France’s PÆRISH delivers a striking rock experience exploring the themes of emotional exhaustion, depression and anxiety with “Vapor Cloud”.
The siren sound from the guitar that starts the song seems like a call. It captures your attention just for a split second before fully getting you invested in the loud, fast-paced guitar and drums. The music keeps you so locked into the beat that you may forget words were sung.
Going through the lyrics, I realized this song is deeper than it lets on. It seems the singer feels a sense of despondency. He doesn’t think that anything could change even if he tries to do something about it. He is anxious, which is clearly communicated by how brisk the song is. The anxious mind is never settled and just hops from one situation to another.
I said this song feels like a call. The singer shouts because he feels stuck. He is hopeless but would probably love to feel anything other than that. He’s “escaping the vapor cloud”, which insinuates that he feels like he may be dying, either physically or emotionally. The fact that you may listen and miss the lyrics symbolizes how a person struggling with their mental health can be noticed and yet not truly seen.
This song has definitely expressed the feelings of one who’s depressed. It doesn’t leave you feeling down, but leaves you informed about a sad reality.
Take a listen to “Vapor Cloud” below.
Written by Oluwaseun Adeyemi
