Billy Denk creates new ambient single 'In Fairness To You'
In Fairness To You :
The new single by Billy Denk
NEW RELEASE DATE: 3/6/23
Over the last four years, Chicago-based Billy Denk has been creating a powerful blend of moods via a fusion of ambient guitar, synth, and electro-acoustic and organic sounds, using a combination of the Ableton Live digital audio workstation and a variety of synthesizers and effects pedals. Slowly making a name for himself in the ambient music scene, he has released a total of five well-received recordings – Soul Immersion (2019), Connection (2020), Introverse (2021), Blue Lotus Dream (2021) and Night Songs (2022). ‘In Fairness to You’ is the first single from his next album In Praise of Shadows.
He says, “On In Praise of Shadows, like my previous recording Night Songs, I have been moving naturally into a more introspective phase of my composing. This contrasts with some of the previous works that had more of a feeling of positivity and lightness, infused with repetitive sequencer-created patterns. I’ve always been interested in aesthetics and design, so the themes of that book struck a chord and led to some interesting sonic explorations. My father-in-law, who also shared an interest in design aesthetics, passed away last year and so indirectly, some of the sadness I felt was also channeled into these new pieces, yet with an air of hope for the living. I’m always striving to create a unique feeling in my music that conveys what I am experiencing at the present time and enjoy when others can share in the experience. The idea on In Praise of Shadows is that we can’t define what we see without the contrast between darkness and light.”
The artist’s latest collection, In Praise of Shadows, is inspired by and named after an essay on Japanese aesthetics by author and novelist Jun’ichiro Tanizaki, first published in 1933, and in English in 1977. In the 16 section essay, comparisons of light with darkness are used to contrast Western and Asian cultures. From “The Sun Was Shining” to “Unto This Light” and “Reflections in Darkness,” the eight tracks capture Billy’s various impressions of the theme.
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Visualizer video on YouTube
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