- 2024-11-07
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MUSIC
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idkraeven Releases Debut EP “NETHERWATER”
Los Angeles-based singer-songwriter idkraeven released their debut EP “NETHERWATER” on October 11, 2024 via TAG music.
The EP delves into idkraeven's story, which started when they were placed into foster care at just three-years-old - subjected to emotional abuse from her adoptive parents for the majority of their early life.
They through this collection of songs, they reflects on their journey, shedding light on their struggles and eventual triumph over dysfunction.
The EP comprises 8 songs, with guest appearances from NORUE and Goner, produced by DVNCY.
idkraeven said of the EP, “The title is an ode to the River Styx. The concept of Hell is repeated throughout the EP. The River Styx, in Greek mythology, is the river that flows through the Underworld, separating it from the mortal world. The river is believe to possess mystical properties that make those who touch or consume its water immortal. Metaphorically, I feel as though I am sitting amidst the waters of the Styx, physically unscathed and protected, but mentally tormented by the surrounding view of hell. The title encapsulates the dichotomy of feeling physically invincible but mentally damaged.”- They shared on social media, “I tucked bits of my soul and tender pieces of my life in this project. I am so excited to put it out in the universe. Thank you to every single person that influenced or helped make this project a reality. I love you all and I can't believe it's fucking real. And it's fucking hereeeee. I was signed to TAG music last year and this project would not exist had they not found me.”
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idkraeven explained track-by-track for the EP.
“BLEED OUT”
“BLEED OUT changed my life in a way. It sets the initial tone of this project - it possesses a vibe that is revisited again in later songs. This song is like looking back at wreckage, outwardly unscathed while inwardly traumatized. This song is my biggest "fuck you" to my adoptive parents for the 11 years of Hell they put me through. I call them out in the first line, asking if they're satisfied with the havoc they wreaked on my life, after they kicked me out at 17. In this song, I speak about the struggle, pain, and mental torture it's taken to slowly claw my way up to stability. This song was also made with the intention of holding Christian parents accountable not to cherry-pick the Bible when trying to raise their "good Christian kids.". You can't hate me for being a bisexual stoner and then turn around and claim that you make a conscious effort to display Jesus' love to others. Jesus thinks I'm cool as fuck. BLEED OUT is also my way of shedding light on the foster care system's brokenness and lack of the structure needed to provide a child with a home. A home is much more than just a place to sleep and eat and shower, it should be a safe, loving, and welcoming space to exist. Otherwise, that's just a house.”
“luv2much”
“luv2much is about my former feelings of inadequacy and insecurity inside a relationship. It's about the unfortunate realization that I was being secretly overlooked and unappreciated, while being told that I was their "everything." The song was born from a moment of hurt and jealousy, which are not responses I'm proud of so I chose to channel that energy into music (rather than wrecking everything even more!). The chorus expresses the fear of losing a partner and the struggle to understand why their attention felt divided when I was constantly and fully devoted to them - and them only.”
“soul spillage”
“soul spillage is about the overwhelming weight that accompanies my existence as an artist. It's about being under constant pressure to 'do more' and 'do this/that'... and maybe just not wanting to. Or maybe, not wanting to do/say things the way others want me to. I took each verse as an opportunity to paint a picture of my exhaustion from constantly struggling to feel heard, and from deflecting other's judgement. My lyrics touch on the topics of neglected mental health, unreasonable societal expectations, and relentless self-criticism.”
“STR8FRMHELL” with NORUE and Goner
“I recorded this song one night in my boyfriends garage. I had been up for an entire day, and spent all night trying to make music. I had locked myself in there for hours and smoked so much weed that I couldn't even think straight enough to remember that I had writer's block - so I just started talking my shit. I mention things like my lack of self-care, my tendency to procrastinate, my insecurities, my unhealthy coping mechanisms, and my constant inner turmoil. I think these might be my most raw yet self-explanatory lyrics. My entire motive was to capture the things I was currently feeling and express myself without overcomplicating the way I said it all. I am unhealthily self-aware and know that some of the ways I cope don't serve me or my purpose. This song is an acknowledgment of that, but also a way of saying that change feels so impossible for me.”
“26”
“I saw a post online once that read something along the lines of: 'I'll never grow up. I'm gonna be a teenage girl until I'm 26' ...and I fucking loved that. This song is about longing to hold onto my youth while dealing with the inevitability of growing up, and a determination to do things by my own terms.”
“myskinisraw”
“'I will try and scrub your lingering touch off of me till my skin is raw' I wrote this song about being taken advantage of by a man, and the shame and disgust that often accompanies the aftermath. This song is a portrayal of the vulnerability and the silent resiliency it takes to heal from being violated sexually. It's a description of the conflicting emotions that I felt afterwards - the anger, the irrational guilt, and even the fear that it'll happen again. I don't think I wrote these lyrics - I think that every woman who I've ever swapped abuse stories with has spoken these same phrases repeatedly to the point where all I really did was make the words rhyme. Because this, unfortunately, isn't just my story. It's the story of just about every woman that I know. And while I wish that wasn't the case, I want these women to know that they aren't alone.”
“shit”
“'shit' was written directly following a really traumatic breakup I went through, and it's about my emotions following the ordeal. I felt completely used and like my time had been so disrespectfully wasted. It's about sitting alone in the mess that we made together, and my attempt to begin healing by confronting the thing that broke me.”
“monotony”
“As the final track of this EP, I felt like I needed to end this project on a darker, more suspenseful note. I feel like the last line in monotony ends with a semicolon, not a period. 'monotony' is a reiteration of my state of mind throughout the creation of this entire project. I was sleeping on couches, in garages, at various friend's houses, just shuffling around and chasing highs all while 'trying to find myself'. I was constantly searching for new distractions and ways to meander around my dreams while blaming it all on my financial and mental instability. Everything HAS been the fucking same for too long. But I'll change that. You'll see.” - source : Apple Music
