|
Today, Brooklyn-based Argentine singer/songwriter Federico Aubele shares his long-awaited sixth studio album, The Holographic Moon, out everywhere now. Along with the album, Aubele shares a brand new self-directed video for "All Things Pass," where the singer reflects on the significance of love in one's life and ultimately, makes peace with change, growth and the natural progression of time.
Aubele's sixth full-length album, The Holographic Moon, featuring artwork done by Aubele himself, is out everywhere now. Over 11 tracks, with plenty of soothing acoustic guitar and deep baritone vocals mixed with thorough introspection, Aubele finds a renewed perspective on all of life's highs and lows–from love and heartbreak to inevitable change and the challenges of growth, yet ultimately, succumbs to it all to find peace. With the help of guests ranging from Mauro Refosco (David Byrne, Atoms for Peace) on percussion, Iain Cook (Chvrches) and Yuka Honda (Cibo Matto) on synths, Melissa Mary Ahern (Sulfjian Stevens) on vocal harmonies, the YMusic Ensemble (Paul Simon, Jose Gonzales) on orchestra arrangements and Kenny Wollensen (Tom Waits) on drums, Aubele looks to push boundaries of what traditional lyricism and genres might look like, and further establish himself as a dynamic, multicultural musician to watch as he continues to reach new depths.
The album release follows three singles lifted from the LP, "The Sacrifice," “Old Spanish Films," and "Pink Spray Painted Clouds." "The Sacrifice," produced by Aubele himself, brings listeners to the center of a swelling storm, capturing the realization of a necessary sacrifice, the release of something that no longer serves you. "Old Spanish Films" sees Aubele come to terms with the crumbling foundation beneath a relationship once thought to be unbreakable, where "Pink Spray Painted Clouds," contrarily, is a gentle daydream that captures the warmth of a budding romance.
Both releases of "The Sacrifice," and "Old Spanish Films," were accompanied by self-directed videos. "The Sacrifice" depicts a couple that finds themselves in the midst of a romance that has run its course as it has become a figment of imagination, filled with projections of what it could have been, but can no longer be. A camcorder and CD player seen throughout the video highlight the bittersweet nostalgia of something that was once golden—shown in the paint the devices are later dipped in.
On "Old Spanish Films," sprinkled between clips of the musician before a scenic pond and quiet forest, are shots of paint strokes coating works of art by late 19th Century British artist John William Waterhouse from the Pre-Raphaelite movement who made art depicting rituals and sacrifices. In addition to the shots of paint over art, there are moments of glitchy computer codes. Aubele included these to represent the idea that new code needs to be written, and old code needs to be overwritten, symbolic of sacrifice, with very old paintings contrasted by new-age code.
"Pink Spray Painted Clouds," directed by Angus Borsos (Mac Demarco, Julia Holter), depicts a calm upstate New York as the backdrop. The hopeful, dreamy track and visual explore both self-love and romantic love as Aubele, alongside his wife Jane, fall in love all over again.
WATCH "ALL THINGS PASS" (OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO)
This time, on a rainy beach throughout the visual for "All Things Pass," Federico Aubele makes peace with time's inevitable progression as he hopes to cross the sea. Similar to his two previous videos, Aubele directed "All Things Pass," with help from Jane Mitchell, who starred in prior videos "Pink Spray Painted Clouds" and "Old Spanish Films." As an homage to where the musician currently resides, locations like Rockaway Beach and on the East River Ferry act as perfectly cinematic backdrops seen throughout the visual.
The parallel longevity and everlasting significance of both love and the moon across the world and over generations, are central themes Aubele notes, and says the video, "tries to illustrate this concept with the idea of leaving, crossing a sea, that's what the main character is doing. The moon appears as a signifier of a constant, an element that's always there with us throughout our lives, like love. In many cultures, throughout different eras, people sung to and wrote about the moon. It's always represented the nocturnal emotional world, affecting us with its magnetism same as it does with the tides."
The latest track speaks to life's fragility, and that ultimately the love given and received throughout one's life, at the end of the day, is what matters most. "All Things Pass is about what will count at the very end. Life happening is a possibility but death is certain for everyone. At the very end, I think how much love you gave and received are the only things that will really matter," explains Aubele. Featured on the track are aforementioned guests, Mauro Refosco on percussion, Iain Cook on the synthesizer, Kenny Wollensen on the drums and the YMusic Ensemble on the orchestra arrangements.
Federico Aubele has been blending cultures and defying borders throughout his almost two-decade long career. Bouncing between Buenos Aires, Berlin and Barcelona, and now, Brooklyn, Aubele has fused the sounds of each city and simultaneously melded genres into his powerful songwriting, deep vocals, downtempo electronica, acoustic guitar, flamenco and more. The musician has also managed to seamlessly and seductively join both Spanish and English since he began recording music as Boston Globe, PopMatters and Westword each note. Remezcla calls Aubele, "The true master of Latin down-tempo electronica," with "eclectic influences that range from tango and bossa nova to dub."
The tranquil, layered and profoundly introspective sixth album from Federico Aubele, The Holographic Moon, is out everywhere now. Throughout the 11 tracks, Aubele confronts his reflection to find growth, power and comfort in his own evolution. Connect with Federico on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube for more.
WATCH: "The Sacrifice" (Official Music Video)
WATCH: "Old Spanish Films" (Official Music Video)
WATCH: "Pink Spray Painted Clouds" (Official Music Video)
| 
