Act 2

Act 2 has no beginning and no end. It’s a list of mantras and counter-mantras tied to the same world. Any repeated thought is a direct reflection of my ruminating mind. Act 2 doesn’t hold any evidence of a final act; it’s simply a second thought. Three of the five songs address the same subject while focusing on a distinct facet. Furthering the idea that recuperation is never final, it’ll merely continue in different ways. As the lyrical motif becomes more brave, so does the music itself. An engaging song doesn’t have to be easily digestible and predictable. Therefore, I wanted the musical elements to have freedom. “The Rot” covers sharp corners with punchy, 80s sonics, whereas contrast lies within the song “Easy.”

Sometimes bold doesn’t mean more, but rather less. Continuing the overall sense of nostalgia from “Fantasy,” I wanted it darker, more uncanny, and surreal. Any ultra-sterile, computer-recorded stems would be processed through a multitrack tape machine, simultaneously adjusting speed and treating them like an instrument to collect analog artifacts and tape punches, blending the past and present. We took inspiration from the 70s and 80s films: The NeverEnding Story, Valerie and Her Week of Wonders, Labyrinth, Excalibur, and many more to capture the project’s personhood. "