Mulberry Violence

Mulberry Violence is the debut album by American experimental artist Trevor Powers. The album came out on August 17, 2018.[1].

Mulberry Violence
Studio album by
Trevor Powers
ReleasedAugust 17, 2018
GenreAmbient pop, experimental pop, art pop, glitch pop, post-industrial
LabelBaby Halo

Background

The album was written and recorded after Powers' previous project, Youth Lagoon, ended.[2] After Youth Lagoon, Powers began to study classical music theory, jazz and ancient music. Powers then began to craft new music from poetry he had written during his travels throughout Europe, Asia and the United States. He ultimately paired his poems with avant-pop and noise music to create the rough backbone of what would become Mulberry Violence.

The album was recorded at Sonic Ranch, a residential studio complex in Tornillo, Texas. The album was mixed in Los Angeles by Beyoncé collaborator Stuart White.[3]

Album artwork and title

While the album artwork for Mulberry Violence was designed by Baptiste Bernazeau,[4] the title for the album was conceived by Powers after a self-proclaimed "internet rabbithole" led him to become fascinated by the ancient symbolism of mulberry trees. As noted in Powers' interview with Matt Connor for Under the Radar Magazine, the mulberry tree "has stood as a symbol of patience and wisdom throughout the ages, a symbol of calculated restraint. It is, by all present appearances, a necessary icon for our divided times, a present political state in which basic human dignity is often forgotten."[5] Influenced by this symbolism, Powers' began to draw a comparison between the mulberry and the human race. Noting that, while the mulberry mysticism exists on one spectrum marked by patience and ancient wisdom, "every person ever is on the complete opposite end of that spectrum,"[6] an important dichotomy which led Powers to title the project as "Mulberry Violence".

Promotion and tour

A music video for the lead single, "Playwright," was released on April 2, 2018. At the time, Powers had not announced a new album, but rather, presented the video as a representation of the paradoxes that present themselves within each person.[7] A series of "couplets" were later released to promote the new project. Ache and Plaster Saint were the first coupled singles released, in addition to announcing the new album and a string of new tour dates to promote Mulberry Violence.[8] Powers released two more sets of couplets, "XTQ Idol" and "Dicegame," on June 27, 2018, and "Clad In Skin" and "Squelch" on July 25, 2018, releasing over half of the new material before its First Listen on NPR Music.

Reception

Mulberry Violence received a score of 73 out of 100 on Metacritic.

Track listing

All tracks are written by Trevor Powers.

No.TitleLength
1."XTQ Idol"5:44
2."Dicegame"4:42
3."Pretend It's Confetti"1:23
4."Clad In Skin"3:04
5."Playwright"4:03
6."Film It All"3:45
7."Squelch"3:30
8."Ache"3:10
9."Plaster Saint"3:11
10."Common Hoax"4:11

References
  1. "metacritic, Mulberry Violence by Trevor Powers". Retrieved 2019-03-05.
  2. "Why Trevor Powers Had to 'Murder' Youth Lagoon In Order To Find Himself". Billboard. Retrieved 2018-12-03.
  3. Mulberry Violence by Trevor Powers, retrieved 2018-12-03
  4. "Mulberry Violence, by Trevor Powers". Trevor Powers. Retrieved 2018-12-03.
  5. "Trevor Powers on "Mulberry Violence" and Saying Goodbye to Youth Lagoon". www.undertheradarmag.com. Retrieved 2018-12-03.
  6. "Trevor Powers on "Mulberry Violence" and Saying Goodbye to Youth Lagoon". www.undertheradarmag.com. Retrieved 2018-12-03.
  7. "Youth Lagoon's Trevor Powers releases debut solo single, "Playwright"". BrooklynVegan. Retrieved 2018-12-03.
  8. "Trevor Powers announces debut album 'Mulberry Violence', shares two new tracks "Ache" and "Plaster Saint"". DIY. Retrieved 2018-12-03.
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