Kwolek’s new album, “T > H > I > S,” is a pretty interesting mix of sounds and stories. It’s got ten songs, and you’ll hear different kinds of music mixed in, like guitars and synths. The songs tell stories about people who feel like they don’t quite fit in, and how they deal with stuff like love, sadness, and trying to find their place in the world. Each song has its own little twist, you know?
Kwolek is the one who made all of this. He wrote the songs, plays all the instruments, records everything, and makes it all sound good. He mixes familiar and new sounds to create something that’s uniquely his. The album was made in different places, from Colorado to Norway. Kwolek chose these places because of the special feeling they gave the music. He’s influenced by lots of different music styles, as well as movies, internet culture, and art. Each song tries to capture a specific mood or feeling through its sound.
The first song, “Cemetery Days,” is about two young people, Danny and Virginia. They feel like they don’t belong and don’t like the normal rules. They find comfort and safety in cemeteries. The song uses dark and romantic images to show how they express themselves and how they feel different from others. The repeated line “Cemetery days” really shows how important this escape is for them. It’s a song about growing up, not fitting in, and trying to find your own way.
Cemetery Days
“Ronnie Stole This Riff ///\ Kim Is Desperate” tells two connected stories. One is about how musical ideas are passed down from one musician to another. Ronnie uses musical ideas that were borrowed. The other story is about a fan named Kim, who is very attached to this music and escapes her everyday life by listening to it on her cassette player. The song shows how important music is to both the people who create it and the people who listen to it. It’s about how music can create a sense of community, even if it’s just temporary.
“Some Evenings [Tear Me Apart]” is about someone who feels very lonely and is looking for a way to connect with other people, even if it might be painful. During the day, their life feels boring and empty. But at night, they are drawn to a BDSM club, where other people are watched but they don’t participate. The words of the song express a strong desire to feel something real. The song explores the struggle between wanting to be close to others and being afraid of being vulnerable.
“Release Variations I [Deep Breath]” looks at how love, though powerful, can’t always bring two people emotionally close. The person in the song feels overwhelmed by love, but they don’t feel truly connected. The song talks about feelings of sadness, memories, and letting go, using images from nature like the ocean and falling leaves. The line “I don’t call enough” suggests a fear of closeness. Overall, the song suggests that love can be both beautiful and destructive.
Release Variations I [Deep Breath]
“Mademoiselle Calamity” tells the story of someone who seems to be destroying herself on purpose, almost like a performance art piece. She uses her beauty and a sense of chaos to control how people see her. Her life is like a spectacle, and she even makes money from her own pain. The song questions the line between being a victim and someone who is in control.
Euphoria explores the strange kind of happiness: the feeling of nothingness. This emptiness is something that the person has intentionally created and keeps hidden, and it serves as both a safe place and a kind of prison. They give up a normal life for this absence, which they try to make special through repetition.
“Graham’s Confession [Cookie’s Up & Coming]” is like listening to someone confess a secret. Graham denies having a secret life, but the song reveals that he does. It shows the contrast between how he acts in public and what he desires in private. He tries to hide his true self, perhaps because of shame or fear of judgment. The song explores themes of hidden desires, self-discovery, and the struggle to be true to oneself in a world that often demands conformity. It’s a poignant exploration of identity and self-acceptance.
Graham’s Confession [Cookie’s Up & Coming]
“Calliope Does The Hobgoblin Bop!” is about someone who feels like they should be doing something amazing but is stuck in a boring job. She feels like her creativity is being wasted. She rebels in small ways, and she uses dance as a way to escape and try to find some kind of connection. The song is about finding your own rhythm and way to express yourself, even when you’re stuck in a monotonous routine. It’s an anthem for anyone who has ever felt trapped and yearned for a way to break free and express their true selves.
“Release Variations II [Natalia & Sacha]” tells the story of two women who are escaping lives that feel oppressive and unbearable. They escape in different ways, one with anger and the other with a sense of numbness. They find a kind of freedom, but it’s not easy, and they face many challenges. The song portrays their journey towards liberation and the difficulties they encounter along the way. It’s a story of resilience, hope, and the search for a better future.
Friends Under The Covers
“Friends Under The Covers” is about the delicate and complicated closeness between two people who are almost like lovers but say they are just friends. First, it can be said that the people are near to one another. Private things are told between them. Also, touching occurs. However, a space is kept between them as well. Then, the song is about a special connection. In this connection, it is hard to tell if it is friendship or love. The line between these two things is not clear.
Kwolek’s “T > H > I > S” is a collection of stories about people who are trying to find their place in the world and make sense of their lives. The music and words of Kwolek are put together. This makes a feeling. This feeling is for one person and for everyone. The album asks people who listen to it to think about their own lives. They are also asked to feel the same feelings and problems as the people in the songs. It is a trip through music that holds your attention and makes you think. It is full of real truth and a strong feeling of caring for others.
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