Avant-garde rock artist Alutepena Hughes-John has captured the imaginations of music enthusiasts worldwide with her innovative and boundary-pushing work. Her project, Lethia’s Natorium, is a testament to her unique vision and creative prowess, solidifying her place in the pantheon of experimental music. When we found out that the star was back with Sometimes, we were curious and couldn’t wait to listen and share our experience.
Sometimes opens with a roaring guitar and boundless, high octane drums as Pena sings, “Sometimes, I am the warrior, other times, I’m a dame in distress… Sometimes I can be the tomboy, other times, I am wearing a dress…”
The opus is more than just an anthem; it serves as a philosophical manifesto for Lethia’s Natorium. Hughes-John’s lyrics and musical choices deconstruct the dualities inherent in reality, urging us to embrace the complexities and contradictions that define our lives. The oscillation between the warrior and the damsel, the tomboy and the one in a dress, reflects the fluidity of identity and the spectrum of human experience.
Hughes-John challenges the notion of fixed identity. By presenting contrasting personas within a single individual, she underscores the idea that identity is not static but fluid, shaped by context, emotion, and experience. This resonates with existentialist thought, which posits that existence precedes essence and that individuals are constantly in the process of becoming.
The song also invites us to embrace contradiction as a fundamental aspect of reality. In a world often obsessed with categorization and binary thinking, Hughes-John’s music celebrates the ambiguity and multiplicity of the human condition. This philosophical stance aligns with dialectical reasoning, which holds that truth emerges from the synthesis of opposing forces. By acknowledging and integrating these dualities, Hughes-John suggests that we can achieve a deeper understanding of ourselves and the world around us.
The star confesses, “Every person presents different sides of their own personalities, depending on each situation. Sometimes demonstrates this by outlining the contrasting moods for example, one moment the person wants to go partying, the next moment, they just want to stay at home and watch the television instead.”
Sometimes was recorded at SoundArc Recording Studio, involving Alutepena Hughes-John (Pena) on vocals, Liam Knight on bass and as the producer/engineer, and Karl Thompson on drums. The guitars were recorded remotely by Josh Elliott at his own studio, JGE, in Dorset.
This collaborative effort, despite the physical distances, resulted in a powerful and cohesive track, combining Pena’s emotive vocals, Liam’s multifaceted production skills, Karl’s dynamic drumming, and Elliott’s intense guitar riffs and out of this world solo! The team’s combined expertise ensured a high-quality and emotionally resonant final product.
We love the result, and have added Sometimes to our New Music Spotlight playlist, as well as our new TRIPPY playlist whilst we continue to stream the wider discography of Lethia’s Natorium, and anticipate future releases from Pena Hughes-John and her collaborators!