Fans today have unknowingly failed in the worship of their musical heroes. Many of these fans demand release after release, tour after tour and fail to realize the physical/emotional toll that goes along with every artists respective careers. Joe Muhlerin, the sole-being behind the entity of nothing,nowhere., is no stranger in publicly battling with his own mental illnesses while prospering as one of the most successful, talented, and well respected musicians today. With Muhlerins newest single, “dread,” Muhlerin addresses his own mental well-being, as well as his recent hiatus.
Produced by frequent collaborator falls and nothing,nowhere. himself, “dread” begins with a dark toned lead guitar. Incoming drums drop in along with Muhlerins now renowned masterful tension filled rhymes, a flow that was prominently featured throughout Mulherin’s latest LP ruiner. Mulherin’s sincerity in his raspy, poignant vocals are the first sign that nothing,nowhere. has something to get off his chest:
I look into the mirror all I’m seeing is a skeleton
I keep losing weight, so they got me taking medicine
I can’t go a day without relying on these sedatives
Therapy in darkness, I feel like a specimen
From the first verse to the final moments of the track, Mulherin describes his own battles with mental illness during what many would call a shining phase of his journeyed career. Mulherin notes that everything — from his tour cancellation to his inner demons — have been surging upon him, and he wants to know when it will end.
I feel the weight of expectation pressing down on my chest
I feel like everybody has their own belief of what’s best
Meditation, medication, should I pray to a god?
I refuse to let this win and be consumed by my thoughts
Sonically, “dread” is very similar to ruiner, yet stands on its own as a greatly detailed narrative of struggle. Mulherin flawlessly delivers with “dread,” not only for his lyrical ability but also for his honest delivery and co-production.
In a recent interview with Live Nation, Mulherin described nothing,nowhere. as a creation for “realizing the impermanence of life and moving forward.” While the reaper has returned to the limelight, he has also let the world know that he himself is moving forward and will continue to fight his own surrounding shadows of anguish without stopping.
If you or anyone you know is currently struggling with depression or mental illness, please reach out to your loved ones, doctor, or consider any of the following resources:
www.suicidepreventionlifeline.com
www.psychcentral.com/resources/
www.adaa.org