Building to the name The title track is a jazz fusion number, with an addictive progression by the bass and the guitar. The drums shine as well, as the silent spine of the song, ever adapting. The tone changes are incredible, truly a sound to behold. The shift in the song is not only unexpected, but an exciting approach to song composition, with different instruments taking the lead every time. A prog-jazz number if you will, by the time the mid-point rolls around, we’re in a Silencers song. The solo jam at the end has to be heard several times to be believed. Vivien’s Dream is a wonderful short track, with the saxophone taking the cake. The guitar gently dances around this, with cat’s feet as it takes no attention away. A track that just melts through the fog and rests in your head for a while. With an R&B approach, Recently is Peter Uher’s sound palette cleanser. It makes the required impact, the strings echoing through to create a beautiful loop that melts through the framework of the song. Second by second, the track bleeds through. Riverse is what you would expect to hear, a song that sounds just as intense and unbelievable in reverse. The magic of jazz being the unpredictable nature of it. All the instruments dance with their destiny in mind, in control of the notes almost. It is a long, progressive track with plenty of elements to unpack. Peter Uher closes the album with a simple Epilogue that seems to weld fragments of his favourite sounds together, with another enchanting tone on his guitar. If this is his debut, I am excited to hear what a young artist like this has in store for us. He has not only stitched a continuous tapestry of fabric for experimentation, but composed it to a level that everyone can appreciate this art. This is a new reality we would choose to explore. When you're in the dissonance of movies like The Girl in the Dragon Tattoo or in a Jack Reacher like thriller film, you better bet this sound will punctuate the gritty scenes!
Yorige- Kalėdų Belaukiant
Yorige has a sensational way of inviting you into a scene. Their sound represents freedom, a dose of magic and the uncanny ability to transport you with their sound. Kalėdų Belaukiant is their latest single, once again opening a portal to a moment beyond time and space. Time to float on notes of chimes and bells to a promised land. How she gets her heavenly sound is a celestial connect. It takes tons of experience and fluidic chord changes for the arrangement that has come to fruition. The lack of percussion twirls the focus on the beautiful instrumentals and vocals, the dance that happens between them. The vocals almost phase between the foreground and background, being careful not to disrupt the ethereal flow of the track and the moment therein. It is a wonderful composition, and paints quite the picture. This is what I envisioned. It is a climb to the peak, a pinnacle that has been evasive. The scene begins with the beleaguered struggle of climbing a peak, trudging across snow. As the goal approaches within arms reach, the song begins, joy flushing the protagonist’s face. I imagine a film like Everest or even Eight Below capturing this song with the scenic beauty of the song and the exasperated desert that is populated with the warmth of this song. As we’re approaching the holiday season, I must remind you that the literal meaning of the song is Waiting for Christmas. I know this is less dramatic than what the word painting I made, however, Christmas movies have a predictable pattern. The drama in this beautiful song could never be captured in those films, do check out Motina by Yorige as well. This is one talented group who continues to craft exquisite music and inspire.
Gary Dranow-Destiny Road
Gary Dranow has one of those elusive tones. I don’t talk about his instruments, but his phrasing. He and his band, The Manic Emotions, have brought about a unique spectrum, something that is extremely rare nowadays. It is a comfortable slice between Peter Frampton and Gary Moore, if they were to collaborate. This might seem absurd now, but hear it in his single, Destiny Road. With a synth punch and the band kicking in together, this is something you don’t hear much now. People try to build to their sound, but Gary Dranow gives you the whole story together. A beautiful guitar intro brings us into their well sculpted verse. The arrangement keeps the song exciting, trying to blend in the fresh aspects of instrumentals and the lyrical surrealism. The breaks also focus on the magic of the guitar and the kind of shift it can bring, to the style. I’ve loved the synth sound for the entirety of the song, almost carrying the background till it hands the baton to the guitar. This is a song I can definitely hear in films that would be defined by songs, such as Rock of Ages and maybe in The Karate Kid follow-up series, Cobra Kai. It has the definitive early 70s rock touch to it, yet has the soul to ride in to any rock packed film or series. Listen to Fool Outta Me and & Twisted Minds as well, to see his entire dynamic range!
Alec Berlin-Minir Maad
Some artists can’t do without lyrics. Alec Berlin aims to do without them. His songwriting has a vocal ghost that trails it, making each instrumental part seem like choice verse sections. From the time I heard his single Life in the Bog, there was a tectonic shift. Phrasings and alternates to create this saucerful of notes is what we aim to hear. This is his latest single, Minir Maad. Shuffling through minor keys, Alec Berlin takes us through an Arabic wonderland. For this track, call him Scheherazade, because he is narrating an enamouring tale with just his stringed instrument. So the name of the track comes from Minor Mod, and the Algerian strain makes it something exotic! The choice of instrumental sorcery is abundant and scarce, shifting through paths and alleys to show us what he experienced. The “chorus” has some exciting bends and twists, making this song the carpet ride that it is. Here, Alec Berlin details a documentary as a traveller through the Arabian Peninsula. I could definitely see this featured on Somebody Feed Phil and Dark Tourist. Shows that definitely try to expand and broaden the horizons of thought with different takes in culture, that you must check out. If you truly want to hear Alec Berlin’s sound, you better shuffle through his entire catalogue. Each sound and approach is different. President’s Day, What I Wish I Had Said and Patchen Avenue are some favourites. So go ahead, travel the world of sounds with this talented guitar virtuoso.
