Underneath the bridge, tarp has sprung a leakAnd the animals I’ve trapped have all become my petsAnd I’m living off of grass, and the drippings from my ceilingIt’s OK to eat fish ’cause they don’t have any feelings
Something In The Way, the haunting closing track of Nirvana’s classic Nevermind, embodies raw emotion and Kurt Cobain’s deeply personal reflections. The song’s minimalistic arrangement, featuring Cobain’s sombre vocals and acoustic guitar, creates an atmosphere of despair and vulnerability. Inspired by Cobain’s troubled experiences and feelings of alienation, it stands as a stark contrast to the album’s more aggressive tracks, encapsulating the sense of desolation and the weight of invisible barriers that defined his inner turmoil.
Now, Painted Vein has released their hypnotic cover of Something In The Way. Painted Vein is the brainchild of Seattle’s Andrea Fox Volpato, a musician, producer, and audio engineer with a storied background in global music collaboration, including work with MØAA and New Candys. After a decade of gathering insights and experiences through his extensive work with international bands, Volpato is steering his own ship with this solo endeavour and giving his own interpretation of the track.
Volpato puts a shoegaze spin on the song, which is his first released cover. Friends encouraged him to release it after hearing him perform it while testing some new studio preamps.
“I usually don’t like to do covers unless I am able to make it almost like a new song, and because I prefer to invest time in my own songs and feelings,” he admits. “…It also seems like destiny wanted this to happen because the cover ended up coming together during the 30th anniversary of Kurt Cobain’s death and this is the first Nirvana song that I ever listened to when I was 6 years old. This song shocked and haunted me at that age and Nirvana are one of the reasons why I started to play electric guitar and drums so young, helping me find my place in the world through music (probably like another milion of ’90s babies).”
“The demons in my head become alive and connect with the feelings and the meaning of the original song written by Kurt,” he reflects. Thanks to the super talented video animator Francesca Papi, I was able to make these feelings and creatures come alive.”
Papi’s video presents a hauntingly illustrated exploration of Cobain’s classic lyrics, transforming his symbolic language into a realm of dreamlike surrealism. The visuals evoke an ethereal quality, blending the enigmatic with the familiar, and creating a visually compelling interpretation of Cobain’s evocative words. This surreal portrayal transcends mere illustration, offering a profound and immersive experience into the psyche of the lyrics.
Watch the video for Painted Vein’s cover of “Something In The Way” below:
Volpato’s studio brilliance underpins New Candys’ celebrated albums Bleeding Magenta and Vyvyd, key releases in the indie landscape. His collaboration with Seattle’s MØAA produced standout tracks Euphoric Recall and Jaywalker, with his voice and songwriting shining on their single X Marks. His touring ventures have seen him share stages with Yves Tumor and illuminate festivals from Sicily’s Ypsigrock to Lisbon’s MIL, including a significant showcase at SXSW.
Previously, as the drummer for the Italian noise-rock band Love In Elevator, he toured Europe, opening for Shellac, Mudhoney, and Refused.
His debut album represents the culmination of a decade of musical evolution, showcasing his talents in writing and production. Every instrument on the record was meticulously conceived and performed by Volpato himself in his Venice and Seattle studios.
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