Lose yourself in the atmospheric new single and video from Brandon Wolfe Scott. ‘In Stride’s a song for all those out there (myself included) who struggle with sleep. What comes so naturally for many is a source, or a symptom, of anxiety for some as Brandon explains: “When I hit my mid 30s there were a few aspects of my life that were causing me a great deal of anxiety and as a result, I started to struggle with sleep. I am regularly up at 3 am on the dot, wide awake with my mind spinning for hours on end. I wanted this song to encompass that feeling of being stuck in your own thoughts with a fear of what tomorrow might bring, trying to navigate a life that is fast paced with inadequate energy.” Throughout the song, Brandon successfully captures that feeling, sonically and lyrically, of strange otherness that the night brings. His words, delivered in smooth, clear tones, convey the frustration and resignation he feels night after night: “You only come for me at night // In a form that I can’t see // Then I fear for my life // And the morning that waits for me…I know I look defeated.” Additional instrumentation is provided by Scott Smith on electric guitar, Jackson Gardner on Wurlitzer piano and upbeat rhythms from drummer Graham Jones. Together, they help ‘In Stride’ build steadily into a dreamy anthem, complete with a perfectly languid guitar solo, a highlight of the song.
The accompanying visual is dream-like and feels intimate, with muted colours and blurred footage of Brandon filming with a super 8 camera at night time. He explains the idea behind it: “I wanted a video concept that portrays the feeling of unrest from insomnia and the constant loop of thought patterns when dealing with sleepless nights. Through repeating images of myself holding a super 8 camera and observing the viewer, I am conveying the feeling of an out-of-body experience, running from the fear of the unknown. This was shot on my Minolta XL401 super 8 camera using Kodak Ektachrome film, a medium I find compelled to work with. Although new footage, the vintage aesthetic creates a seamless personal background to the collages and overlay images of the archival footage.”
Best known as the guitarist and co-songwriter in JUNO Award-nominated indie group Yukon Blonde, Brandon Wolfe Scott takes centre stage for ‘In Stride’, taken from his upcoming solo EP ‘Slow Transmission’, which is due for release on 23rd March 2023 on Dine Alone Records. The follow-up to his 2020 EP ‘Burden On Your Shoulders’, the new material was inspired by the new spaces and relationships when he moved to an apartment in Vancouver just before the pandemic. Brandon notes: “This project has at times felt Sisyphean, endlessly pushing my boundaries – both personal and creative. Challenged by the balance between the intimate and the public, ‘Slow Transmission’ explores themes of being in a relationship with one’s inner demons.” Quality music to be absorbed in – enjoy.
