Feature: Shervin Boloorian Decodes “Enjoy The Silence (All I Ever Wanted Version)”
What was the initial spark or idea that led to the creation of "Enjoy The Silence (All I Ever Wanted Version)?"
It’s a timeless song. I’ve been obsessed with the original and the band Depeche Mode since my teens. I was used to singing their songs; being a singer in a Mode cover band in the 90s in LA. One of my gifts even back then was playing familiar songs in a totally different style. I started playing around with the melody of “Enjoy the Silence” after I became intrigued by devotional and medicine music from different cultures-gospel choirs had something special. I was relaxing with my open-tuned guitar in Bali playing it for my kids and a soulful chorus melody just flowed out. It suited my vocal style and this surprising hybrid version was born. It’s much more creatively involving for me than a cover, but that’s typical for me.
How did you work with the producer or engineers to bring your vision for this song to life?
I recorded a simple demo and played it for Kipper Eldridge. He was Sting’s producer so I had a feeling he would bring the best out of my ideas and my voice. Others have expressed to me that my voice has the ability to deeply touch a listener when I sing live. Kipper knew that I had trouble translating that more intimate and delicate power at my events over to my studio recordings. He understood that as a priority. If the arrangement ever got too busy, he made adjustments and was protective of the vocals as the central focus. He loved my melody and created a cozy, organic vibe around it. Kipper’s input brought much more passion out in me as a singer as well. Another part of the vision was making sure I was staying respectful to the original song without shortchanging my own originality.
Kipper didn’t realize it was a cover until we were half way through. He called the session “All I Ever Wanted”, and the name stuck. When I played him the Depeche Mode original and it dawned on him that it was the same song, he looked pretty awestruck.
What was your favorite moment in making the music video?
It was edited out, but we shared a laugh when I was pretending to be a busker on the busy streets of Kuta, Bali. Some members of the public (unscripted) walked into the shot and threw some change at my feet while we were filming on camera and just walked off. I didn’t think I looked that convincing as a busker but I must have been.
Can you tell us a bit about yourself and how you got started in music?
I’m a professional sound therapist as well as a singer-songwriter. I authored a book on sound therapy in 2022 and I train students in the field now. Music is my life’s passion but I honestly distanced myself from it at the end of my time in LA. I moved to DC and pursued a totally different career as a peace coalition strategist back then. I came full circle, falling back in love with music after discovering sound therapy as part of my own health recovery process. I was blown away by how sounds and music could be created and shared outside of entertainment. I then trained with a teacher who combined Chinese Medicine with music theory, got my certification, started doing events in Bali and as soon as I started, I was instantly encouraged to sing and record. I released my first album, Spirit Night by Candlelight in 2015 and two more since then.
Are there any upcoming projects or releases that you are particularly excited about?
Yes! A few and all related to my new album, ”Unbroken” to be released in early 2025. “Enjoy the Silence” will follow up with a couple of remix singles in the next few weeks. Simon Mills from the band Bent does a great remix on there, which has a slightly Balearic feel-good, mid-tempo vibe. There will be a B-side acoustic I do where I merge my ”All I Ever Wanted” version with a well-known Billie Eilish song. It will be another unexpected but original hybrid creation. After that, my next single from the album will be a ”phoenix from the ashes” song, called ”This is Your Time”. It’s more anthemic and is about my struggle with facing trauma and making peace with my past as a refugee.
