Philadelphia Shoegaze Outfit Forest Circles Dive Deep Into the “Labyrinth”

“Lead me through this, I know it’s not easy.”

American alternative rock group Forest Circles formed in April 2021. Comprised of singer-songwriter Angel Ocana and drummer Justin Leggio, their sound blends elements of post-punk, shoegaze, and alternative rock.

On their debut release, Fever Dream, Ocana dives into the dark, heavy experiences suffered during 2020. The dark melodic and dreamy two-song release hits like a tidal wave, submerging the listener in a wild labyrinth. The haunting track calls out to those lost, to those remaining, to those in limbo – it is melancholic, plaintive, and introspective.

The monochromatic video for the second track “Labyrinth”, depicting stylized ripples of water, brings to mind the water experiments of Japanese scientist Masaru Emoto, who claimed that consciousness could affect the molecular structure of water. Emoto asserted that water could react to positive thoughts, and that polluted water could be cleaned through prayer and positive visualization. These experiments led to his 2004 bestseller, The Hidden Messages In Water.

As humanity grapples with new experiences in the wake of constant crisis, Forest Circles’ simple yet effective video illustrates this concept beautifully. We’re comprised of mostly water ourselves: what is our consciousness bringing to us?

Watch the video for “Labyrinth” below:

“Labyrinth” is one of two tracks featured on the Fever Dream EP, available to stream here:

Follow Forest Circles:

• Official Site
• Instagram
• Bandcamp