Track of the Day: Kwyjibo – Dark Again (2025)
The brainchild of singer-songwriter Charlie Lord, Kwyjibo is “envisioned as an unrestrained outlet with a free, flexible DIY ethic to bring a melting pot of influences…” It’s the creative expression of true freedom, showcasing the power of music as solace and comfort, but also as a time to shout out in rage, angst, and empowering ferocity. You might know Lord from his work with Honeycub and Glass Nerve; however, it is the solo project that digs deep into the raw emotion of the artist, bursting in a flood of pop-punk, emo, alternative rock, and tips of shoegaze. Join us as we jump headfirst into Kwyjibo’s debut single, ‘Dark Again’.
A long time in the making, Kwyjibo’s music was penned during the isolated days of Covid lockdowns and recorded entirely at home – a reflection of the deeply personal, intimate experiences bound to Kwyjibo’s resonating melodies. As a person who tends to second-guess his work and judgments, the various tracks are sliced with vulnerability but encourage resilience to speak up and find a level of understanding, empowerment and acceptance. With ‘Dark Again’, Kwyjibo aimed to capture a sense of helplessness both in the protagonist and the individual trying to save him. The musician explains:
“The main theme of ‘Dark Again’ is towards wanting to help someone who is really struggling, but feeling powerless to say or do or give something that will truly help. While it can be difficult to just listen and face their truths, vulnerability and pain, sometimes it can also be the most valuable…”
Thematically and lyrically, ‘Dark Again’ is a poetic unpicking of raw human emotion in its starkest, most barebones state. Melodically, ‘Dark Again’ is as expressive, leaning toward the pop-rock/emo-rock sounds of the 90s with evident influences of Jimmy Eat World and Weezer.
Recorded by Charlie Lord with production by Noah Althoff, ‘Dark Again’ is a gritty combination of crashing drums and scorching guitars that quickly tosses you into a sonic whirlpool with kaleidoscopic flair. For me, it is not the hard-hitting instrumentation that makes the melody, but rather the gritty vocal execution that both lays bare the struggle, but also holds your hand as that ointment disinfects the scrape on your elbows and knees. Highly recommend, I am eager to find out more about this upcoming musician.
Find out more about Kwyjibo on his Facebook, Instagram and Spotify.
This artist was discovered via Musosoup #sustainablecurator
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