A Continuous Piece of Music That Tells a Story
There is nothing more exciting than discovering brand new artists. It is so inspiring to see that no matter the challenges that 2020 brought to many of us, we can witness the birth of new music projects.
Acrost is one of the projects we discovered recently. I stumbled upon the music video for 'Pink Rabbit' and was blown away by the haunting mood the song created. It took me back to my favourite TV Show 'Twin Peaks'. I am sure that if David Lynch was working on a new season, Acrost's music would definitely be a great addition to the show.
It is so easy to lose track of time while listening to 'Pink Rabbit'. It makes you wonder how would you feel walking through the woods at night. Alone. For those who haven't experienced that, I'd highly recommend it.
It was an absolute pleasure to dive deeper into the world that Acrost is trying to create using sound and visuals. We are so thrilled to introduce you to one and only Acrost .
Congratulations on your latest release! Can you tell us about your journey up until your second single 'Pink Rabbit'?
Thank you so much. I officially launched this project by the name Acrost in June. Since I wanted to create something that was more than just music, I started an Instagram Page where, together with my songs, I share pics and videos of dark forests that resemble the vibes I want to convey with my music. Forests and woods are also a huge inspirational element for my writing.
In August, I released my first single 'Brigmore' , from which I received really good feedback from my audience, with messages from all over the world, which is fantastic. Now, indeed, it is time for my new single 'Pink Rabbit', and I hope people are going to appreciate this one as well.
What was going on in your life when you wrote the song?
At the time, I was finishing University and doing my thesis, so I had a lot of spare time that I spent with outings in the woods and by writing songs inspired by them. I finally had some time to focus on my passions, but at the same time it was tense time as I was going to move from my country to the UK. I felt that I had to do everything I could before moving because I probably wouldn't have the time after. I thought I'd be just working all the time. I was trying to be busy all the time, and it's probably because of this state of mind that this type of sleep disorder started to arise in that specific moment of my life. Who knows…
I was trying to be busy all the time, and it's probably because of this state of mind that this type of sleep disorder started to arise in that specific moment of my life.
ACROST
Your lyrics are influenced by folkloric myths, superstitions and oneiric experiences. Do you remember what inspired 'Pink Rabbit'?
'Pink Rabbit' is inspired by my experience with Hypnagogia, which is a sleep disorder that happens when you're having a sleep paralysis accompanied by multisensorial hallucinations. I had multiple sleep paralysis in the past, but it was just before I wrote this song that I had my first hypnagogic experience. One night, I was just dreaming, then, all of a sudden, I opened my eyes and I couldn't move. After this, I saw an obscure presence in the corner of my darkroom, that was watching me intensively. It was like living a nightmare in real life, and this experience really changed my perspective on dreams and reality in general. Because what usually happens during a hypnagogic state seems so real that you think what you see is actually happening.
Watching the video, I felt teleported to a little town called Twin Peaks. It's amazing how the video captured the mood of the track. There were moments that gave me goosebumps as the forest is captured in such a majestic way. Tell us more about the idea behind the music video.
I love this association with Twin Peaks. I'm a fan of the 90s aesthetic, so it was indeed a huge inspiration for the music video. The song tells the story of a person that is having a dream that consequently turns into a nightmare. Based on this, the video pictures a girl sleeping and her interior landscape changes depending on the type of dream she's having.
When I was thinking about the video, I imagined this girl waking up in the woods, while she thinks her presence in the woods is real, she's instead of having a dream that'll soon turn into a nightmare. In general, I tried to recreate an oneiric landscape that could convey a sense of melancholy and mystery, which is usually what I feel during this kind of experience.
How did you come up with a concept to show the dark and mysterious side of nature and forest in your visuals?
Basically, it all started from my outings in the forests. While I was immersed in nature, I felt this sense of adventure and desire to discover. I came across many landscapes that you could only admire when departing from the main path. And it's from this idea of going off the main path and exploring the dark side of the woods (meaning also the part that not many people have seen) that inspired me to share and associate my music with this type of content. I like to see life as a continuous exploration of places unknown to us, instead of a straight road where you can see the end.
I like to see life as a continuous exploration of places unknown to us, instead of a straight road where you can see the end.
ACROST
Have you ever experienced anything supernatural or mysterious while being in the woods?
