Get a behind-the-scenes look at what went into Fascinator’s infectious sophomore LP Water Sign.
Fresh off the back of a North-American tour with POND, Australian-bred electro-psych artist Fascinator has just dropped his much anticipated sophomore LP Water Signs. It’s a sonic collage that has a kaleidoscope of flavours; 90’s electro, mancunian jams, Nigerian techno and 70’s rock are all glued together by his surrealist lyricism and soaring vocals. In short, it’s a fun trip.
Heading home for a national tour which starts this week, the New York based artist has built a reputation for radiating live performances that hypnotise audiences with the melding of Eastern melodies and Northern beats in a way that is reminiscent of the musical experimentation that was all the rage throughout the late 1960’s.
But what goes on in his head when he’s writing and recording? Get the inside story from our track-by-track with Fascinator below, and catch him live around Australia over the next week (info here).
Skin Within
‘Skin Within’ is a celebration of life written from the darkest gutter. It’s about that tipping-point in a self-destructive bender when the act of decision has been wrested from you and your inner pilot takes over. Musically I combined a pretty simple back beat with an almost spaghetti-western riff, then threw in a little krautrock and madchester vibes. I’d just seen Jagwar Ma play at Glasslands the night before I put it together which influenced the production. I attempted a Jackson Jones midi string sound in there too.
My Own Private I Don’t Know
‘My Own Private I Don’t Know’ is a song about descending into hedonistic oblivion, surrounded by vapid human pods living on cocaine botox brand name bubble tea, drinking away hangovers in the year of the white nostril through the sleazy green fog of Never Never and Elvis Guesthouse. The short looping sitar sample, droney synth in the second half and the beats point in a 90s DJ Shadow direction I’m keen to continue exploring.
Your Money, It’s Ugly
Lyrically this song is about the gross importance people put on money. The way it’s used to lure, attract and control; It’s ugly. It was inspired by an odious transition I watched someone very close to me go through as well as countless other New York nightlife interactions. It draws on African disco and Afrobeat. Music for which I have a great appreciation and love to DJ all over New York.
Baby, Gone
Inspired by Francoise Hardy “Le temps de l’amour”, Baby, Gone is a sexy song of romance between two sentient robots just discovering love in an upscale retro-futuristic Parisian restaurant.
I remember a song winning an Australian songwriting prize not long ago that was in 12 bar format. I thought that was really funny for some reason. I also think singers putting ‘baby’ in songs all the time is also rather silly. So this is my attempt at a Yé-yé track that makes those two not-very-funny jokes to myself using voices that aren’t mine.
Sex Crystals
‘Sex Crystals’ is a Mancunian space jam about a desert adventure in an invisible car. It’s influenced by Happy Mondays and other Haçienda types I recorded the vocals in my sisters kitchen.
Snake Charmer
‘Snake Charmer’ is about a snake charmer who decides to turn his powers on humans. It’s a bit of an homage to one of the best songs ever, ‘Hallo Gallo’ by Neu! But draws in psych rock elements in a way I think King Gizzard do quite well. Amazing drum fills by my naughty nanna Loren Humphrey.
Water Sign
The sound of the river I was born in with some aquatic guitar looped over it.
Drenched Out
Wanderlust is a word broadly overused in this kind of writing, but it does best sum up the sentiment of this track. ‘Drenched Ou’t is a travel song about needing constant adventure, earthly and otherwise. It was written with my buddy Frank Xavier.
A New Rumble
This song is a meditation on hope. Inspired by a combination of Chemical Brothers and Kirtan music. Andy Szeceres also inserted some Midnight Juggernauts magic into this one.
Showin’ Off
‘Showin’ Off’ is a whimsical tale of two idiots I loved who wronged me. I previously released this as a single but it didn’t have a home. I had my friends Loren Humphrey and Dusty Bookatz improve on the drums and bass and we threw it on the album.
Midnight Rainbow
Post-party or post-sleep, ‘Midnight Rainbow’ is a sunrise meditation. I recorded the electric piano part in a barn on Nantucket and intended the song to be the kind of thing you’d put on if you’d stayed up all night or maybe just stoned and doing a little cooking.
Sepia Sandshoes
‘Sepia Sandshoes’ is the only human love song on the album. It’s about existing in a mist of nostalgia for lost love but not letting that stop you going with your gut. I’d had it floating about in pieces for a while before I decided to finish it in Nantucket and put it on the album. There are a lot of delayed finger snaps and choir sounds.
