In the dim-lit sanctuaries of our fleeting mortal essence, a melancholy hymn resonates—an elegy spun from the fibres of yearning intertwined with the perfume of smoldering incense. “Don’t Be a Stranger,” murmurs the ethereal chorus, those phantasmal entities that navigate the threshold of realms unseen.
Hailing from Switzerland, collaborators Fabrice Noir, the architect of the illustrious Cabaret Bizarre—an event that stands as a nocturnal beacon of European dark cabaret, and the distinguished DJ Blake, famed for his “Cloak and Dagger” soirées, converged in the year 2020 to birth the project A Sinister Light. Imbued with a contrasting array of sounds, including the dark allure of darkwave, the mechanical heart of industrial, the mournful soul of post-punk, and the rhythmic pulse of techno, A Sinister Light ventures into bleak, dystopian tales steeped in existential despair and nihilistic musing, traversing metaphysical landscapes. Their music beckons a purgatorial enlightenment.
Their latest single, Don’t Be a Stranger, wraps listeners in a poignant melody and ghostly singing, echoing the anguish of a spirit trapped in a liminal state, desperate to reconnect with an unaware loved one, blind to the secrets of the beyond. The song skillfully captures the fleeting essence of life, illustrating how the whirlwind of daily existence turns promises into regrets, as moments escape us like grains of sand. The sorrowful tunes and eerie vocals act as a stark reminder of the delicate nature of human connections, casting a somber light on our earthly endeavours. The call for salvation becomes more fervent as the song proceeds. Its driving synths and beats and introspective lyrics invite listeners to confront mortality’s stark reality, urging them to find solace in the shared journey of souls.
The song’s gorgeous video takes viewers on a cinematic tour, starting with the Cimitero Monumentale di Staglieno in Genoa, Italy. This sprawling hillside graveyard captured global attention when its evocative black-and-white image of the Appiani family tomb graced the cover of Joy Division’s Closer album. The journey continues to the mystical St. Margaret’s Church and its holy well in Binsey, near Oxford, UK. Revered for its ancient legends and curative waters, this site gained literary fame through Lewis Carroll’s depiction of it as a treacle well in Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. The narrative then shifts to Switzerland, showcasing Friedhof am Hörnli in Riehen, the country’s most expansive cemetery. The final destination is the Basilique de Sainte Marie-Madeleine in Saint-Maximin-la-Sainte-Baume, Southern France, a revered site housing the relics of Mary Magdalene.
Watch the video for “Don’t be a Stranger” below:
Since their arrival on the scene in March 2021, A Sinister Light’s first EP has quickly enchanted both DJs and fans of darkwave music. That same month, they achieved a notable breakthrough by inking a deal with Cold Transmission Music in Germany. Currently, they are hard at work putting the finishing touches on their debut album, Discerning Spirits, which is eagerly anticipated for its release in May 2024.
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