In 2007, musician Daniele Giustra felt a strong urge to express himself through innovative forms of music. In order to fulfill his creative needs, he formed the darkwave project SELFISHADOWS. Through this undertaking, he was able to explore new musical possibilities and surpass the limits of his creativity.
By combining contemporary and retro synthesizers, meaningful lyrics, and electronic drums, Giustra creates an atmosphere that is full of emotions. Blending wave and glitch, SELFISHADOWS achieves a therapeutic, austere, yet understated chant.
Giustra’s latest single release, the title track of his recent album Everything Changes, is a beautiful composition that delves into introspection and tender nostalgia. The lyrics explore themes of change, uncertainty, and fleeting knowledge and create a sense of constant movement, interspersed with moments of introspection, and acceptance of inevitable failures. The repeated phrases underline the cyclical pattern of seeking understanding, facing challenges, and the juxtaposition of decline with soaring aspirations. Through this song, the transient nature of life and the human quest for meaning is presented in a captivating way.
The visually arresting video for “Everything Changes” was directed by Valentina Battiato of Parallelo Studio. It employs a prism-centric approach to delve into the intricate themes of the song, using landscapes and florals to conjure a phantasmagorical imagery that mirrors Sir John Everett Millais’ painting of Shakespeare’s Ophelia, or the medieval romanticism and enigmatic symbolism of Elaine of Astolat from Tennyson’s “The Lady of Shalott.” The video is both romantic and cautious, capturing the essence of the song in a mesmerizing way.
Giustra, in this representation, seems to drift towards another dimension, rendering the piece both ethereal and contemplative.
Watch the video for “Everything Changes” below:
Everything Changes is out now through Manic Depression Records.
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