We previously featured Minus32Heartbeat for the enigmatic and atmospheric ode to his son with cover of The Cranberries’ Dreams, so when we heard that the talented creator was back with This City Shines So Bright, we were curious and couldn’t wait to listen and share our experience.
Establishing the mood with a cerebral guitar soundscape with textured drums, Minus32Heartbeat opens This City Shines So Bright with philosophical prose, and poetic prowess. The opus expands with a tangible authenticity, as the talented creator shares his soul with us.
We learn that the song is based around emotions that the artist felt during the early onset of the COVID pandemic. The unprecedented global crisis brought about intense feelings that were difficult to process and articulate, but through the song, Minus32Heartbeat captures the essence of that turbulent time, translating his personal experiences and emotions into the music and lyrics.
Minus32Heartbeat, also known as multi-disciplinary artist Matt Friedlander, confesses, “I won’t get too specific on who or what inspired these lyrics, but there are themes of isolation, disappointment, and betrayal behind an ironically-delivered uptempo musical structure.”
The contrast between the upbeat music and the weighty subject matter is intentional, reflecting the dissonance many of us felt during those uncertain times – caught between trying to stay positive and grappling with deep, often painful, emotions.
We love the message that Minus32Heartbeat brings to life and stunning guitar outro, which leaves us yearning for more. The star cites Oasis, The Velvet Underground, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Hans Zimmer, arcade games, M83, Future Islands, and Longwave as sonic influences, which we can feel come through with his wider body of work, although there is no doubt that Minus32Heartbeat is manifesting a universe of his own.
We have added This City Shines So Bright to our New Music Spotlight playlist, as well as our new TIMELESS playlist, whilst we continue to stream Dreams and The Strangest Things, and anticipate future releases from Minus32Heartbeat!