A Little Chat about Orphén Rivers and
“Everything is Connected.”
by Sierra Walsh
Amazing aesthetics combined with a Coming-of-Age story are God Tier artistry. Nothing will convince me otherwise. Occasionally, an EP that encompasses both drops into my inbox, as goes the story of how Orphén Rivers’ “Everything is Connected” stumbled into my pathway. The three tracks on the EP will appease the inner minimalist as well as have the listener matching each song with the major motion picture it belongs to. The power these three tracks carry should be considered enough to convince anyone to add “Everything is Connected” to their playlist, but, it’s also fun to elaborate on why they need to find their way to you.
While being able to hear an aesthetic may not be a real thing, I challenge anyone to not envision ripped up jeans, neon signs in the middle of a city, half smoked cigarettes, and leather jackets with things you shouldn’t have stuffed in the pockets as “The Pauper” plays in the background. Overall, the EP feels like a journey through a turbulent night, but, instead of never ending darkness, there’s a flood of artificial light throughout the song right after “a red man stands by my side/he says, “Son, don’t you know I could make you fly?” A reality 19.7 million Americans (based on 2017 statistics) are familiar with sinks in as the drugs transport the singer from an implied dark hotel room to “runnin round the bright casino floor.” Smeared make up such as the “mascara faced behind the bathroom door” and the crashes after a high aren’t noticed in the bright light, mainly because everyone is devoted to living as carefree as possible in a casino and drugs often run rampant. However, reality always hits in the dark, hence the “break down on the bench outside.” As coming-of-age stories go, there is a persistent knowledge that “the pauper can’t steal our light” as the strength to overcome the addiction perseveres.
With the perseverance comes the early morning light. Where “The Pauper” is fast paced with a few electric guitar moments that add an angry punch to the song, “My Love” soothes the desperation in the previous track to replace it with reassurance. Gentle acoustic ushers in a sense of security in “My Love.” The drugs were replaced by a person that promises “it’s you I will hold/for my life has begun.” Even though there is still room for anxiety to stir, there is the promise that “lightning may strike/but we declare to manifest its grace,” and creating comfort from chaos.
The promised hope guarding the heart manifests fully in “Flying Kites.” Imagery of the “mist beyond the road” still holds a sense of uncertainty about the future while simultaneously implying there is a transition into moving onto better chapters of life. At the same time, much like “My Love,” someone is willing to walk with them and guide the singer home. While there isn’t the implication that anyone needs a person to hold them or walk with them, “Flying Kites” encompasses keeping an unconditional love alive and what is meant to be yours always returns.
If my college literature courses taught me anything, there’s no age limit to writing or being a part of a Coming of Age story. “Everything is Connected” feels like a short and sweet venture into outgrowing a destructive habit and replacing it with unconditional love and persistent hope for the future. The music paired with poetic lyrics helps paint scenes of neon signs and cool, misty mornings, all holding their own memory of a milestone. Overall, Orphén Rivers created a gorgeous EP that will stick to the nostalgic parts of every listener’s psyche.
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