Drawing us in with a soft, textured acoustic guitar with astral nuances, expanding with intricate keys and layers to create a dimensional and emotive soundscape, BC Smith opens Ashes with a sentiment that is familiar to us all.
The existential nature of the composition is tangible, beyond knowing the title of the track or even seeing its artwork. We are transported to a psychedelic and ethereal universe with the addition of a luscious frequency, maintaining the cosmic nature of the piece, whilst opening a sonic portal to a heavenly dimension. We are in awe.
If you love to connect with the universe and feel the true essence of compositional intentional, then Ashes is the score for you. A trippy and almost holographic synth teases us further, reminding us of the true technological nature of oneness. This leads to a synthethic and transcendental finale that fades out. The perfect ascension in so many ways.
Speaking on the message of the release, BC Smith confesses, “Ashes is a tone poem about letting go and moving on into the unknown. It’s about finding beauty in the darkness and uncertainty.”
We learn that Ashes marks the debut solo release of film composer, as he tells us, “I’ve had the privilege of scoring over 45 films, but it wasn’t until recently that I became interested in releasing my own music.”
Speaking on the composition, he adds, “Ashes holds a special place in my heart. It’s a musical narrative that reflects my personal journey, a tone poem of sonic exploration and layers of emotion.”
The talented artist continues, “With Ashes, I’ve aimed to craft a composition that transcends traditional boundaries, blending elements of acoustic guitars processed through modular synthesizers, piano, sound design and cinematic orchestration.”
BC Smith cites a range of inspirations from classical side influences including Arvo Part, Phillip Glass, Penderecki & Vaughn Williams and contemporary artists including Bill Laswell, Brian Eno, Johan Johansson, various noise artists, and Radiohead. We appreciate all of those, although there is no doubt that BC Smith is working towards creating an energy unique to his own.
We love the cohesive and profound tapestry of sound that BC Smith manifests, and the evocative and emotional depth that his work exudes. Ashes is the perfect debut for his new venture, and we have added the opus to our New Music Spotlight playlist, as well as our brand new TIMELESS playlist, whilst we anticipate future releases from the composer.