There are many different inspirations fro songwriting. One that comes up quite often is love. Whether it be the abundance of it, the lack of it, or the heartbreak in-between, they are all good starting points for a song. Our recent find Iskar D’Abrel starts with the latter with and dives into more with his recent video for “Ruins Of You”.
The track begins with beautifully played guitar among a soundscape of ambient noise that builds a tone for the song. As the vocals come in you can feel the emotion that Iskar is ready to share with us. The production is top-notch as well adding layers to the mix that blend together perfectly to create a full sonic palette.
We caught up with Iskar D’Abrel to get a deeper look into his motivation and meanings behind “Ruins Of You”. Enjoy the interview here:
What first drew you to creating music?
I began writing music after a breakup with a girlfriend, realizing that my heartbreak and disappointment could be transformed into a beautiful piece of music. Thus, creating music became for me a process of healing.
How would you describe the sound of Iskar D’Abrel?
The sound hits the mark with a fantastic tone and a huge sounding production. The mix is warm and balanced, allowing each element to sit in its right space. In particular, the vocals by Marcello stand out in a very pleasing way. The singing is indeed the cherry on top here. Marcello has a passionate voice. It exudes energy and vibe, yet at the same time, it can be up close and personal.
On one hand, Marcello has a raspy edge. On the other, he can reach an impressive tonal register. Such a level of mastery allows him the freedom to experiment with many different melodic ideas.
The production of this song is also excellent. One of the most impressive characteristics of this song is the fact that it sounds like a record from the mid-80. Make no mistake: this isn’t just a nostalgia act. The sound also has a nice modern edge to it, which exemplifies Iskar’s blend of modern and retro influences alike. This bittersweet blend of tone, along with Marcello’s voice, is a truly magical combination, hitting the mark in every way.
Because of Marcello’s amazing vocal skills, this is not a black and white release. It’s in full color, and if sound could be described with images, this would be close to a Jackson Pollock painting! Listeners will be able to sense the artistic freedom at the heart of this song. It’s easy to tell that the artist took many creative chances when coming up with this one, and the process has been very rewarding.
Which artists have had the biggest influence on you?
The Cult, Pink Floyd, Peter Gabriel, Phil Collins, Billy Idol, Sting, and The Police.
What do you hope your listeners take away from your music?
The goal of my songs is to help others heal as well. I believe that a listener will be able to experience my music as a place for acceptance, value, consolation, reflection, unity, salvation, growth, and enlightenment. Additionally, I believe that my music will aid in a listener’s self-discovery. They may be able to answer the crucial questions of who they truly are, what is important to them, what the purpose of their life is, and what their long-term plans and goals are.
There seems to be a real message in your latest song “Ruins Of You”. Can you tell us about it?
The song is about impermanence in life. A woman, who was in love with me, was not interested any longer. But, when I fell in love with another woman, her love returned. While the song refers to romantic issues in specific, it indicates impermanence across all domains of our lives. Life represents change.
What does the future hold for Iskar D’Abrel?
I will promote one song at the time. For a few months, we will be hearing ‘Ruins of You’, and after several months I will start promoting the next song, and so on. So far, I have 10 recorded songs on my album Lacrimal Sea. I have another 9 that are in a demo form and need to be recorded. Those nine songs will be on my second album that will be called Nine Rays of the Sun. I intend to keep working with my current producer who is a perfect match for my music since he does not take my songs in a different direction, he just makes them sound better, takes them to a higher level.
Keep an eye and ear out for more music and videos by Iskar D’Abrel coming soon
