Reykjavík Grapevine - okt. 2020, Blaðsíða 18

Reykjavík Grapevine - okt. 2020, Blaðsíða 18
18The Reykjavík Grapevine Issue 08— 2020 A Feast For The Ears, The Eyes And The Soul A look at MSEA's latest and most intimate album yet Words: Jess Distill Photo: Art Bicnick Album Pre-order ‘I Turned Into A Familiar Shape’ on Bandcamp. “It’ll be my first gig of 2020!” MSEA—real name Maria-Carme- la Raso—says of her album launch concert, which is slated for October 16th at Mengi. The album, ‘I Turned Into a Familiar Shape,’ will drop the same day, but it’s been ready since early this year. “We started record- ing in December and finished at the end of February,” she explains. But then the pandemic started and the world stood still. “I’d anticipat- ed touring this year and wanted to release it in April,” she shrugs. Un- fortunately, 2020 had other plans. The inspiration behind the album Released on the Myrkfælni label, ‘I Turned Into a Familiar Shape’ was, as the artist explains, writ- ten during an abusive relationship. The emotions the artist felt dur- ing the relationship and the ef- fect it’s had on her become clearer with every listen of the album. Her soft, gentle vocals battle against striking and dissonant electronic sounds to create a feeling of vul- nerability and confusion, while short, repetitive musical phras- es with lyrics like, “I still feel you in my body” and “I’ll breathe you into life” become something of a mantra that pulls the listener directly into the singer’s brain. Despite not being a conscious decision to use the relationship as inspiration for her work, it was clearly an intrinsic part of the album’s creation. “[It] was writ- ten throughout that time, but I wasn’t thinking, ‘I’m going to write an album about this,’” she says. “When the relationship was over I wrote more and noticed the songs were all definitely from that period, from that state of mind.” A rich and vivid experience But MSEA’s creations go far beyond the audible. Every song conjures up such a vivid sense of colour and texture that they become com- pletely immersive; the sort of mu- sic that should be listened to lying down, eyes shut, so that one can fully appreciate all it has to offer. “I often have images in mind when writing,” she reveals. “It could be as simple as rain or ice. Even a smell or a tactile impression, like the feel- ing of slime. Visuals are very much part of the music, but I think it’s also important for people to hear the music without them to give them the chance to visualise some- thing of their own. The music vide- os help people jump into the sound world.” Dreamy, otherworldly and hypnotising—the music videos are a stunning addition to the album. So what about the launch show? “It’ll be solo. Me, a computer, some pedals,” MSEA explains. “I’ll have other bodies on stage, dancing or moving. If I don’t have visuals for my shows it feels like something is missing, so I’m hoping for pro- jections and some set design.” “I wanted a pretty big theatrical show and then COVID happened,“ she laments, diving into her vision of a larger, higher-production re- lease concert. But while 2020 has made such a show impossible, hopefully 2021 will bring MSEA’s fantasy to life. Until then, we’ll just stream the album and dream. MSEA, pictured in her home Music gpv.is/music Share this + Archives 8.990 kr. Taste the best of Iceland ICELANDIC GOURMET FEAST Starts with a shot of the infamous Icelandic spirit Brennívín Followed by 7 delicious tapas • Smoked puffin with blueberry “brennivín” sauce • Icelandic Arctic Charr with peppers-salsa • Lobster tails baked in garlic • Pan-fried line caught blue ling with lobster sauce • Icelandic lamb with beer-butterscotch sauce • Minke Whale with cranberry & malt sauce And for dessert • White chocolate "Skyr" mousse with passion coulis late night dining Our kitchen is open until 23:30 on weekdays and 01:00 on weekends TAPASBARINN | Vesturgata 3B | Tel: 551 2344 | tapas.is “I often have im- ages in mind when writing. It could be as simple as rain or ice. Even a smell or a tactile impression.” Your hands are cold...

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