“Safe (feat. Matthew Mirliani)” by Luke Tangerine
A musical fusion that connects Frankfurt am Main and New Jersey is released today. The title is ‘Safe (feat. Matthew Mirliani)’ by Luke Tangerine, a creative collaboration between the German sound poet Luke Tangerine and the artist Matthew Mirliani, who carries a rich musical heritage within him (‘…the son of a member of the experimental jazz band Elysian Spring, whose 1969 record “Glass Flowers” is revered as a cult classic’).
Matthew was inspired by the film Safe by Todd Haynes and the song RISKY by Ryuichi Sakamoto. The lyrics paint a picture of life in the suburbs, trapped in an endless repetition, the bleak and grey everyday life that produces a monotony of being. This feeling of lifelessness is further enhanced by the spoken-word segments. The sadness of a once wonderful home, where one felt safe, becomes a nightmare from which one wants to escape. Society is the trigger, the disease.
The musical direction in this lyrical drama is taken over by Luke, who, with his cinematic skills and his sonic storytelling, stages the environment acoustically. As usual, he locates the scenery in the 80s, but this time he surprises us with slight nuances towards pop, more precisely 80s synth pop. A comparison with New Order meets Pet Shop Boys could describe it roughly.
Through the effective parameterization of individual sounds, Luke Tangerine succeeds in reinterpreting this 80s flair and, together with Matthew Mirliani, who shines as a lyricist and singer, creates a wonderful song that on the one hand depresses with its current theme and on the other hand evokes a wonderful 80s feeling through its musical interpretation. The longing for escape is depicted in the melancholic synth pop of modernity.
“Safe (feat. Matthew Mirliani)” by Luke Tangerine [DE]
Heute erscheint eine musikalische Fusion, die Frankfurt am Main und New Jersey verbindet. Der Titel lautet “Safe (feat. Matthew Mirliani)” von Luke Tangerine, einem kreativen Zusammenspiel zwischen dem deutschen Soundpoeten Luke Tangerine und dem Künstler Matthew Mirliani, der ein reiches musikalisches Erbe in sich trägt ("...the son of a member of the experimental jazz band Elysian Spring, whose 1969 record "Glass Flowers" is revered as a cult classic").
Matthew wurde von dem Film “Safe” von Todd Haynes und dem Lied “RISKY” von Ryuichi Sakamoto angeregt. Die Lyrics zeichnen ein Bild vom Leben in der Vorstadt, das in einer endlosen Wiederholung gefangen ist, den trostlosen und grauen Alltag, der eine Monotonie des Seins hervorbringt. Dieses Gefühl der Leblosigkeit wird durch die gesprochenen Wortsegmente noch verstärkt. Die Tristesse einer einst wundervollen Heimat, in der man sich sicher fühlte, wird zum Albtraum, aus dem man entfliehen möchte. Die Gesellschaft als Auslöser, als Krankheit.
Die musikalische Regie in diesem lyrischen Drama übernimmt Luke, der mit seinen cineastischen Fähigkeiten, seinem sonischen Storytelling, die Umgebung akustisch inszeniert. Wie von ihm gewohnt, verortet er die Szenerie in die 80er, aber diesmal überrascht er uns mit leichten Nuancen Richtung Pop, genauer gesagt 80er Synth Pop, ein Vergleich mit New Order meets Pet Shop Boys könnte es annähernd beschreiben.
Durch die effektive Parametrierung einzelner Sounds gelingt es Luke Tangerine, dieses 80er Flair neu zu interpretieren und zusammen mit Matthew Mirliani, der als Texter und Sänger glänzt, einen wunderbaren Song zu kreieren, der einerseits durch seine aktuelle Thematik bedrückt und andererseits durch seine musikalische Interpretation wunderbares 80er Feeling aufkommen lässt. Die Sehnsucht nach Flucht dargestellt im melancholischen SynthPop der Moderne.
Q&A
Hello, Luke, nice to have you here again. How did you welcome the new year? Was it a grand bash or more a calm affair?
Luke: Hello Wolf, I'm really happy to be back here! For the New Year, I celebrated with my family. It wasn't a grand, crazy party, but rather a small, intimate family gathering. It was a wonderful opportunity to spend quality time with my loved ones and reflect on the year that had passed.
