With his golden tones, a kaleidoscopic sonic landscape, as well as an exquisitely crafted signature sound, Sonny Boy Sage is known as a distinct producer and independent artist. To create unique and captivating soundscapes, he combines Avant-Garde, Electronic, Experimental beats, and Industrial influences.
Philadelphia-based artist Sonny Boy Sage is known for his unique sound which has a psychedelic vibe to it. Using samplers and drum machines, he creates an atmosphere of ambient sound and experimentation.
If you’re looking for a moody and ethereal sound to soundtrack your life, Sonny Boy Sage is the artist for you. We can say that Sonny Boy Sage’s 5-track new EP, Ecdysis, is a genre-bending journey through diverse subgenres as well.
It’s like a soundtrack to the most surreal and wonderful movie you’ve ever seen, but you can only see it in your mind while listening to his sonic art. It’s cinematic without being too full-on dramatic.
It has an upbeat vibe without ever losing sight of what makes this kind of music great—the fact that it can be both dark and light simultaneously.
You can listen to our full playlist which contains the artist’s music, and know more about his work by scrolling down the page.
A haunting vocal accompanied by enchanted soundscapes sets the tone for the rest of the project with “Gone, Gone”, the first track on the EP.
Here are a few points I would like to mention, “The Other Shore” throws down a beat that sounds like it’s been crafted by someone who grew up listening to prog rock and industrial music, but worked in a relaxing, just calm way, while other tracks bring a soulful tone.
Some tracks feature male and female vocals that rise above the discordant sounds of industry, giving it an ethereal quality that will take your breath away. if you are curious, let’s learn about how it was born!
All the music on this album was composed, recorded and performed by Sonny Boy Sage himself. This year, he started producing music under the name Sonny Boy Sage for the first time. The EP he is releasing is his debut collection of tunes.
Besides releasing his first project, for over ten years, he composed film music as well as other types of music under his birth name.
The influences he has had in his work are numerous. The list of artists includes, among others, Radiohead, FKA Twigs, Kendrick Lamar, David Lynch, Brahms, Frightened Rabbit, and more.
It is worth mentioning that every track on the Ecdysis EP was written and recorded in-house. In his home studio, the artist performed and mixed the songs himself. There is only one exception to this rule, which is the recitation of the Heart Sutra by Kin Ching Fong. Upon completion of the project, Joe Lambert mastered it at Joe Lambert Mastering.
I think that it is interesting to note that there are several intriguing factors behind the creation of Sonny Boy Sage’s music. A clear example of this can be seen when one considers that on September 27th, 2018 Sage was hit with a rare debilitating illness that had no explanation. The illness came out of nowhere and changed his life forever.
I am not surprised to say that even though it has been four years since the incident, he is still experiencing the effects. As a result, all of his autonomic functions were compromised. On a daily basis, he had debilitating nerve pain that caused him to be unable to eat, sleep, or walk.
According to the artist, the experience was nothing short of hell, but there was an opportunity as well. In the days and weeks that followed, as soon as he began to heal, the producer wanted to capture in sound what he was suffering through. So he decided to create songs. The Ecdysis was conceived!
It is impressive how life can take you in so many directions and result in great music! If you’re looking for some fresh new music that combines the experimental with the cinematic and builds a playlist, check out Sonny Boy Sage’s Ecdysis EP, visit his website and follow him on Spotify. you can also find below a detailed explanation of the meaning of each track. Good Journey!
The Meaning of Ecdysis EP
by Sonny Boy Sage
The process of Ecdysis involves the shedding of old skin or exoskeleton in order to allow for growth. The EP tells the story of a character suffering through spiritual ecdysis; he must die before he dies. The character suffers physically, emotionally, and spiritually. By overcoming a series of spiritual “tests” he finds his way out of suffering and arrives on the other shore of understanding: enlightenment.
1. Gone, Gone:
The character must change his perception of reality itself. The ancient Buddhist text called the Heart Sutra stipulates that all things are empty (this is the text being recited in ancient Cantonese).
2. Dead Now March:
The character must embrace the present moment and realize that the past and future don’t really exist. However, how is one supposed to embrace the present moment when it is wrought with pain and discomfort? This is the challenge. The song also depicts when I started walking again which is why the sounds, in the beginning, are quite awkward and clunky.
3. Where Is the One Without You Things Fall Apart:
In this song, the character must confront his own mortality and accept it. In embracing the fact that once he is no longer here, life is infused with immeasurable meaning.
4. Silence, Mara:
This is the final temptation on the way to the other shore of understanding. He is tempted by Mara (from Buddhist mythology) to not go through with ego death; not to die before he dies. But he resists and shouts, “Carry me away”. He accepts and is ready for the death of his old self.
5. The Other Shore:
This is the celebration of death. The death of the old self is complete and profound understanding is reached. The chanting heard here is the last part of the Heart Sutra. It translates as “Gone, Gone”. Gone all the way over to the other shore. There are many more hidden meanings and “easter eggs” if you will in this EP but that’s the general story behind each one of the songs.
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