'Inches Away' from
the Heart of Shoegaze
The new single from teasea featuring Katie Sadler
“Inches Away from the Heart of Shoegaze”
Written by Britnee Meiser(she/her)
There’s something inherently cinematic about teasea’s newest single, “Inches Away.” Like the moment when the phoenix rises from the ashes, or the hero, nearly defeated, sets out to begin their second act, “Inches Away” is an epic reclamation of one’s journey toward self-actualization. It’s moody yet determined, realistic but still hopeful. It’s everything you want it to be, including catchy.
Hazy and lush, “Inches Away” is pure shoegaze, with a moody melody and grungy guitar that hearkens back to 90s experimental alt-rock. The steady drums, teasea’s bread and butter, anchor the track but never overwhelm it, thanks in part to a lovely reverb effect that allows the arrangement to wash over you like a cool mist. The whole thing transports you to another place, somewhere sublime and strange, and beckons you forward. Before you know it, six minutes have passed and the song is over, and you come out of it a little dazed, but forever changed. It feels more like six seconds.
Rarely can a song’s lyrics so vividly capture its rich sonic landscape, but here, the words are astutely anchored in the atmosphere. “Fog rolling in / This haze has tamed the swelling sun,” the lyrics begin, over an arrangement that sounds exactly like fog shrouding sunshine. Hauntingly sung by Katie Sadler, who makes her vocal and songwriting debut on this track, you become immediately aware of the deeper meaning behind the words. “The light withdrawn, the darkness strong / It’s all gone, I’m all gone.” What’s being described is not just the scenery; it’s a fleeting glimpse of what could be, snuffed out by fear and self-doubt. It’s indecision; who you think you are, fighting with who you want to be, reflected in the lyrics “Is this delusion or a dream?”
As the song builds, however, so does the journey. It becomes clear, through pointed lyrics and the arrangement’s evocative crescendo, that hope isn’t lost. It’s just beyond reach––as teasea says, it’s inches away. “Through clouds and mist, I’ll find my way,” Sadler sings, “I’ll become a dazzling display.” The drums pulse with energy. Subtle yet powerful cello, played poignantly by Julie Kim, underscores the depth of the realization. If you only keep going, keep trying, keep fighting, you can get where you want to go. You can be who you want to be.
In that sense, “Inches Away” is sort of like the ultimate redemption arc. It’s about believing in yourself against all odds. It is not about the destination, but the journey, much like life itself. Mixed and co-produced by Rain Johannes, “Inches Away” both expands and deepens teasea’s catalog of songs that ruminate on love, identity, and connection, and the places where they intersect. It’s the third single off teasea’s upcoming EP “Flowering” which will be released later this year through Ambient Pasta’s label.
Be sure to listen to teasea’s 3 singles out on all platforms.