When we were shooting the video for 'Pink Rabbit', specifically the scene with the girl on the bridge, we tried to do the sequence as quickly as possible, since there was literally no light apart from our equipment. We were indeed scared that something could happen. We often heard some weird noises coming from inside the woods, which definitely creeped us out. However, the girl we shoot the video with, tried to calm us down telling us that that forest was full of boars and foxes, which probably wouldn't bother us. Funny enough, she was the bravest of the crew.
So I'd love to say yes, but unfortunately, nothing supernatural in the woods happened based on my experience, I did have some really mysterious experiences outside the woods though, but that's another story.
However, I wanted to tell you this to explain a theory that I have.
We all know some legends and stories associated with the woods, but what I can say, is that when we are immersed in nature, we are in an altered state where we feel more and our senses are more reactive. This kind of state is even more solicited during the night, where it is actually difficult to see, and all the other senses are enhanced and the survival instinct takes place. It's during these moments that we tend to pay more attention to what we feel rather than what is really happening.
So I could have said that we listened to the growls of a weird monster that tried to attack us, but it's really not what happened.
What does it mean for you to be releasing music during this historic time?
I think our life's conception has been completely twisted, so the way we listen to music has also changed. Ironically, only now I had the time to dedicate to this project, after months that I wrote these songs. For me, releasing music now shows that people can remain creative even in the darkest times, I'd also say that it is perhaps in these moments that people give their best artistically.
What do you want to achieve with your music?
I simply want to tell stories through my music. I'm aiming to create experiences for my audience that goes beyond the song itself. I'm trying to implement the visuals and storytelling for the next releases and make the experience as immersive as possible. I hope that this will constantly grow and evolve together with the followers I'm now starting to attract.
How would you describe your sound?
What I'm usually trying to convey with my music is a melancholy state. Using analog synths that sit behind the acoustic guitars and the right amount of reverb, I try to create an aura of mystery that envelops the entire track and also gives a hint of darkness, just enough to make the listener alert that he's not listening to the usual folky song.
You are planning to release an album and tracks will be introduced one by one. What can we expect from the album?
I've always been in love with concept albums, so the album will follow a particular theme where every song is connected with each other. Now it can look like a puzzle, where it's hard to understand the connection with all the pieces but when the album will be out it will all make sense. I like to tell stories in a way that is not clear straight away, and the listeners need to line the dots by themselves to understand the bigger picture. I think it is more thrilling and satisfying this way.
Where do ideas for songs come from? Tell us more about your creative process.
It usually starts from an acoustic guitar riff or a sequence of chords that I like. I start really simple and then I add multiple layers of details with synths, samples, and drum samples I create on my own, layering the bumping on my guitar with other instruments. At the same time, I write the vocal melody, which often changes together with the lyrics until I find the perfect fit for the song. I put a lot of attention to words and melodies and the relation between these two. I don't feel the pressure of making every verse rhyme. If I'd do so, my song would probably lose their real meaning.
Do you have a song, that when you hear it, you'd say, "I wish I'd written that"?
Every day might change, but today I'd say 'Sextape' by Deftones straight away. This is one of those songs I'm never bored with listening to. It uplifts you and immerses you in a dreamy world that is really hard to leave without the desire of coming back. When I listened to this song live, two years ago in London, I was extremely touched. I probably shed a tear during that performance. They played in an auditorium in a festival curated by Robert Smith, and everything was perfect.
Who would you like to collaborate with?
Since I mentioned Deftones , I will, of course, say their vocalist Chino Moreno. Then I would add Josh Homme from Queens Of The Stone Age , he's my favourite guitar player and no one sounds like the music he creates. I have many many others in mind, but in a world where everything is possible, I'd definitely say these two, just to begin with.
What are your plans for the rest of 2020 and 2021?
To release new music of course, but apart from that, I'm also working on some projects that go beyond music that I hope I will try to make concrete as soon as possible. So until then, I cannot openly say anything in particular, I'm also a little bit superstitious, so I prefer to stay quiet.
I'd love to invite your wonderful audience to follow my personal playlist in case they like acoustic and melancholic songs.
vMake sure to connect with Acrost on Facebook and Instagram
Source: https://www.indietop39.co.uk/introducing-acrost-interview-pink-rabbit/
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