Special to TMN
BY: Martha Chau
Over 3 years have passed since that cold winter evening. It’s a beautiful springtime afternoon and I find myself overlooking the Pacific Ocean from the top of one of the region’s highest peaks; taking in the view with a restless Art d’Ecco. He’s no longer the mysterious man I stumbled upon at an open mic night back in early 2013. Having spent the better part of 3 years sequestered to his cabin in the woods, retooling the island lifestyle and rediscovering himself as an artist; he seems different, but for the better.
In the beginning, our mutual love for Bowie, Roy Orbison, and Kubrick films propelled us into a fast friendship; but the profound effect these artists have had on his writing, is what leads us to the top of the mountain; where the confluence of sea and sky and forest and fresh air – swirl as if to create a cauldron for my inquisitive being to percolate in.
On the drive up today, we listened to his debut album DAY FEVERS – an LP that was largely written in said car, overlooking the panoramic view we’re now sharing. The record is an homage to his aforementioned influences; spun into themes of desire, isolation, and the distortion lens of nostalgia. Memories of better times, a different life, and eventually – overcoming regret. There’s a common thread of growing pains and feeling unwell, yet as the day evolves along the album’s internal clockwork (opening on “Sunrise” and closing on “Sunset”) there’s a sense of resolve in the album’s finish. A self-realization for the artist as he finally heals himself of these internal afflictions – one track at a time.
The end result is as ambitious as it is exciting. An honest portrayal of what happens when one is left to their own devices, in the windowless room of mother nature. An exercise in self-actualization, Art d’Ecco has finally mastered the art of being himself.