Paul Ariss – Blinded (2024)
Unafraid to delve into the intricacies of love, loss and human emotion, singer-songwriter Paul Ariss is the old friend comforting you with personal tales of heartbreak, sadness and overall understanding – well, at least some solace if not anything else. A couple of months ago, Ariss reached us with his single ‘The People That We Were’; however, we were late to the party with the UK-based artist already turning heads internationally. The latest addition to his discography is the single ‘Blinded’.
‘The People That We Were’ is a definitive expression of “that awful moment when a relationship breaks up and two people… look at each other as strangers…” ‘Blinded’ takes it one step further reaching into the future to see what lies ahead. In this case, it’s the self-doubting recall of broken romances, but with a bit of a baffling twist. Ariss explains:
“This song was inspired by an apparently happily married ex-girlfriend who started to systematically check out my Facebook posts, listen to my songs and try to disguise her identity to check me out on LinkedIn. Although she didn’t contact me directly and nothing malicious occurred, it continued on and off for two and a half years. The song is a reflection of my reaction to what went on.”
The lyricism lies between the odd confusion of “wow, I’m being stalked online”, and the passion of “wow, this is really happening”. For me, the story is moving with Ariss’ vocals capturing the vulnerability, frustration, and slight annoyance lingering beneath.
Melodically, there is a shift from country-tinged indie rock to a heavier indie-rock sound. Recorded and produced by John Kettle at TMP Studios in Wigan, Lancashire, ‘Blinded’ combines crashing drums, a bold bass and soaring guitars courtesy of studio musicians (most of the guitar work by John Kettle). Charming and elegant with subdued lilts, there is warmth, but the rich weightiness of the track bursts in through a heavier rush of rock.
In addition to the single, Paul Ariss released an official lyric video for ‘Blinded’. You can view the video below or on his YouTube channel. Please note that this video uses lighting effects that can trigger migraines and/or seizures in people with photosensitive epilepsy. Viewer discretion is advised.
VIEWER DISCRETION IS ADVISED
Find out more about Paul Ariss on his Facebook, Instagram and Spotify.
This artist was discovered via Musosoup #sustainablecurator
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