Warwick Smith – Sleeplessness (2023)
Highly influenced by the heartfelt emotion of the early 2000s emo scene, singer-songwriter Warwick Smith is one of the front-runners in today’s emo revival. We are currently viewing a strong uptake of yesteryear’s sounds in grunge, pop-punk and the emo movement with artists today delving deeper into emotional expression. Looking to connect with the inhabitants of today’s stressful reality, Smith resonates with listeners as he weaves poignant lyricism with hard-hitting melodies.
This is my introduction to Warwick Smith, but he has been establishing himself as a trailblazer in the Australian alternative rock scene. While he is a strong leader in Australia, his appeal quickly grew internationally after he began his journey with his debut single ‘I’m Not Angry Anymore’ in 2019. From France to Germany, the USA to Portugal and across his native Australia, Smith has been described as intimate, ambitious and able to achieve great heights. In 2023, Smith saw his album Velvet reach No. 5 on the Apple iTunes Alternative Charts, and today we take a gander at his recent single ‘Sleeplessness’.
One exciting element of Smith’s musical journey is his impromptu performance with the renowned group Waterparks. Jolting his career to phenomenal heights, the influence of Waterparks shoved him to the forefront, and the even cooler part is that Waterparks influences his music on a melodic level. Similar to previous singles, such as ‘Nailbiter’ and ‘Recover’, a depth of profoundness oozes from ‘Sleeplessness’ and has a strong personal tale attached. He explains:
“My song is about what happened after I got to perform on stage with…Waterparks that kickstarted my journey into music. It’s the alternative rock/emo-infused story of post-concert depression and feeling lost without goals to strive for after reaching my previous manifests.”
Following his single ‘Secretly A Vampire’, ‘Sleeplessness’ uses a pop-punk sound to capture the whirl of sleeplessness. With bold drums, scorching guitars and slips of synths shimmering across the top, Smith brings the frustration, stress, angst and vulnerability of depression (and sleepless nights). Oddly enough, Smith’s rich vocals are reminiscent of alternative rock bands of yesteryear; however, there is a contemporary uniqueness in its desperate but hopeful warmth.
In addition to the single, Warwick Smith released a music video for ‘Sleeplessness’. The video can be viewed below or on Smith’s YouTube channel. Please note that this video uses lighting effects that can trigger seizures in people with photosensitive epilepsy. Viewer discretion is highly recommended.
VIEWER DISCRETION IS ADVISED
For more from Warwick Smith, check out his official website, Facebook, Instagram and Spotify.
This artist was discovered via Musosoup #sustainablecurator
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