New England based artist, scapegoat has been releasing alternative, angst infused tracks for about nine months now. His latest Solsa produced track, “Summer Solstice”, is a raw scream into the void and speaks of the contradiction of a self-made hell. “Summer Solstice” showcases scapegoat’s impressive vocal range, overlapping deep, throaty screams with melodic auto-tune throughout, only to descend into a desperate cry by the end.
“I’m fucking high so don’t ask me/ I’m fucking trashed so don’t give me the love that I’m lacking /I think it’s time for relapsing. Snort it up my nose such a cold relief/ I can see you when you lie through your teeth”
Scapegoat shares a narrative of doubt in the midst of suicidal fantasies clawing their way out of his skull: “I dreamt about my life ending/ I dreamt about my fucking life ending ” The question of “is any of this really worth it?” Is left achingly unanswered. Solsa’s dreamy productions on the track usher the listener into a false sense of security, only to be punctured once again by scapegoat’s affliction. “Summer Solstice” is frighteningly relatable in its nihilistic overtones which maintain a hint of melodrama. Scapegoat shares some of his inspiration for Summer Solstice.
“The song as a whole is about the feelings of utter love, and utter hate that you can experience simultaneously for somebody. And the repercussions such an obsession can cause i.e. getting trashed or having suicidal thoughts.”
“Summer Solstice” is a juxtaposition of extremes, in both sound and narrative. The track creates a space for a consciousness suspended in limbo, as well as the substances and experiences that hung it there in the first place. As comforting as it may be to know that the pain will pass, depictions of the ugly underbelly of mental strife presented in “Summer Solstice” is invaluable to our understanding and expression of what it means to suffer. There are times when the will to survive dissolves and what we are left with is a dire numbness, and scapegoat gives a voice to this precise (lack of) feeling. Jump into scapegoats latest track below and be on the lookout for another one soon.