With “Safe (feat. Matthew Mirliani)”, you have created another impressive collaboration. What led you to work with Matthew Mirliani?
Luke: So, the idea to collaborate was initially proposed by Matthew. When Matthew approached me about collaborating on a new song, I was pleasantly surprised and genuinely excited. I've always admired his musical talent and his vocal style. Eager to seize this opportunity, I delved into both new and old ideas, aiming to create a track that not only harmonized with Matthew's and my distinct styles but also introduced something fresh from both of us.
The track has a touch of the Pet Shop Boys’ style. Is this a more "poppy" direction for you, or am I totally wrong? That’s how it seems to me, as the sound design also leans slightly that way.
Luke: I agree with you, this song does have a more 'poppy' feel compared to my previous releases. I enjoy experimenting with various styles and embracing new creative challenges. Currently, I'm working on an EP Album that's set to be released under a small recording label from Spain. This album will have an acoustic, jazzy, and ambient vibe. Essentially, my passion lies in creating music, and I'm open to exploring a diverse range of musical styles.
I have a deep fondness for 80's pop music; there's a certain charm to it that's timeless. This nostalgia was a driving force behind the creation of my single 'Safe.' I secretly harbor a wish for mainstream pop music to revisit and recapture that enchanting charm of the 80's era.
Matthew, it’s nice to have you here too. You wrote the lyrics for “Safe”. How did you get the idea and what was the process like? Did you work with Luke from the beginning or did you write the lyrics first and then get in touch with him?
Matt: Great to be here! Thank you so much for having me! I worked with Luke from the very beginning on the project. I knew that collaborating with Luke was a goal of mine for 2024, so I wasted no time in reaching out to him to see if he was interested. He sent over the instrumental and I took several listens to see what images popped in my head. This is typically my process around writing music -- I let the instrumentals, either written by myself or a collaborator, speak to me and create cinematic scenes in my head; I then base the lyrics off of these scenes.
The upbeat, 80's feel instantly brought me to a gym I would visit in the early mornings of summer 2013, when I had just turned 20 and was doing an internship near my childhood home in suburban Virginia. This image of the gym in the early morning, located within the heart of the suburban sprawl, then evolved into the image of Julianne Moore at her aerobics class in the Toddy Haynes film Safe (considered one of the best films of the 1990's).
As I began writing down the lyrics and trying out different melodies with the vocals, the spoken word part of the song "RISKY" by Ryuicihi Sakamoto (one of the most brilliant composers and artists to have lived) came to mind and inspired the spoken word (and tone) of "Safe."
What is your opinion on AI, especially AI-created vocals?
Matt: I cannot pretend to know more about AI than what I see in the headlines or hear from political or business leaders, but like with any technological advancement I hope that it can be used to help people. AI within the creative space, particularly music, has great potential to help expand artists' creativity and resources. My hope is that AI remains a tool that humans can use to their advantage (make one's job or life easier) and not one that becomes a detriment to others.
Luke: AI is an incredibly powerful tool in the creative process, acting as an instrument to bring innovative ideas to life. While AI vocals are a relatively fresh concept, there are already amazing examples showcasing their potential. The key lies in creatively leveraging AI to enhance our artistic expressions.
How influenced are you by the music scene of the 80s? Who are your favorite artists and songs from that decade?
Matt: The 80's! Where do I begin? The 80's -- from the music, to the films, to the aesthetics -- have been inspiring my songwriting journey for as long as I can remember. From that era the biggest influences on my music have been Tears for Fears and Donald Fagen's 1982 album The Nightfly (the former helping me create a synth-heavy, nostalgic sound, the latter inspiring this focus on suburbia).
My love for the era extends beyond just these direct influences, though: Michael, Janet, Madonna ("Lucky Star" was the song playing in the aerobics scene in Safe), Pat Benatar, Cyndi Lauper, The Cure (honestly anything within the realm of New Wave, post-punk, synth-pop), Stevie Nicks' solo albums, the Pretty in Pink soundtrack, "Boys of Summer" by Don Henley, "In the Air Tonight" by Phil Collins, "What's Love Got to Do With It?" by Tina Turner ... I could go on forever.
