Today we are excited to share with you something that draws together a collective of Melbourne musical talent. With his newest release, solo project Lalchand has enlisted the voice of Slow Talk‘s James Butler, and the production skills of Thornhill‘s Ethan McCann. The song also features Isaac Naylor on bass, and Micah Barnes on drums, who have previously played on the debut release for the Lalchand project (“Feast”), and also has Sam Devaraj on mixing and mastering duties.
Entitled “Imposter Syndrome”, the song explores something that most (if not all) creatives will be familiar with. In the case of Lalchand and the project’s creator Jordan Lalchand (who you may already know from the band Shepherd), the fears centre around the ability to perform in front of an audience. Through the song, he internally wrestles with doubts, inadequacies, and insecurities. The music video also brings the idea to visual life, with a faceless figure lurking, menacing, and aggressing while the song is played on stage.
There’s much to take in with “Imposter Syndrome”, from its opening hefty riff to its floaty chorus moments, making it tough to encapsulate with brevity. To explore it in depth, the song immediately oozes determination from its opening riff, which captures the persistent drive to create that pushes many creative people forward, regardless of whether it’s music, words, photography, or another form of artwork.
The arrival of James’ wavering vocals reveals an element of uncertainty along with that fiery determination. Lyrically, we are shown the feeling of revealing everything of yourself in the process of creating, and this meaning that you’re open for judgement or rejection. Continuing into distorted cries, “Imposter Syndrome” expresses the frustration of wanting to succeed but not, and gets progressively more raw. We hear the exposed and frayed edges of not quite knowing what to do, while simultaneously feeling that drive of determination and trying hard, while time ticks on.
“Don’t make a sound, they might notice you”
On the surface, “Imposter Syndrome” is sweeter at the chorus. But it’s more fitting to describe it as being bittersweet; given that the softened vocals instruct one to be still and silent and unnoticed for one’s safety. You can’t get rejected then, right?
With a chill of isolation, the “Imposter Syndrome” experience is tenderly explored in its second verse. Feeling as though they’re stretched beyond their means, the song soon instrumentally builds and loops, questioning what these faceless voices that are harassing them even want. It’s an “enough is enough” moment as far as this story goes.
After a momentary paring back, an explosive iteration of “Imposter Syndrome”‘s chorus is satisfying, before we return to the riff where it all began. Once Lalchand has left the stage in the music video, we also get a reveal of who the faceless aggressor was all along.
Check out “Imposter Syndrome” below via YouTube. Lalchand has his debut EP currently being completed, with plans for release later in 2020. Follow Lalchand on Facebook for updates on that as they come.
