Ordinary // Colours – Pacific Division (2022)
Many of us will, at some point, dream of something bigger and greater than what we have, but the grass is not always greener on the other side. This is something that Ordinary // Colours has turned into the internal monologue of his track ‘Pacific Division’. Through the single, he tells the story of someone who has left their hometown to chase their dreams, only to become bogged down by the realities of their new life.
The weighing down of the main character and loss of ambition that follows is contrasted with a more upbeat melodic sound. As the first single of this musical project, the track is a wonderful introduction to what the project has to offer. Justin Chee, the man behind the music, has previously released music under his own name, but took a hiatus to focus on his career, before coming back with this fusion sound.
‘Pacific Division’ has a rather upbeat vibe that shines through in the bright twinkling tones of the opening. There is a rather chilled vibe woven into the melody that has you relaxing and feeling like everything is going to be okay. You can almost imagine looking out the window and smiling at the gentle sun streaming on the streets as you listen. At times, the melody gains a slightly dreamy vibe that weaves into the overall lo-fi flows. As the single progresses, the glittering trails of the glockenspiel rain down on you, while the beat drives you forward. The guitars strum, bringing a new chilled energy to the track, before they pluck with a light dance of happy vibes. It is a really easy melody that you just want to relax into as the good vibes of the music sink into your skin.
These upbeat and good vibes are a little at odds with the lyrics, but match the vocal performance quite well. The vocals continue the lo-fi flows of the melody with a delicate touch that soothes over your brain. While delicate, the vocals do have a touch of melancholy woven into the lower levels that add power to the tale of the lyrics. Through the lyrics, he tells us the story of someone who has left home and finds it is not everything they thought it would be. These feelings are enhanced by not wanting to let anyone know that things aren’t working out. It is a rather bittersweet vocal performance that is given an extra edge with the contrasting lightness of the melody.
Contrasting sparkling upbeat melodics with bittersweet vocals, Ordinary // Colours draws you into the tale and emotions of ‘Pacific Division’. The glittering tones of the melody are light and upbeat, while the vocal performance brings melancholy to the track. Through this contrast of tones, he brings the convoluted emotions of the story in the lyrics to life.
Find out more about Ordinary // Colours on his website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Spotify.
