Luminous Wavez “Ashes of the Artist”

Minimalistic but cinematic. Let’s take a moment to appreciate how simple but powerful the songs on Ashes of the Artist is. The four songs on Ashes of the Artist puts you in a theater while Luminous Wavez is on the stage, taking you on a contemplation on guilt, rage, loss, pain, and fear. Luminous Wavez adheres to a simple form: a story-deep voice telling an honest story, while strumming the guitar in hand.

The album explores this campfire-like, storytelling aesthetic, but on top of that, Luminous Wavez adds a very thin layer of instruments and production, amplifying the atmosphere, supporting the storytelling. Like the sprinkles on a design, it’s breathable and almost unnoticed, but it really pushes their work onto the next level.

Luminous Wavez consists of U.K. artist Leaone (Lee-own) and American lyricist Mike Dobbins (Patience Gloria). Rich, story-soaked vocal explores a deep, moody timber, but the tone is never cold. The vibe is like hearing Kurt Cobain playing Eagles’ song by the campfire. The emotions are deep and profound. It comes out the song in a confessional, almost confrontational manner, but it’s contemplative and healing. The vocals in Ashes of the Artist has the kind of quality that could warm up the coldest night whether you are alone or feeling lonely. His voice stares into your soul and sees through your pretense: honest, naked, uncompromising, and courageous.

Even in the first two songs where he explores the darker side of himself, his voice is never depressive and dim. In “Let the Pain Be Your Life,” he delivers the song with a lighter and brighter timber. Like Gastby, there’s a sense of tragedy laced into time, the touch of nostalgia, but despite against the current, he remains naive, kind, and innocent. Be the green light, that’s the kind of feeling that Ashes of the Artist gives you.