The world of music has been breeding storytellers from then until now. Most of them do storytelling in a song or an EP, but now, musicians use the concept of storytelling for a whole album. Think about a book box set, that is what it is giving.
Greece-based band Floating Worlds, composed of Andreas V., J. Soti, and Mike Papadopoulos, is one of the bands who decided to use their platform in music to tell a story. It is evident in their new album Skywatcher. Skywatcher is a ten-track concept album that features a haunting and emotional story where a famous and renowned journalist Paul Rogers narrates and recounts a mysterious case that the famous journalist once reported, which revolves around the mysterious disappearance of a nine-year-old boy named Winston Smith. Naturally curious, he became fascinated and fixated by the night sky. Winston believed that by observing the stars through his telescope, he might one day reunite with his lost father in a distant star somewhere.
The story then proceeds into an unexpected turn of events that pushes Winston to go and embark on an intergalactic adventure. These bizarre occurrences then led to his sudden and unexplained disappearance on one of the nights in September which led to many unanswered questions. Did Winston did in fact embark on a journey to the far end of the universe to meet his beloved father? What exactly happened to him? Did something else occur in the vast unknown? These and other mysteries surrounding Winston’s fate and his mind-boggling disappearance remain unsolved, leaving the album’s listeners to ponder his final destiny.
Strange Kid opened the album in a high. If you listen to the band Fall Out Boy and know their song Immortals, this track kind of gives off the same vibe and energy. It kicks off strong, just like how the first song off of a movie soundtrack sets off the mood for the rest of the ride. Starlight Wish and Parade narrates the story of Winston: of his love for the intergalactic somethings out there, and his love for his father. This sets the ground of the story for the next songs to come. It is both wondrous and energetic, setting the tone for a thrilling ride as we follow the story through the songs in the album. Nostalgic Alleys and Ignorance Goodbye, ironically back-to-back, gave the listener a glimpse of Winston’s past and present, filling in the gaps of information that we the listeners needed. Hello From Out There and In The Dark took on more techno-sounding instrumentals, both narrating Winston’s enamor towards the galaxy and beyond. Lost, Skywatcher, and Extraterrestrial concluded the album, yet it never really concluded the story, it sort of gave us an open ending. Which is new, and which is fitting.
To bring the story of Skywatcher to life musically, the band Floating Worlds ventured into new and uncharted sonic territories. Drawing inspiration from the sound design of their favorite science fiction movies from the 1980s and 1990s, they set out to create a sound that would stand for the imaginative and futuristic aspects of the story. While keeping the original sound of the band, they experimented with a distinctive style of music such as blending electronic sounds with atmospheric melodies with the help of this exploration.
The music serves as a “soundtrack” to Winston’s cosmic journey, capturing both the wonder and sorrow of his tale. It reflects the depth of feeling of a young boy’s desire to rekindle the connection with his lost father and the breadth of space he dreams of exploring. The band made listeners feel that they were experiencing the strange occurrences alongside Winston with the use of innovative soundscapes and nostalgic sci-fi influences that added a layer of immersive storytelling to the tracks. Skywatcher is an aural voyage through mystery, hope, and the unknown due to the imaginative blending of music and narrative of the band. It invites listeners not only to follow the tale of a boy who disappeared but also to reflect on the deeper themes of loss, discovery, and the human desire to reach beyond the confines of our world.
To enter the world that Floating Worlds creates, follow their social media accounts and stream their music on your preferred streaming platforms.
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About the Author
Angel Mariah Rodiel – Mari to the people she’s fond of – is a BA Literature student currently studying in Central Luzon State University. Writing, arts, and music are some of the things she’s been most passionate about ever since she was a kid. Mari’s little dream is to build a band that will open for Paramore’s concert someday. Pop-punk and alternative rock are her comfort music genres, K-pop and J-rock comes close as third and fourth.
