Brooklyn Post-Alternative Artist We Owe Debuts Video for Synth-laden “Time Suck”

Give your time

and I will give you

Less in return

Lessons return

TThe mastermind behind We Owe’s newest musical creation is Christopher Pravdica, an artist known for his work with Swans, Xiu Xiu, and The Gunga Din. Pravdica has skillfully crafted a complex musical maze, where synthesizers take center stage and the line between electronic and acoustic percussion is delightfully blurred. Additionally, the guitar work in the composition nods to the weighty notes commonly associated with bass guitars.

Delving into this latest single, “Time Suck” with its restrained lyrical content reveals a deep reflection on spiritual exchange. Rather than envisioning a tit-for-tat marketplace for the soul, the lyrics suggest a different kind of economy. Here, generosity doesn’t always manifest in tangible rewards…instead, the sparse returns might symbolize the simplicity of enlightenment: by shedding materialistic yearnings, one uncovers boundless introspection.

There’s an astute play on the words ‘less’ and ‘lessons’ throughout, hinting at the paradox where apparent lack evolves into invaluable life insights. It’s a poetic gesture to the delicate equilibrium between relinquishment and insight, prompting listeners to reevaluate the very essence of ‘giving’ and ‘receiving’ in the sweeping journey of the soul.

“I started this song with the beat,” Pravdica explains. “I recorded a djembe track and then did several overdubs of djembe fleshing out accents. Once I had a few sections I liked an added bass. Then I do the same thing layering bass tracks and listen for accents and interactions I like. In general I over layer to extreme levels then I take away stuff…my technique involves overlaying, and then listening and sculpting. Making a mess, and then shaping something out of it. I am more likely to pick something out that relates to other stuff I play with people.”

Listen below:

Major Inconvenience — the forthcoming newly announced sophomore LP from We Owe — is aptly described by sole-member Christopher Pravdica  etc.) as “post-alternative.”” Major Inconvenience is a self-crafted effort, yet one that enjoys the serendipitous input of cherished collaborators like Thor Harris (of Swans, Xiu Xiu fame), Phil Puelo (Swans), and TRZTN. Slated for a December 1st, 2023 release, this oeuvre finds its home with Montréal’s discerning imprint, Mothland.

Pravdica is an individual whose reflections—be they advocating for leisurely dalliances, offering whimsical dream readings, or pondering upon a couple’s passionate rendezvous in the shadow of Pompeii’s fiery demise—elicits a spectrum of sentiments. One moment, you might be caught in pensive contemplation, and the next, you could be wearing a knowing smile. Those with a predilection for the likes of Nine Inch Nails, Throbbing Gristle, or even Björk might find it particularly resonant.

“I don’t believe in inspiration as much as I believe in determination,” Pravdica says. “My mind is full of crap, and any number of random thoughts lead to ideas. What remains is just the determination to see them through. So basically, it’s my entire life, and everything I’ve ever heard or seen or imagined, captured in one moment of determination.”

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