MONSTERS DUE – Real (2022)
There are some songs that have a clear message and meaning, while others are a little more ambiguous as they weave cryptic lyrics through your senses. ‘Real’ by MONSTERS DUE is one of the latter, as the lyrics bring a new meaning to the single for each person who listens. While the single offers a new message for everyone, it was originally written about chronic anxiety disorder.
Through the ambiguity, the lyrics tell the story of a person talking to their anxiety and longing for something real to take hold, whether physically or emotionally. Inspired by late 70s and early 80s alternative rock, the single threads the best elements of this sound with something that is undeniably relatable. A solo musical project started just before the pandemic, MONSTERS DUE really hits the ground running with this debut single.
‘Real’ uses a single guitar line to initially grab your attention before pushing you into a blended soundscape. You can hear the influence of 70s and 80s alternative rock. There is a light touch of 80s synth-rock warbling in the high levels of the melody, while the base of the melodic flow is a steady indie rock movement. It is an infectious melodic movement that has you rocking out to the sound, or at the very least, moving to its rhythm. Throughout the single, the melody pushes you forward into the vocals, only to pause for a moment to gain your bearings, before pushing on again. This creates a really engaging movement that you are instantly swept up in. The current of the music gets you moving while offering the space needed to really fall into the lyrics.
As you are swept up in the engaging current of the melody, the vocals bring a steady marching feeling to the single. The stability offered by the performance is a wonderful anchor against the current of the music. This perfectly captures some of the feelings of the single as the lyrics look for something real to hold on to as you are swept up in anxiety. The chorus rises into a more moving flow that increases the energy of the music. The lyrics have a cryptic edge to them as they flow through the soundscape, like snatches of thoughts that have been plucked out of your mind. While there is a thread of coherence to the lyrics, the emotional connection to them is open to interpretation depending on how you are feeling as you listen.
With an engaging blended soundscape and lyrics that are open to emotional interpretation, MONSTERS DUE has you rocking out to his debut single ‘Real’. The melody sweeps you into the current of sound, while making you want to move to the rhythm. His vocal performance is an anchor you can hold onto as it wraps ambiguous emotions into the lyrics, letting you connect with them in a way that suits you.
Find out more about MONSTERS DUE on his Twitter, Instagram and Spotify.
