Draining D.I.Y. (Pt. 4) with Double Libra and the TRASH STARS! Compilation [A Curious Unknown Cover]
Our recent TRASH STARS! compilation collects unique interpretations of Bladee originals as covered by a cast of diversely talented fans of the Stockholm producer’s music, each tribute reflecting their respective artist’s aesthetic and touch while highlighting the brightness or bleakness of the root track. Wormbrain wondered, though — what might a naive tribute sound like, when a Drain-favorite song gets covered by an artist who has never heard the song before?
The result of this experiment is the closing track on the TRASH STARS! compilation, the cover of “Special Place” as interpreted by Somerville, MA songwriter Evan Greenwald’s project Double Libra.
When Greenwald was presented with some of W.W’s favorite Bladee songs with especially poetic or intriguing lyrics (a selection that also included the unpicked “reality surf,” “Wett (Water2),” and “EVERY MOMENT SPECIAL”) based only on song title and lyrics alone, he told us “I chose "Special Place" because the lyrics made me cringe a little bit, but in a way that I liked.”
“Talking Heads have a song called "The Overload" on their album Remain In Light. They wrote the song trying to imagine what Joy Division sounded like, without ever having heard them firsthand,” Greenwald told us, reflecting on the concept of the Curious Unknown cover. “It's a really interesting song, and a surprisingly accurate interpretation. I've always wanted to do something like that.”
“A lot of good friends of mine seem excited about Bladee, and I've been meaning to finally give him a listen, but I haven't gotten around to it yet,” he told us when presented with the idea. Prior to recording his cover and until more than a full 24 hours after the compilation’s release on 12/31/21, Evan Greenwald had arguably no real exposure to Bladee’s music. “I've gotten the impression he makes unusual trap-style music — other than that, I don't know what he sounds like.”
Before logging off for the end of 2K21, he told us, “I think my version of "Special Place" probably sounds nothing like the original.”
With the fresh ears of a New Year upon him, Evan Greenwald hit play on the Bladee original version of “Special Place” for the first time at 1:11AM EST.
“The song actually sounds surprisingly similar to how I imagined it in my head,” he reported to W.W upon initial listen. “The original beat I programmed for my version sounded pretty close to the 808s, but I couldn’t pull off the flow. Trap and mumble rap is really interesting because it allows the vocal performances to be super raw & undisciplined, but the autotune and the precision of the drum machines keep everything reeled in, so it doesn’t sound like a total mess.”
What did Double Libra bring to it that wasn’t there before? What magic of Bladee might have been left behind? Listen and determine for yourself.
“I am cringe, but I am free.”
“I think my version feels more defiant and triumphant, while the original feels withdrawn and hopeless.” says Greenwald on comparison. “[Bladee] is saying, ‘Fuck it, it doesn’t matter. Whatever I do, someone will always try to bring me down, so why even try?’ While I’m saying ‘I am cringe, but I am free.’
All proceeds from TRASH STARS! following initial release will be donated to Student Immigrant Movement, which is the only undocumented youth-led organization in Massachusetts, through this upcoming weekend.
Photo courtesy of the artist.
W.W: What is Wormbrain?
EG: My neighbor was telling me about this thing. This thing in his basement, he said, you got to see it. So I said, okay, well, show it to me. So he takes me to come to the basement and he says, I need you to lie down on the floor here. Here's a pillow. You're going to look into the stairs. Okay? You're going to look in between these two stairs. He pointed. I can't remember which stairs they were. He points, he says, then you're going to see it. You're going to see it. And he left me to my own devices. I didn't really know what to believe. But Suddenly I saw it. I saw every, I saw everything at once. The entire universe. Every ant on every tree on every mountain in every galaxy in the universe. It's impossible to describe. My homie, Jorge Luis Borges Described it much better than me. But anyway, that's Wormbrain.
W.W: Thank you for sharing with Wormbrain.
EG: Wait, actually, that’s not my answer. Wormbrain is really big and smells good.
W.W: Thank you for sharing with Wormbrain.
Wormbrain World’s first benefit compilation TRASH STARS! is out now everywhere via the W.W Bandcamp to benefit Student Immigrant Movement.
