Using music to exorcise or sort through one's psyche is nothing new; in fact, it's one of the best things about music. It can be as powerful for artist and listener alike, and that's particularly true of Meditations I-II-II, the new nine-track release from singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Foxtrott. The whole thing was recorded while the Montreal artist was on a a solitary retreat to southwestern Mexico, with the idea of solitude shining through her use of ambient soundscapes. Across each of the tracks, she works through what she describes below as "a spiritual renewal", articulating her growth as an artist and as a person through what can only be described as profoundly intricate musicianship, powerful vocal performances and an overarching vision that can't be denied.
Going deeper into the inspiration behind the release, Foxtrott told Complex via email: "Meditations I-II-III is a series of songs I wrote during a year when I was going through a sort of spiritual renewal. I felt surrounded by an expansive energy, and I wrote this album which explores the relationship between our inner life and the outer world. The nine song journey is about the desire to open up fully to the world, juxtaposed with the very human tendency to retract and go into hiding when it all just feels too much. It is a push and pull between love and fear, a challenge we all face daily, on a personal or collective level. Musically, I tried to capture this tension and these movements of warmth and growth in every level of the production, and aimed to make an album which one could feel enveloped by, like a warm hug. I think we all need it (I do)!"
