Fesssi K. delivers a songwriting masterpiece with “southern trees”, connecting deeply with recurring human issues in just 49 unforgettable words.
The way this song begins immediately places you in a psychedelic and otherwordly environment, relaxing and calming you and preparing you to pay attention. “southern trees” gives me that nostalgic 2010s indie rock feeling with its warmly colored fuzzy guitars. I noticed the rhythm guitar in the left ear perfectly balances the lead in the right. The vocals are so spaced out that they seem to have barely any center, making the whole experience completely ethereal.
I sat quietly and pondered over the lyrics repeatedly, asking myself what the message meant and what the artist was trying to communicate to me. These questions were provoked by dangerously intentional songwriting: The song’s 49 words are more than enough to paint a vivid picture. “southern trees” is an extremely artistic piece that brilliantly contrasts the innocence of kids playing in a tree with the harsh reality of anti-Black racial violence in the American South.Fesssi K. references this in the first line:“News of strange fruit coming out of southern trees again”. It’s a powerful reminder that the perilous times described by Billie Holiday in her iconic song “Strange Fruit” are sadly upon us once more.
The section where the vocals drop out lets us experience the true awe of the pitch-shifting and flanged lead guitar. I fell instantly in love with this moment. The instrumentation and orchestration are so perfect that I got goosebumps.
In the end, this track proves that true artistry lies in knowing exactly how to say more with less. It is a beautiful, deep masterpiece that absolutely demands your attention.
Take a listen to “southern trees” below.
Written by Oluwaseun Adeyemi
