Silk – july (2025)
Let’s be honest, finding a light in the crushing thought of simply existing is rather inspiring, and this is where Silk comes in. The brainchild and solo project of singer-songwriter Michael Smyth, Silk was born, in Smyth’s words, of the “…constant feel like I am rushing towards the inevitable of infinite oblivion. Further exacerbated by the marking of years spent circling the sun. To that end, it’s important that I fill the time remaining with joyous, creative acts. The sharing of ideas is an essential part of that…” Join us as we take a moment to resonate and connect with Smyth in his latest release, ‘july’.
Following his singles ‘Faze’ and ‘but then, yes’, Silk teeters the line between dreamy and distorted in his new single, ‘july’. Self-penned, recorded and produced by Smyth, with mixing and mastering by Allan McGreevy, the UK-based musician layers a swirl of synths with a steady drum, soaring guitar, and bold bass in a multi-coloured rush of sound. Ethereal and airy, a leaning toward shoegaze exists; however, as much as the cinematic ambience of shoegaze is evident, ‘july’ taps into the heaviness of alternative rock and the distorted darkness of soft grunge.
Infused with a sense of duality, Silk’s music oscillates between gritty darkness with piercing abruptness and an odd intimacy and acceptance. It’s like ripping the band-aid off an open wound, but still tending the scratch with some stinging antiseptic. Fuzzy and feverish, the whirlpool of sound hits you between the eyes but, and with that ever-present duality, a soothing anchor exists in the rich and raw vocals.
So, overall, what is my honest opinion of Silk and his single ‘july’. Not for the faint-hearted, that’s for sure. Prepare for a bit of messiness and chaotic scratches and scrapes along the way. Is it my cup of tea? Not particularly making me feel a little uncomfortable; then again, this is the essence of its weighty theme – a song of subtle betrayals and unpicking angst. Remember, this is just my opinion, and I recommend you decide for yourself.
Find out more about Silk on his Facebook, Instagram, BlueSky, YouTube, SoundCloud and Spotify.
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