Mpathy takes a completely different approach to music than most others might. As a scientist, he uses instruments and electronics to seemingly create the feeling of a scientific experiment. Elementally, the music is diverse within each track. There are so many instruments present in this three-song EP including strings, woodwinds, percussion, and of course, synthesizers. Mpathy uses each instrument as more than just an addition to the melody; he uses it to enhance the power of the lyrics as well as presenting the complexities in science. You cannot listen to this EP without trying to consider the various dimensions of music that are explored; whether that be in an attempt to depict a science experiment, or even to portray something more psychologically based. That being said, the melodies are well crafted and precise, as Mpathy takes us on a dark journey through his music.
Mpathy – The Golden Boy
The title single, “The Golden Boy” examines the depth of Mpathy’s mind. It’s an extremely dark piece with a driving beat. His voice is prevalent, especially in the verses of this track. It’s not necessarily sweet or even too melodic, for that matter; it happens to be slightly nasal sounding, and sits somewhere between singing and talking. On “Unemployment,” you hear a different side of his voice that is sweeter sounding, which makes it clear that he is purposely singing the way he does on “The Golden Boy,” adding a theatrical element to the song. He sings of his dreams and how they frighten him. Every musical choice he makes further enforces the realness of his terror. The piano is used very carefully to add to the building of his fear. We are taken on a ride with him as he depicts this notion with ghosts “that keep chasing me from dream to dream.” Between the scientifically inspired electronic outbursts after the last line of the chorus “he shows me my psychosis is real,” I continued to be drawn into the theatrical side of the song. It resonated with me, as a great horror film does. The uncomfortable feelings that you feel while watching the movie remain with you for some time after it’s over. “The Golden Boy” was a fantastic depiction of Mpathy’s fears and insecurities coming out through his night terrors.
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“Dangerous Love” relies heavily on the acoustic guitar as well as the slight inklings of electronica starting to develop. The booming, almost dub step sounding electronic beat drops as a gorgeous female voice emerges. This beat drop took me by surprise. Knowing that Mpathy is a scientist, I’d compare it to a scientific experiment, revealing something you never imagined was possible: something shocking, yet beautiful. Her breathy voice soars over the strong, booming beat, as we are taken to a post-chorus electronic breakdown. It’s not as heavy as the chorus, but it feels manipulated and purposely over-produced. I believe that the slight over-production heightens the idea of an ongoing scientific experiment. On the last chorus, the two voices sing together, creating a feeling of completion and pushing the limits of harmony.
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“Unemployment” opens with a catchy piano melody, backed by electronic drums. The piano is not playing chords, but single notes, creating a quiet and more subdued vibe. The combination of real instruments and electronics provides a distinct listening experience. Mpathy allows his voice to take a more melodic route on this low-key track. The lyrics are very dark as he sings; “I listen to ambient noise to tell if I could hear a voice,” and describes how his “vacant breaths are thundering.” The idea of loneliness is presented with such clarity and theatrics that you feel his pain. The instrumentation stays among the electronic percussion and the piano, and the song doesn’t really build like the other tracks do. Only at one other moment is the acoustic guitar introduced to play a relaxed solo. The piano begins to venture into a solo simultaneously. To me, this represented two lonely, but beautiful souls who cannot seem to find or connect with each other.
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It’s clear that each decision of each note was thought out to fit a recipe of sorts. As a scientist would use a specifically measured recipe to conduct an experiment, Mpathy seems to apply the same idea to his music. Knowing that the EP was made by a scientist completely altered the way I thought about what I was hearing. I believe my experience, and the way I chose to listen to the EP, led me to have a deeper connection with the music. I wonder how I would have perceived the nuances and intricacies if I hadn’t known about the scientific context. Would I have been able to hear it the same way? Would the idea have been clear? I can’t really answer these questions, but I can definitely tell you that it made the listening experience extremely unique and well worthwhile.
Mpathy
Article by: Alex Feigin
