Messiness – Feature with a Rapper
Messiness’ Feature with a Rapper is a bizarre, and oddly sad song for every indie musician who has ever attempted to reach too high and run into the wall of industry disrespect. It’s part satire, part soul-searching, and it comes in an aesthetically lush, neo-psychedelic package that sounds like Jimmy Page playing with The Flaming Lips in a dreamscape of rejection emails and royalty-free samples. The music begins with groovy tempos and a kaleidoscope guitar riff, a distorted tribute to Led Zeppelin processed through the haze of modern psych-rock. The distortion is intentional, almost comical at moments, and enhances the song’s atmosphere of theatrical sadness. It’s equal parts tribute to older styles rock and satire on the ridiculousness of today’s music industry. Vocally, the song moves between dreamy melodies and sudden blasts of rap flow, similar to the fundamental topic of seeking that mythical high-profile collaboration. The ethereal vocals illustrate The Flaming Lips’ lush soundscapes, creating an atmosphere that is melancholic. When the rap parts begin, they don’t interrupt the atmosphere; rather, they add to it by communicating desperation, optimism, and disappointment. Lines like “I sent a good thousand emails” and “99% of my letters went unreplied” are both humorous and regretfully true, corresponding to the all-too-common indie artist experience through smart language and a sense of storytelling. The self-aware comedy never feels overdone; it’s built into the track, making the listener laugh even as they cringe in familiarity. Finally, Feature with a Rapper is about the need that drives it – the desire to be seen, heard, and taken seriously in a world that frequently overlooks those who are less fortunate.
Photo Credit: Messiness photo by Roberta Ferrante
https://messiness.bandcamp.com
