New Music: MONOLYTH – Blurry Vision

For MONOLYTH, their upcoming HABESHA EP is six tracks and one story – Blurry Vision focuses on the end of a relationship.

MONOLYTH is Théo Roland (composer, director, arranger) and Gaëtan Heymans (singer, performer, bassist), for whom words, music, and visuals are all aspects of the mood, message, and music they want to communicate to the listener – or viewer.

They had worked together on Roland’s short film Unscarred, which came out in 2023. Heymans had played a large part in its creation, being involved in the cinematography, set design, and post-production elements.

And maybe it’s from there that Roland and Heymans get their holistic concept for Blurry Vision, and HABESHA, cinematic and – here at least – at points claustrophobic. Massive Attack’s Angel is a good comparison in terms of music: funereal and concrete, as decay and loss pervade its skeletal presence. The vocals approach the listener from a different viewpoint – Thom Yorke comes to mind – pained and pleading, with no comfort given by heartrending lyrics. You can almost feel the emotions crushing your ribcage, your soul looking for an escape route, but none is to be found.

“I knew from day one there were red flags and unanswered questions, but the spark was too strong to ignore,” says Roland. “Writing this was about capturing that exact moment where you choose to leap into something, knowing full well that opening your heart might get you hurt, but taking the risk anyway.”

HABESHA is out on the 23rd of October and is accompanied by a launch party at UR Square in Brussels. For EP and party updates, connect with MONOLYTH on TikTok or Instagram.

Header photo by NOÆ