Setting the tone with an enigmatic guitar melody with a dimensional bassline, Ilona Mahieu opens Ribcage with drama and intrigue as she sings metaphorically, “Right on time, my oldest friend, have you come to join me once again, at the table, table, carry me through the grief for them, you are my now and then, you are my now and then, bring back my bones and grind them thin, keep me stable, stable…”
The opus expands into a high octane, alternative rock adventure that fans of Evanescence will be able to connect with, although it is clear that Ilona Mahieu is creating a universe of her own.
We are in awe of her poetic prowess, vocal range and charisma as she sings the hook, “Strip me as small as I feel, lace through my ribcage, paralyze me…”. The instrumentation is out of this world, and the depth that Ilona Mahieu shares with her artistry is unparalleled.
Ribcage comes with an evocative and cinematic music video which sees our protagonist deliver a mesmerizing performance of the song with haunting visuals, dressed as a skeleton and with an additional performance by the mysterious P.B. aka @pea.brains! We absolutely love the production quality and are here to stan!
We learn that the video was completely self-funded and produced, including all of the makeup and body paint, which was done by Ilona herself, as well as spray painting an entire drum kit, guitar, bass, and microphone in her back garden.
The rising artist confesses, “The story is told through contrasted scenes in two worlds, one dark, one light, and the struggle between a person and their inner demons. The dark world acts as an x-ray of what truly lies underneath the surface, and shows you that things aren’t always what they seem.”
We love the authenticity that Ilona Mahieu shares with her band and visionary artistry, and have added Ribcage to our New Music Spotlight playlist, whilst we continue to stream her wider discography including Criminal and Stiletto.