Like most of us, Zach James Douglas has spent the first half of this year sitting beside his laptop. Unlike most of us though, Douglas has utilised this time to create blistering summer track ‘Even As The Knife Goes Through’.
Starting with echoing hums alongside electronic pulses and samples of shrieks of laughter and chatter, hazy sunny days are immediately brought to mind by the light-filled instrumental. Collaborator Saorise’s vocals drip with emotion and, quite rightly as the song explores the lasting impact of a bad breakup, and the ways in which those experiences can go on to affect future relationships.
Douglas fills the song with contrast, firstly through the poignant lyricism and airy instrumentals at the start of the song but also through the juxtaposition of genteel instrumentation and trilling electronic sounds. The song comes in waves, lulling in the verses but crashing over the listener during the choruses, all the while building in intensity. Each goosebump-inducing chorus arrives with hard-hitting piano chords and Saorise’s dulcet tones, mirroring the frank yet thoughtful lyrics that reflect on the narrator’s inability to move on from their ex. These peaks and troughs of sound are held together by Saoirse’s wispy, soothing tones and the undercurrent of bubbling electronic sounds.
While the song doesn’t offer a neat solution to moving on entirely from an ex, posing questions such as “how do I welcome such attention after bearing such abuse?”, Douglas creates a space for reflection and healing. Whether you’re taking time to heal, or just taking a break from a laptop screen, stick Zach James Douglas’ tune on to soundtrack your way.
Words by Ella McLaren
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