Music
afropunk premiere: experimental electronica artist lawrence lindell drops ambient fight song ‘melanin battle’
Today’s premiere comes from Lawrence Lindell, an experimental artist out of L.A. His brand new single ‘Melanin Battle’ is an ambient, synth-driven soundscape that builds and builds as if Lindell was performing before your eyes, a row of loop pedals at his feet. There’s a subtle tone of the theatric that creeps in as the track builds, suggesting a little bit of suspense and adrenaline. “I created Melanin Battle as a score to a few thoughts I was having in my head,” Lindell tells AFROPUNK. “Musically the piece is a straight up score. It has a bit of bounce to it, but its very cinematic (not just because it has strings in it, but because I composed it as if I were scoring a scene for a film.)”
The title of the song comes from Lindell’s observations of racial dynamics in the States. That under-current of race-based discrimination and projections of stereotypes that blacks are constantly at war with served heavily as inspiration. “Wether we want to acknowledge it or not, it definitely matters what color you are. I call it ‘Melanin Battle’ because I am constantly fighting against every preconception that comes with having brown skin. I envisioned the scene to which this music would fit as a showdown between myself and every negative thing(manifested in the form of monsters) that has been associated with having melanin in my skin. I win at the end, by the way!”
By Erin White*, AFROPUNK contributor
www.soundcloud.com/lawmusic
www.facebook.com/Bleedingbox
www.lawrencelindell.com
*Erin White is an Atlanta-based writer and AFROPUNK’s editorial and social media assistant. You can follow her on Tumblr or friend her on Facebook. Have a pitch or an inquiry? Shoot her an email at erin@afropunk.com.
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