Drawing us in with rather cerebral yet playful fiddle intro, expanding with celestial acoustic guitar, Cassy Judy, Jewelz Hanssens, and Lisa Hanssens open Orchestra of Death with intrigue and consciously subversive prose. We love the onomatopoeic elements like the knock on the door (and even a coffin!).
The metaphorical depth and intelligent (sometimes haunting) descriptions essentially lead us to the existential idea that life is finite. There is no doubt that fans of The Rocky Horror Picture Show would be able to connect with the energy that comes to life with the track and it’s the perfect spooky season release. We could imagine it being performed live at a comedy show or festival.
What makes the song meaningful is its personal story. We learn that it was created following the passing of Jewelz and Lisa’s father. The track emerged from a desire to create space for honest conversations about death. This includes a question many of us may never have considered answering… what music would we want to accompany us at the end of our lives?
It is a brilliant and cosmic starting point for a song that uses humour to approach something deeply existential and universal. The artists have transformed grief into an opportunity for connection and reflection with a twist.
The track also grew out of a songwriting workshop hosted by Cassy at Cark it Cafe, organized by Jewelz alongside co-writers Pixie Willow and Rachel Morley. Cassy describes it as “the funnest song I’ve ever written”, and that unfiltered enthusiasm really manifests.
Inspired in part by Serge Gainsbourg‘s Comic Strip and its inventive use of onomatopoeia, the recording cleverly embraces unconventional sounds and theatrical motifs. On the recording process, Cassy shares, “It took place in Gymea Bay, in Derek J Turner’s shed. Muffin the dog ocassionally popped in for cuddles and popped out when the farting really ramped up. Derek didn’t love the farting but he remained professional and put them into the recording!” Iconic.
Cinematically, Orchestra of Death could find a home alongside the macabre humour of Beetlejuice, The Addams Family, Death Becomes Her, Little Shop of Horrors, The Nightmare Before Christmas and of course, The Rocky Horror Picture Show. On television, its theatrical mischief would suit Wednesday, What We Do in the Shadows, The Good Place, Ghosts and Our Flag Means Death.
We love the concept of Orchestra of Death and have added the existential track to our New Music Spotlight and our TRIPPY playlist, whilst we continue to stream the wider discography of Cassy Judy, including I’ve Come So Far, and You’re Gunna Get Sent.