Life Themes
A window into the nostalgia of Weeze & his piano
In the latest project from Weeze, we find him contemplating life moments through the keys of the piano. The project, titled “Life Themes”, consists of 7 vignettes, each one exploring a different life motif. For the past several years, Weeze spent time at the piano each day, improvising and meditating. These meditations lead to melodic themes that cropped up again and again. As Weeze recently transitioned into a new life chapter, it felt like the time to capture these life themes.
The opening track, “Morning Piano”, is bright, contemplative, and playful. As the title suggests, this vignette captures the brightness and potentiality mornings can hold. It feels like the light from one’s window playing across the walls as they move into the day. “Life’s Theme” seems to stem from this gentle morning piano, becoming more awake and aware. It meanders thoughtfully with a mix of lightness and gentle brooding. The notes of the melody are punctuated and staccato as they glide up and down. Faint memory-like samples hop between each ear, giving the song a sense of time passing by.
The third track is noticeably heavier than that of the first two. It rises and falls in a similar manner to that of “Life’s Theme”, yet ruminates momentarily at each step up or step down. The title, “Indecisive Cloud”, suggests being of two minds, a sort of will they won’t they plays out for the listener. It is like a cloudy sky that seems to indicate rain all day, yet the sun keeps popping through as if the skies might clear up. “(lonely rainbow)” follows and is light, gentle, pretty, and short. It feels like a teary-eyed observer of a beautiful world below. Just like a rainbow, it is there only momentarily before fading away.
Ambience by teasea
The “Poet’s Song” holds an acceptance- feeling like one nostalgic tear running down one’s cheek. The song moves like the romantic eye of a poet, observing both the highs and lows of life. As we move toward the end of the vignette, it closes in a higher octave – leaving us in the tender sweetness of letting go. This sweetness of “Poet’s Song’ transitions into the sweet longing of “I hope you’re well”. Here we find Weeze exploring a soft sadness – feeling as though he is looking back at memories once shared with someone who is no longer around, acknowledging the tender moments and the desire for this person to be happy wherever they are.
“Learning” is a beautiful conclusion to this collection. It holds a soft jazzy-ness with notes that slide into one another. It sounds like the acknowledgment that one is destine to stumble as they learn how to love and to live in a world where most things are unclear. It is the knowledge that there is still so much to do, to love, and to see.
As a whole, this collection stands as a time capsule for this chapter in Weeze’s life. It is a tribute to his friends, family, and memories made in their Bed-Stuy home of the last several years. It is an invitation to the listener to reflect and reminisce, and makes for a great soundtrack to one’s life.
Written by Carolyn Ambrosich
