Ed Prosek – The Foreigner
There is quite some symbolism in the title of Ed Prosek’s new 6-song EP The Foreigner. Prosek is California-born and now Berlin-based singer-songwriter, actually born to a Czech father and an Italian mother. And even though born in California it seems that Prosek always had those “old world” roots in him. At 8 years old, he picked up and studied classical trumpet until the age of 20, before attending the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. He eventually lived in the UK for a spell before finding his way to Berlin to set roots and create music.
Following a few independent releases, 2016’s Truth EP yielded the fan favourite ‘Holy Water’, followed by the Flesh & Blood, Pt. 1 EP in 2017, highlighted by ‘The Mountain’. He maintained his momentum with Light As A Feather EP in 2019 and singles such as ‘One Man’s Blessing’, ‘4 AM’, ‘The Other Side’, and ‘The Garden’. And while he has those European connections and now lives and works in Berlin, Prosek didn’t lose his connections to the music that has its base in California – the six songs on The Foreigner have all the best characteristics of that California singer/songwriter heydays of early to mid-seventies. And they are all great characteristics – excellent songwriting, a penchant for good melody and lyrics, vocal and instrumental delivery to match, and some subdued, but at the same time detailed arrangements that cover a wide musical ground, sometimes, like on ‘Ever After (Wedding Song)’ touching on roots music.
The theme of the whole EP fits the title as Prosek explores his constant lack of belonging, no matter where he goes. Prosek explains:
“As an American in Europe, I’ll never be fully European, but at the same time, when I go home, I feel like a tourist there as well. A strange reality that leaves me confused about my identity and my feelings of ‘home’. This EP was written in one of the most important/exciting times of my life. It documents the highs and the lows of love and anxiety and it does so from the perspective of my inner monologue.”
‘The Foreigner’ is quite a mature and detailed release and one that will fit snuggly in any collection of a singer-songwriter music fan.
Find out more about Ed Prosek on his Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Spotify.
Discover more indie-folk singles on The Other Side Reviews playlist:
