Q&A With Featured Artist: followthrough
Ambient Vibes Music had the opportunity to ask Followthrough some questions about their upcoming release “Unhinged.”
Unhinged explores feelings of “powerlessness.” Was there a specific moment or experience that triggered the writing of this song?
I think there were several moments. Initially I think the song was supposed to delve exclusively into anger, but as it naturally progressed I think it took on a more somber tone. Essentially it taps into my feelings around ow the U.S. government handled the pandemic, but also how people handled it. Given my health anxiety, and how people were so cavalier about the severity of COVID, it struck a nerve in me. One phrase I heard often in response to my frustration towards the government and the public was “you can’t control other people; you can only control yourself.” But at the end of the day when it feels like you are the only one protecting yourself from harm, which it felt like constantly, it’s very isolating. Ultimately the term became something of somewhat resent. It came to embody the individualism that plagues American society. So I may have control over my actions and my ability to keep me safe, but all at the heavy cost of knowing that I’m doing so in a city that’s too big and has too many people to actually look out for one another.
How did you approach the production of “Unhinged” to sonically convey the emotions of losing control?
I think I always knew unhinged would be a fairly minimalist song. I was definitely open to certain things like reverb or melodyne to make sure my vocals sounded the best they could, but really I found that the song needed to sound as raw and vulnerable as possible. What I remember describing to Emery, was that I wanted the song to somehow convey a feeling of isolation. Given that this was just me and the guitar, I think that was easy to achieve and ultimately helped to showcase how lonely feeling helpless can feel.
Were there any lyrics in “Unhinged” that came to you unexpectedly?
The last line of the chorus “guess I live the dream, of autonomy” will forever be one of my favorite lines I’ve ever written. I always felt it was very pointed and somehow hit home a little more after SCOTUS struck down Roe. To me it kind of said “well in this shitshow, I have this privilege of not being someone with a uterus, so by that very fact, I have more autonomy over my own body. So it’s like why am I bitching?” But really it also just goes back to that fucking phrase about only being able to control yourself, and for some people, they don’t even have full control of their own body, all because of some misogynist evangelical bullshit. In a way I guess the line has a way of being very personal but also very impersonal.
If “Unhinged” had a visual representation, beyond the music video, what would that look like?
For some reason, I just picture something animated. I like the concept of utilizing a storyboard artist and these hokey drawings. I honestly think the guitar, especially, would lend itself really well to an animated music video.
How do you balance expressing feelings while also maintaining a sense of personal empowerment through your music?
Simple. I hold the true meaning to my songs. Others can interpret my lyrics and tone all they want, but they aren’t in my head, not all the way.
Cover Art of "Unhinged" by Kyle Ealy
How do you personally work through those “Unhinged” moments in real life, and did those coping mechanisms influence the song?
Therapy.
Is there an underlying sense of hope in “Unhinged”, or is it more about fully embracing that sense of being unmoored?
Quite honestly, this is not a hopeful song. This song does come from a very somber place. And while I do advocate for maintaining hope and idealism in my day to day, this song is meant for wallowing in the shit you’re given, and I think sometimes we can allow that for ourselves.
What was the most emotionally challenging part of putting “Unhinged” together, and how did you overcome it?
I’m not sure how to answer this, as I think there’s a lot I haven’t overcome. I still yearn for a great deal of control over many things I can’t. I don’t think it was emotionally challenging, as it just started to come so naturally at a certain point. I think if anything, things started to hit home retrospectively, with each time playing it.
If “Unhinged” were part of a larger project, like an album or a body of work, what themes would you want to explore next? Would they continue to reflect this loss of control or move towards reclaiming it?
Unhinged will certainly be a part of an LP. I doubt it will be part of any specific concept, but it will be a part of a vivid illustration, if you will, that I think will encapsulate the sorrows of uncertainty but also the anticipation of its joys.
Listen to “Unhinged” by Followthrough on the Ambient Vibes: Hot Hits on Spotify September 20th. Pre-Save and Pre-Download here!