Henry Chadwick evokes a minimalist sound that falls somewhere between the worlds of Elliot Smith and Smog, yet there’s a dubious echo effect that transcends the ears and makes one take notice. 2023 saw the formation of Washateria Recordings, Chadwick’s private two-part recording studio and indie record label, which will see the release of his upcoming third EP Leaving, as well 2024 releases from select other artists, starting with singer Ace Landauer and alternative/indie-rock outfit Hearsing.
“I Hate the Sound” takes listeners on a journey through the inevitability of loss, delivering a soft yet groovy sound that showcases Chadwick’s multi-instrumentalist musicianship and emphasizes the eerie melancholy of grief. “This song is a sort of 1-star review of the Grim Reaper,” Chadwick says about the track. Through soul-stirring lyricism and euphony, “I Hate the Sound,” tackles mortality, and the scars it leaves us with, with vulnerability and grace.
“We sing about the things you take / Travel on for lightyears / Swimming through nightmares / God only knows if it’s all real,” Chadwick sings, putting words to feelings that defy articulation in an open letter to the reaper. The track is at once poignant, affecting, and laid back in its approach to the powerlessness of the human condition. “I’ve got a feeling / you’ll keep on stealing / when I’m gone,” Chadwick laments, a final concession as the track ends.
Check out the song and accompanying music video that is a compelling extension of the song’s themes, opening with shots of small, sentimental odds and ends. One at a time, Chadwick’s baubles begin to disappear as he sits complacent, the Grim Reaper removing his belongings until the room becomes barren.
