My dad was a funeral director and helped a lot of families go through grief. I think I turned to art because I saw it as a way to process those tough emotions, even if I mostly felt them secondhand. And yet, you will not be surprised to know that it is quite difficult to distill such heavy feelings into a song, story, or otherwise digestible package.
So when someone does it well, it really kicks you in the face, as this track kicked me in mine. This is Desk Job., an alt-punk project out of NYC, with their new track “Maybe Someday”. As lead vocalist/guitarist/songwriter Kyle Grandillo explains:
“This song was written after I lost my mom to cancer. It took so long for me to be able to access the emotions I was feeling and be able to channel them into a song… I think (and hope) that anyone who has unfortunately gone through this same thing will be able to relate and find some solace in this song.”
The track packs an emo punch of sparkling guitars and vocals full of grit, and at the end the band roars with everyone singing a different piece of the lyrics, creating a soaring moment that tugs at the heartstrings. The words channel the constant process of fresh grief (“I’m tossing and turning, I talk in my sleep / My head’s all the same stuck on this replay”).
But one extra touch makes the song even more meaningful: A voicemail from Grandillo’s mom which he saved. He says: “Even though it is incredibly painful to hear her voice, I felt like I wanted to commit to using it so her voice can carry on even after she’s gone.” It certainly does: Through processing loss, Desk Job. have created a triumphant tribute.
Take a listen to “Maybe Someday” and follow Desk Job. on their socials below.
Written by Will Sisskind