Harshini Magesh-Seven
Harshini Magesh is a star who will find her own way. Her style is uniform, and comes from a number of instances and inspirations. Though she is inspired by K-Pop and hip-hop, her songs bring in her own take and method. This is her latest single, Seven. Maybe some numbers have a spiritual link. Harshini Magesh talks about waking up at seven and going about her day. It wouldn't be a singer's life if it didn't have a twist. Using a classy pop beat, her lyricism folds and weaves through this to form her verse sections. It is a brilliant, fun way of going about a song and really focusing on what your lyrics mean. There is a levity to her writing, and her sound is engineered to her pitch, making the song that much more appealing. She gives breaks in the instrumentals for her vocals to have the spotlight. The chorus section sees Harshini Magesh have a multi-layered harmonic section. It is inspiring, and a peek into the life of an artist. There is a draw between hip-hop verses and her lyrics, rhymes and the divides you see in the phrasing. It is a sweet and simple single that you want to loop for the day. Her other singles include Carnatic reincarnations, tracks reimagined as an artist inspired. The dynamism in her voice and vocal range allows her to rely on melodic transfusions and the resultant audio miracle. The newest single Seven is a biographical take, something we would love to see in a cinematic reinterpretation of her life. Enjoy watching a new star rise with her single!
Gary Dranow-Twisted Minds
Gary Dranow is kicking sound into a gear many of us will never know. He already has his release Destiny Road out, a Peter Frampton style track with some manic instrumentals. Now, we look at an overlooked but rock heavy track by him. This is his superb single, Twisted Minds. Some people search frantically for a road trip rock song. When you’re sick and tired of Whitesnake and Scorpions, understand there are some other axe wielders. Here, Gary Dranow brings his Deep Purple love out, with synth and guitar heavy rhythm. The layers and mix allows the track to be appreciated for the pub swinger that it is. The guitar licks have a delicious tang to it, something that puts it apart from pop punk drillers. While some rock tracks linger around the outside, you are invited for a sound spiral with this exciting and intriguing number. The guitar solo is exceptional, tasteful and melodically phrased. You’ll be repeatedly blasting this through your car till the trip ends. Special thanks to the keys solo as well!Films like Easy Rider and Dazed & Confused with Almost Famous come to mind. These are tracks where you go the distance, face changes head on and definitely rock on. The group in question is against all odds, and brings its own dynamic that is the showstopper and essential premise. Gary Dranow is the master orchestrator, and he has managed to conjure a vibe more powerful than most chart toppers have in the past few years. Rock out to his track and follow him!
Benton Crane-Daylight on the Run
Benton Crane peddles the best pockets of dreams with his sound. Though he is constantly expanding and experimenting, what he has achieved till now is a little slice of paradise. With synth heavy floods that grow from embryonic to death, his sound finds the grey matter in sound. Today, we explore his single, Daylight on the Run. The sound for this can be defined somewhat accurately. If Tame Impala stuck to theorizing with their hypothesis, the search for a psychedelic niche of sound. Benton Crane delves into this heavy, his sound energetic and warm-inviting like the first rays of sunshine. The crash heavy beat is the heartbeat, inadvertently. The saucer has ripples of different sounds now, with Benton Crane crooning on top of this galaxy visor. It is a trip through space while on Earth, and it goes to show a few things. You don’t have to be dosed out on LSD to know a creative sound like this. The transitions he uses are unique as well, taking breaks of vacuum to emphasize on the kind of sound that is outputted. Fun and light, it is a perfect way to begin a joyous day. This is a song I associate immediately from Have a Good Trip, the psychedelic story on Netflix. Other films would definitely be Trainspotting, & Pineapple Express. Though it isn’t limited to the drug multiverse, it would do well for the brilliant closing scene in The Truman Show as well. Follow Benton Crane and his sound with Nuclear Night, Through The Forest and other tracks from his catalogue. Experience a trip without the slip with his brilliant music!
Indya-Raise Ya Vibration
Indya commands the sound she carries. Her music is a cacophony cocktail that every true music fan will enjoy. Her energy is unmatched, and the delivery of vocals is incomparable. The kind of kick you get from her rock tracks is the spine of your party, that is what people wait for. This is her latest single, Raise Ya Vibration. Kick it to 5th gear instantly. Indya has not much time for build-ups, and her track shows. She has the drive and need to bring this intense punk rock tempo and energy. Her sound also tries to blend a new genre this time, a reggae swing. Though the aggressive distorted guitar and her fuel powered intensity is what gives the song its vibration, she keeps the song constructed within crests and waves. It pays off well, as we return to a crushing, explosive chorus with a guitar solo. It is the epitome of rock mixes, and is packed with the dynamite a song like this would need. Films like 6 Underground, Kill Bill and Mad Max could have kicked it with this song for the opening. Grabbing attention, it also classifies the protagonist as an instant badass. The tempo also allows the scene to flick by soon, while still carrying the kind of gravity it does. You would have heard her sound in indie playlists with tracks like I Wanna Be The One, Little Crush & Harder Faster among others. She is a bullet that has left the chamber, and will only gather more speed. Listen to her and support her incredible sound!