We previously featured Asgard Raven for his captivating and empowering single, Chasing Your Dreams, so when we heard that the talented creator was back with Tranquility, we couldn’t wait to listen and share our experience.
Establishing the mood with a dimensional guitar performance and intricate percussion, Asgard Raven opens Tranquility with metaphorical and introspective depth, and a captivating timbre that fans of The Smashing Pumpkins would be able to connect with.
The lyrics of Tranquility reflect a journey of an authentic search for inner peace. The opening lines describe the singer floating down a river, a metaphor for moving through life. The imagery of a bright sky and the feeling of light suggest a moment of clarity and connection with the world, yet there’s a sense of solitude – “nothing here, but me.” This solitude, however, is not entirely peaceful, as it is filled with the stories of others that “break the silence” and “ring [the] bell,” representing the intrusion of external thoughts and emotions into the singer’s mind.
The repeated mention of “so many people with stories to tell” hints at the overwhelming nature of human interaction and the burden of other people’s experiences on the singer’s quest for peace. The “kingdom” the singer gazes across could symbolize their life and the world around them (also a nod to Asgard’s wider artistry), which they observe with a desire for something more – expressed in the line, “Dream what if, I could fly?” This longing to fly reflects a wish to escape, to rise above the chaos and achieve a higher state of tranquility.
Despite the serene imagery of a “happy place” and “summertime in the breeze,” the star reveals that tranquility is elusive. The “shadows” that come at night symbolize the anxieties and fears that disrupt peace, only to be temporarily alleviated by the “dawn” of a new day. This cycle of light and darkness illustrates the ongoing struggle to maintain mental peace, highlighting the difficulty in finding lasting tranquility.
The repetition of the phrase “Tranquility, so hard to find” emphasizes the central theme of the song—the elusive nature of inner peace. The recurring lines about people with stories and the desire to fly reinforce the idea that while the singer yearns for tranquility, it is constantly challenged by external forces and internal doubts. The song ends on a note of resignation, acknowledging that while tranquility is deeply desired, it remains a rare and difficult state to achieve.
We love the piano interlude with glistening astral nuances which is simply sublime, allowing the essence of the song to manifest in its truest form. The guitar solo that ensues is cosmic and the eventual rebuild and recalibration of the track feels anthemic.
We always love what Asgard Raven creates, and have added Tranquility to our New Music Spotlight playlist, and our TIMELESS and TRIPPY and playlists, whilst we continue to stream the talented and visionary artist’s wider discography, and anticipate future releases!