Jouska - “Season of Dread”
Photo by Hans Olav Settem
Oslo, Norway-based producer and songwriter Marit Othilie Thorvik, aka Jouska, returns to the blog with “Season of Dread.”
At the press of the play button, it is quite obvious that “Season of Dread” was created in the darkness that looms around the days when you’re doing all you can to keep your life from completely unraveling. Amidst otherworldly tones, an acoustic guitar chimes out some chords, offering the listener a raw and intimate glance into Jouska’s creative craft.
Some extremely subtle brushed percussion emerges to add a bit of a sizzling pulse, bringing some width to the sparsely populated arrangement. It is here that Jouska begins her vocal performance, wrapped in an effect that sounds like it was recorded through a vintage telephone. This creates a wondrous sense of distance between her voice and the instrumental, almost as though she is using the lyrics to escape from the pain of living in that moment.
When we reach the refrain, the production expands to include more of a fleshed out rhythm and some deeper tones from a bass. The overall sound is quite satisfying, especially when juxtaposed with the more barebones nature of the verses. “Season of Dread” has been meticulously fashioned to both slay Jouska’s emotional dragons and allow the listener to ride them across the midnight sky.
On the feelings that inspired the track, Jouska adds: “There was a constant pit in my stomach. I felt uncomfortable in my own body, in my surroundings, and in the choices I was making. My mind was loud and flooded, and I couldn’t find a way out of it. Things were shifting in my life. Something I’d always trusted without question suddenly felt unfamiliar, and that made it hard to feel steady or safe in anything.”
“Season of Dread” is now available everywhere and we recommend that you get it into your ears as soon as humanly possible. Connect with Jouska here: Bandcamp | Spotify | Instagram | Facebook
-HD