Establishing the mood with a sublime piano performance, tapping to an ethereal dimensionality, Soek opens We Were Taller Then with a high octane, yet meditative and psychedelic adjacency. The opus expands with celestial frequencies, evoking a high emotional quotient.
Overall, the piece holds a cinematic allure, perfect for the opening scene of a coming-of-age film or even an Avatar sequel. The strings and synths arrangement is poetic, amplifying the conscious core of the piece, inviting us to connect with the intricacy of the keys on a deeper level.
The evolution of the composition feels like an ascension, as we are invited into a timeless yet futuristic dimension with the glistening crescendo. The finale feels peaceful and serene, the repeated riffs manifest notions of sacred geometry which invoking images of both the natural world and astral realm.
We learn that Soek is the project of composer Grant Borland, hailing from Durand, Michigan. The piece is designed to reflect on childhood innocence and the feeling of being invincible when young. This is further cemented by the philosophically astute title of the track. He confesses, “It was inspired by growing up with three younger brothers. We Were Taller Then kind of plays into the idea of feeling invincible as a child, and there’s a sort of carefree liberation that came with that. A childhood innocence you could say.”
Croatian musician Martin Kutnar and Session Strings Studio helped bring the production to life, whilst Piotr Wieczorek handled mixing and mastering. Grant cites Olafur Arnalds and Max Richter as sonic influences, which we can feel come through with We Were Taller Then, although there is no doubt that Soek is manifesting a universe unto his own.
Borland wrote and recorded the song primarily in his home studio in Michigan, with strings recorded in Croatia and mastering completed in Vancouver. The piano recording process was experimental, using layered parts to add depth and resonance. Whilst Borland’s main career involves composing for major platforms such as Netflix, Apple TV, and Disney+, Soek represents his personal creative outlet.
Naturally, we are in awe, and have added We Were Taller Then to our New Music Spotlight playlist, and our TIMELESS playlist, whilst we continue to stream Soek‘s debut single, Scania, and anticipate future solo releases from the composer.