I found it very hard starting to put pen to paper writing about today’s song. From an artist’s point of view as well as a listener and a human being.
The song comes from Ciao! An NYC-based artist. I could not find their real name but was able to share his feelings. Trying not to be blunt, Ciao! has been struggling with cancer, through treatment, remission, and a considerable amount of confusion and uncertainty, which he tries to portray using sound.
What really struck me during my first couple of playthroughs is that I never realized that the song even looped. Starting to doubt my sense of time, I checked and found that the song has been on repeat for twelve minutes… it’s only three minutes long.
Ciao! achieved this through a minimalistic beat that loops endlessly unchanged, laying on top of it sparse layers of synths, vocals, and various other effects. the effect is hazy, sleepy and paradoxically tense, and unsettling. Not pleasant, and never nefarious. Just… weird. He sings of massive pains, hotel beds made of fire, and waking up at midnight being dissected. I particularly think that likening his terrible sickness to a ‘bird through a window’ and being shot by a ‘poison dart’ was potent and effective.
A difficult song to get through for sure. Heartfelt and passionate and brutally honest. I sincerely wish Ciao! a full and permanent recovery, as well as endless steadfastness in his hard battle. I also wish him all the best on his upcoming album release. And to many more albums full of songs that are just as honest and heartfelt, but about far more positive emotions and situations.