Lembram-se dos The Bergamot? Eles são dos projectos mais incríveis que tive o prazer de conhecer este ano. Não só são seres humanos espectaculares, como cada música que fazem é uma autêntica obra de arte. As suas canções estão sempre recheadas de significado. Significado esse que por vezes no chega de forma gentil, outras vezes de forma arrebatadora. Perguntei-lhes a inspiração por trás desta música e fiquei completamente arrepiada quando li isto: 

So many great songs have been written about heading out west, not so many about leaving.

Somewhere between the lavish lives of the successful tycoon and the struggling artist, is the everyday story of someone packing up. Quietly moving on to the next phase of life. Getting away from the lure of dreams and distant hopes, and into the harsh reality: what comes after the dreams silently slip away? L.A. attempts to take a look at moving on with a dimly veiled eye of reality – with an ever persisting hope “I WANT to believe in you” but alas here we are.

Houve um sentimento de identidade e empatia tão grande que, confesso, me comoveu, principalmente pela fase actual da minha vida. Por esta mudança tão grande que fiz de Portugal para os Estados Unidos. mas a explicação deles não ficou por aqui, portanto deixo-vos com ela (vale muito a pena ler!) e também com a canção e a respectiva letra. Obrigada, The Bergamot, vocês são AMOR.

The distorted howls call out to the listener, darkening an already bleak scenario. Almost as if a dream, being pulled from the light, falls into the depths of one’s memories. The music lurches on with a tribal beating – simple yet pushing – as the kick drum distorts the mix. The fleet-fingered acoustic guitars wind in an element of natural beauty, yet arriving at an uncertain resolve. The song contains what we have come to know as our sonic signature – a harmonious cacophony of layered vocals over a minimal mix. Resolving into a tailspin of sounds including feedback looped pianos through guitar amps, guitars through synths, taking the listener to it’s final resting spot as the harmonies begin their final chant “Goodbye L.A.” – “I want to believe in you” – “Goodbye L.A.” – “I want to believe in you”.

The song “L.A.” was originally written in the key of C, but in the studio was dropped to D to help deliver more of a crooning timbre for the lead vocals. Overall, I hope the song speaks to the emotion of moving on. Whether it be love – or dreams – this song attempts to illustrate an emotional perspective where you have to let go, but hopefully, are not lost.

She left L.A. with a song in her head

Elle left L.A. and off she went

She left for the city with the stars in her eyes

Elle left L.A. and she doesn’t know why

So she’s moving on

By the time I write this song

She’ll be gone

The kids all cried ‘cuz they don’t understand

Elle left L.A. this was never the plan

She’s hoping for a life living out there on the road

She was hoping for something new ‘cuz she was growing old

So she’s moving on

By the time I write this song

She’ll be gone

Goodbye L.A.

Goodbye L.A.

Goodbye L.A.

Goodbye L.A.

She packed her bags and she wrote this note

Now she’s gone

Now she’s gone

She made her way while I wrote this song

Now she’s gone

Now she’s gone

Oh

Oh

Goodbye L.A.

Goodbye L.A.

Goodbye L.A.

Goodbye L.A.

I want to believe in you

Goodbye L.A.

I want to believe in you

Goodbye L.A.

Goodbye L.A.

Há músicas que, sem dúvida alguma, se tornam importante e crescem em nós pela mensagem que transmitem. Foi assim que conheci a dupla The Bergamot, pelo seu belíssimo tema “Ceasefire”. Abordando temas como a depressão e a violência, estamos perante uma música que tem um instrumental que cresce em nós qual luz ao fundo do túnel, para além das vozes de ambos que se complementam e nos levam por um caminho de esperança. Longe de achar que “Ceasefire” é um tema político, sem dúvida que a inspiração por trás da música nos leva à reflexão e à tomada de consciência que ainda existe um longo caminho por percorrer para conseguirmos uma maior pacificidade e harmonia, mas temos de começar por alguma lado, não temos? Existe melhor “arma” que a música? Fiquem com as palavras de The Bergamot sobre “Ceasefire”.

‘Ceasefire’ takes aim at depression and gun violence with the lyrics and the music. ‘Ceasefire’ paints the images of someone struggling through the trenches of psychological warfare. The lyrics combine colors with imagery, hallucinations, and holographic fears to create a surreal landscape. The song starts “No I won’t, no I won’t, fuel the pain. Smoke filled cabins in my head” exploring a darkness within myself, while emphasizing the idea of combustion being so close, yet somewhat inevitable for just about anyone.

As wars rage abroad, the term ‘Ceasefire’ has become tightly associated with the war and peace process – but only in physical warfare. However, as we have seen depression rates and gun violence spike in the U.S. with suicide death rates up 34% across the US since 2000 (Business Insider), 40,000 people were killed in shootings last year amid a growing number of suicides involving firearms (The Guardian), all combined with 1,981 mass shootings since 2012 (Vox) yet the music industry has continued to proliferate physical and mental abuse, the use of firearms, and stayed silent on mental disorders.

No ceasefire is in sight. The song attempts to sympathize with a depression sufferer while painting a world seized with violence and hate. In the end, the song pivots musically and lyrically revealing that hope can start from within and lifts the listener up with a euphoric drop and musical swell.

Música adicionada à playlist FreshFindings do Spotify.

No I won’t

No I won’t

Fuel the pain

Smoke filled cabins

In my head

I feel as if I have no hope

No way out of here

But I won’t

No I won’t

Fuel the pain

Then I hear

No ceasefire

No ceasefire

No ceasefire

No ceasefire

The moan I hear

From another

Worried I will show

My fear

I feel a crawling cover

A great mistake

No ceasefire

No ceasefire

No ceasefire

No ceasefire

Can lift me up

And lay me down

No I won’t

No I won’t

Be afraid

These holograms

In my head

All I need

Is inside of me

There is a way out

Then I hear

A ceasefire

A ceasefire

A ceasefire

A ceasefire

Yeah

Oh

Yeah

Oh

Yeah

Oh

Yeah

Oh