Music to Escape to by Pablo Parada is not just another album; it’s a real safe spot for people who are depressed or alone. He learned music from a Russian piano teacher when he was a kid in Germany, which gave him a unique approach. He mixes the profound, serious feelings of Russian classical music with modern sounds, like David Bowie and Radiohead do. This mix makes for an emotive and powerful listening experience.
The artist’s personal problems are reflected in the album, and he uses music to deal with his unpleasant sentiments and communicate what he can’t say out loud. He is now 25 years old and has put years of life experience into this effort. The eleven songs in this album are primarily dark and sad, however there are a few funny parts. The music is for when you feel out of place at a party and need a nice, understanding sound to listen to.
The title of the album, “Music to Escape To,” aptly describes what it is. Pablo Parada is sick of seeing nothing but happiness all the time, especially in ads and on social media. He wanted to compose music that sounds authentic, something that people can really connect with when they’re unhappy or lonely, something that gives them comfort instead of artificial happiness.
Parada did all the composing and recording on his own, but a producer helped get the sound just right by mixing and mastering it. He is especially happy with how his voice fluctuates throughout the album. It goes from very low to startlingly high notes with ease. The diverse types of singing, together with the deep background voices by his friend Emilio Esteban, make it sound like there are a lot of different vocalists on the album.
His strong classical background gives the album its musical heart. Parada adopted minor keys and difficult chords from renowned composers like Tchaikovsky and Chopin, either on purpose or by accident. The singer says that this deep, gloomy sound reminds him of the bitter German winters. It makes the album feel much more emotional than just pop songs.
He uses this unusual vocal change, where he moves across a wide range, to match the mood of the music. He sings the darkest and most sensitive lyrics in a lower voice, while the higher, soaring pitches are saved for lighter or more hopeful moments, which gives the songs an almost tragic feel.
The first song on the album, “In a Sweet Oblivion,” starts the emotional trip. This music generates a solemn, thoughtful attitude right away and sounds like an invitation. It tells the listener to ignore what’s going on outside and instead think about their own sentiments of grief, memories, or the things they’re having trouble letting go of. This starts the process of letting go of emotions.
Track 3, “All My Dreams Are Dead,” makes it extremely evident that the person is despondent. This song talks about thoughts of finality and loss, especially the understanding that some ambitions or relationships can’t be mended. The words feel even heavier since he uses his deepest vocal tones here. This makes it clear that the main character is not victorious and chooses honest melancholy over artificial happiness.
“Peace Over Pleasure” (Track 6) marks a modest turning point. This song is about going from being sad to choosing to feel better. It says that having inner peace and lasting tranquility is much more essential than having pleasure quickly or wanting other people to like you. This song is a quiet, significant part of the record where it starts to highlight how retreat can help you recover instead of just hiding.
The visceral atmosphere of “Violence” (Track 7) provides us a disturbing look at a conflict inside. Parada penned this song when he was very worried about the world around him and was very critical of himself. The music is the sound of an emotional fight, showing how badly you want to get out of a bad situation. At its heart, it’s a messy, honest fight that shows why the album’s escape theme is so important.
The last song in the experience is “We Were Honey (Unmastered)” (Track 11). The decision to leave this last song “unmastered” is highly important since it retains the memories of a wonderful past romance in a raw, unfinished state. It ends the album with a beautiful sadness that stays with you. This ending sums up the album’s main point: emotional journeys don’t always end neatly, but they do conclude with a sense of acceptance that lasts.
In the end, Music to Escape To is a really honest work of art. Pablo Parada tells a story using the abilities of classical composition. In this story, melancholy and uncertainty are not flaws but stages toward accepting oneself. Parada creates a sound sanctuary that people will want to return to over and over again because of its lovely music and the real emotional safety it offers. This is because he gives a voice to feelings that society frequently suppresses.
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