Wednesday 31 January 2018

Jonathan Davis - What it is

I'm a 34 year old white guy with dreadlocks. Many many moons ago, I was a 15 year old white kid without dreadlocks. I saw this music video, the song was Falling Away From Me and the band was KoRn. I saw this video of these angst ridden, dreadlocked young Americans, making noises I didn't know guitars, basses or even the human vocal chords could make. I was in awe. That day, I vowed to grow my hair out and get dreadlocks. I haven't managed to let go of them and get a proper haircut.


I've mellowed out a bit (which is why I am part of this blog, and not some rap-metal throwback collective), and it turns out so has Jonathan Davis, KoRn’s frontman, whose solo music is finally here.


I listened to ‘What it is’ a couple of days ago with my wife. I went in expecting wailing guitars, slappy bass and lyrics about a broken man trying to come to terms with who he is. I only got one of those things, and I wasn't very impressed.


The next morning I woke up with the song in my head. I listened to some other music, but couldn't shake Jonathan’s catchy haunt. So I had another listen. This time I knew what to expect. A Solemn piano sets the tone with a distant crying guitar providing a background for Davis’ distinct voice and a powerful drum beat. But it's the chorus that will grab you and take hold. So catchy!


He announced his solo project in 2008, and its taken 10 years to get to where we are. During that time we expected a dubstep record, maybe an attempt at death metal, an experimental 80’s electronic cover album, but what we got is a grown up, chilling look into the twisted mind of a truly creative man. The album should be dropping later in the year, and we can't wait to hear more.


The lyrics are meaningful and the music is epic. It won't fill any dancefloors, but it will make the hairs on your neck stand up. The song outlines the struggle within us all to come to terms with who we are. “But I will embrace who I really am, if it's a son of a bitch or a terrified kid, then that's what it is”. Or a 34 year old white guy with dreadlocks, then that is what it is.


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