I grew up in a home where there was a lot of yelling, and I felt like I was in a constant state of being on edge. The only thing that helped me escape was music. I would go to my room and turn my stereo up as loud as I could to drown out the noise. My room became a safe haven. It replaced the harsh noise with a soundscape that eased my mind and took me to another place. It has taken me a few weeks to pin point why Emmit Fenn’s music resonates with me so much, and I have finally solved the mystery. Listening to his music is like catching a ride along a neural pathway in my brain, straight to my mind’s safe space. The title track, “Far From Here,” beautifully demonstrates this feeling by opening the album with welcoming strings to Fenn’s most venerable thoughts.
I first heard of Fenn when a friend told me about him last December, but I really started taking notice a month later when he began releasing singles for his debut album, Far From Here. He posted a short clip of “Edge of The Dark” on Instagram the day of its release, and my eyes widened with excitement. The track’s steady rhythm of drums coupled with its sensual tone puts me in a trance. When the song reaches its climax, a euphoric sensation washes over you as light pours in and darkness is left behind. I honestly cannot get enough of it. It is my favorite song on the album.
I had a 4:30 AM wake up call the day of the album release, and my plan was to listen to the album to and from my morning kickboxing session. I figured I would be safe listening to the vulnerable tunes while on an endorphin high. I was wrong. “Closer to You” was the next song in queue when I got back into my car. The analgesic effects from my endorphin high, that were supposed to protect my mind, were no match for this track. Swimming in grief and loss, the song left me wanting to crawl in a corner and curl up in the fetal position. It also gifts you with the most beautiful part of the album as Fenn’s voice soars over the lyrics, “Oooooo, you left your heart in my head.” Good luck with that one folks. Consider this a warning.
“Where I Went Wrong” is quickly becoming a favorite. I love how it builds off the piano and crescendos from a ballad to an uptempo dance track. It is followed by “Until We Leave The Ground,” a tune that found its way into the Netflix popular movie To All the Boys: Always and Forever. “We Could Have It All” continues the positive shift on the album and contains my favorite lyrics, “they say life’s better if you look through the dark.” I love how this line embraces darkness and faces it head on with hope that everything will work out in the end. Just when you thought you were emotionally safe, and let your guard down a bit, Fenn hits you right in the chest with “The Table,” a song about feeling helpless when things are out of your control. Ah, but there is a light at the end of this album. Fenn ends with the stunning tune “Moving On,” which really encompasses the album’s theme of being hopeful when it seems impossible.
I am pretty blown away by what Fenn has to offer, and I am extremely fascinated by his musical brain. His interactive website is also something to behold. He has clips of behind the scenes footage for each song within the digital sculpture created by the different album artworks. To top it off, each artwork is being sold as an NFT.
My list of must see performers is growing and Fenn just made top of the list! Give his new album a listen and let me know what you think.