Draining Kiss, a darkwave synth project from Gainesville musician Quinn Martin, first took shape in 2021 and officially launched in late 2022. Emerging from a challenging period marked by global upheaval and personal trials, including the loss of loved ones, isolation, addiction, and severe anxiety, the project served as Martin’s medium to face these hardships. Through Draining Kiss, Martin channels his struggles into music, seeking solace and significance in an increasingly detached world.
Blood is Thicker – the first single from his new EP Against The Light – confronts the age-old adage that familial bonds outweigh all others, challenging it within the confines of a minimal darkwave/coldwave track. The song delves into the tumultuous emotions stirred by moral, religious, and political disputes within families. It grapples with the tension between biological ties and personal beliefs, blending a longing for connection with a sense of disdain.
The track nods to Depeche Mode, both in its lyrics, style, and the homage paid in its cover art. Ultimately, Blood is Thicker navigates through a storm of self-discovery, ending in a crescendo of righteous anger and acceptance. Using essentially the same instrumentation – a Sequential Pro-One, a Drumbrute Impact drum machine, an Alesis Micron, and a heavy dash of reverb and delay – Draining Kiss packs a wallop in a minimal punch to the gut.
The Against The Light EP is available on cassette in a limited release of 75, each one with a hand made cyanotype print for the J-card insert and a full-color lyric and art booklet.
Order here, and listen below:
Quinn Martin isn’t just the force behind Draining Kiss; he’s an electrical and software engineer with a passion for blending art with technology. Draining Kiss transcends traditional music boundaries, incorporating modded synthesizers, custom-built lighting, and fusions of AI with old-school CRT displays, along with handmade glittery stickers. It’s a melding of old and new, embodying a distinct DIY ethos reminiscent of early punk and goth scenes. Drawing on influences from iconic bands like Joy Division and Depeche Mode to contemporary acts like TR/ST and Drab Majesty, Martin crafts minimal synth soundscapes that resonate with themes of love, death, anxiety, and isolation, perfect for the dark dance floor. He plays frequently around Florida and has performed with Vision Video, Madeline Goldstein, and Last Grasp.
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