Joshua Woo – 10-2-1 (2022)
Joshua Woo changes the trajectory of his music for the fiction tale of ’10-2-1’. Stepping off the indie-folk trail of his last release, he explores the sonic world of trip-hop and folktronica while taking listeners into space. Telling the story of the last person left on Earth following the evacuation of everyone else, he dives into isolation, loneliness and regret.
Mixing synths with guitar and bass, he formed a moving soundscape that balances organic and manipulated sounds. While Woo usually plays all the instruments in his songs himself, this is the first single where he collaborates with others to bring the sonic message to life. Delta Crab provides additional synths for the single adding to the futuristics and cosmic sound.
’10-2-1’ reaches out from the first second with a chilly and lonely tone. This is mixed with a cosmic and spacey warble that creates the feeling of being alone in the icy tundra of a deserted world. The synths are wonderful as they create a depth of sound that gives way to a light drone and chattering tones. As the music slides into the chorus, there is an interplay between organic and electronic tones enhancing the vocals. The melody has been artfully crafted to create this expansive feeling that reaches out while also closing in on you with the pressure of loneliness and isolation. There is an endlessness to the feeling of the music that is utterly wonderful. The shards of synths pierce through the music before you roll into a more paced feeling closer to the end of the single.
As the melody sets the scene for the single, the vocals bring the story. The opening lyrics let you know why the main character is alone and there is a tired feeling of resignation to this. The chorus continues this thread of emotion as they walk the surface of the world all alone. This moves into a consideration of what has happened to people who were evacuated. While the story is clear in the lyrics, the vocals bring a bittersweet feeling to the soundscape. There is an acceptance of their lonely existence tempered by the yearning for information of the others and some companionship. The ethereal wave of vocals that comes later sweeps through your adding a new edge to the whole story.
Joshua Woo brings a futuristic story packed with loneliness, regret and yearning to the chilly synth tones of ’10-2-1’. The music reaches out across a desolate landscape bringing the first stirrings of emotions. The vocals lay out the story of the single while filling the soundscape with emotion.
Find out more about Joshua Woo on his Twitter, Instagram and Spotify.
