Ed-scension

Washed Away | dir. Yasser Abubeker (2022)

Washed Away

Notes: Osamu Dazai x reader, a letter which goes over his feelings, I'm new to writing Dazai so please read this with a grain of salt, romantic relationship, Ikemen vampire Dazai

Purchase the matching earrings here: Washed Away — Letters to Ear (squarespace.com)

__________,

The words I wanted to say to you are all inked into this very paper. I’m writing this letter to you to mark my words by time. One day, when our memory has long since faded to time, I want you to be able to read these words again. A letter marked by time is a funny little idea. Maybe your influence has marked me more than I perceived it to be.

It’s been just a little over a year since I’ve come undone from my stains of the past. I changed myself to those around me like a hydrangea in soil, so no one was hurt. There was nothing left for me to do other than to live in dust. Which convinced me to continue wearing the mask. I was better off keeping to myself.

In my heart I surround myself in these walls of thorns to prevent anyone from getting in. Even if I were to scream, nobody would hear me. Yet, my walls turned into paper as you poured the rain onto them.

When the rain washed over the paper I saw ink blossoming into hydrangeas. Those flowers filled my vision as I felt myself finally able to breathe. Taking that breath for the first time was when I realized your love kept me alive.

I think I can finally learn how to breathe now thanks to you. I won’t give into my old ways of self-loathing. I don’t want to risk it, not when I’ve finally been able to breathe.

It’s strange, when we’re together even the same old sights seem to be filled with so much color. I want to see the world beside you. Show me the sights I’ve been ignoring for so long. I think it’s about time I see them for myself.

Till I see you later tonight ________.

Dazai Osamu

Kelela - Washed Away (Official Video)

Raven by Kelela (2023)

Score: 9

The sophomore album by the mysterious and intelligent dance artist Kelela is a serene, calming, and otherworldly experience which draws the listener out of their body and carries them to a higher plane of living. Her first album in 6 years, Raven is a triumphant return to the music world from an artist who was determined to only make music on her terms.

Raven is a complex piece of music which serves as the culmination of a turbulent period of Kelela's life. Following the release of her debut album Take me Apart in 2017, Kelela voluntarily retreated from the music scene to take stock of her creative energies. After assessing her place in the music industry as a femme, black, queer woman, Kelela decided she would only make music with those who supported her identity. By creating this structure of support, Kelela built around her a collaborative and holistic environment which proved incredibly conducive to the creation of music. Raven serves as the incredibly successful culmination of the actions Kelela took to support her art.

Raven shines in a multitude of ways. Its lyrics are meticulous yet relatable, its production is flawless, and the vocal delivery by Kelela is a masterclass in vocal control and ability. Raven is both a smoothly and gorgeously textured album which reflects the genius of the fascinating artist behind its creation. As one song seamlessly flows into the next, the album plays out as a mature and nuanced set of perspectives on love and identity which teach the listener lessons about patience, acceptance, and going where you're loved. In a way, the album reflects the journey Kelela went on to create it. The self-reflective nature of Raven allows it to come across as a victory for Kelela both as an artist and as a human being.

Part of what makes Raven so spectacular is the careful interweaving of ambience. The album uses water as a metaphor for renewal and change, and brings in high-quality recordings of ambient water from German duo OCA. Incorporating water throughout the album to accompany its use as a metaphor is an idea which could have gone so wrong, but due to the artful restraint shown by OCA and Kelea, turns out to be one of the most compelling and interesting parts of the album and a large part of what makes it so spectacular.

The album starts out with Washed Away, a song which is simple yet powerful and can only be described as simply beautiful. Opening with Washed Away shows the journey Kelela has been on and the hard-fought place of peace she has arrived at. Moving on from Washed Away, Kelela spends the first part of the album crafting upbeat yet controlled dance music which allows the listener the choice of learning through its lyrics or simply being transported by its music.

As the album reaches the mid-way point, Kelela starts to lean more on the unexpected. Songs such as Closure, Fooley, and Holier make artful use of OCA's ambient recordings and feature drawn out, breathlessly delivered vocals which impress upon the listener the importance of being present right here, right now. The last portion of the album picks up speed as Kelela decides to leave her listeners with a full-circle moment of growth. Album highlight Sorbet sees Kelela choosing to veer off the ambient path and bring the lessons she wants to impart into perspective. As the beats pick up speed and Kelela's voice grows stronger, the listener is gently lifted out of their meditative state feeling like a more rounded person. The closing song on the album, Far Away, is a transposed rendition of the album's opening track. Unlike Washed Away, Far Away is sung by an artist who is ready to embrace what life has to offer now that she has rightfully cut off those who did not have her best interests in mind.

The only detraction of Raven is its run time. With 15 songs totaling over an hour of music, Raven is great for those who love it. However, such a long run time means that there are natural lulls in the listening experience. For an album that relies so heavily on ambience and peace, it runs the risk of losing its audience in the dull moments. Its this issue which makes Raven perhaps slightly inaccessible. However, for the captivated and determined listener, there is nothing better than leaning into all that Raven has to offer and coming out the other side a changed person.

At its core, Raven is an introspective album which is as complex and serene as the human being who made it. The album feels like an intense journey in self discovery without falling into any of the tired tropes which usually dominate that particular dancefloor subgenre. In creating such a magnificent album, Kelela has cemented herself alongside her idols and peers despite her relatively small discography. Raven is a beautiful album, and deserves to be celebrated.

Kelela | On The Run

KELELA // WASHED AWAY [SINGLE, SEPT 2022]

Washed Away - Kelela Sept 13, 2022

kelela | washed away

THIS

waterfront dining - washed away