Eyes of The Dragon by Nolo Grace is a psychedelic pop anthem about expanding beyond the limitations of our physical self and finding the true potential within ourselves as humans. With such a complex concept to deliver, it becomes a challenge not to make the song feel too heady – disconnected from its melody and verbose. Eyes of The Dragon does an excellent job of communicating its complex themes while not overcomplicating its lyrics or feeling at odds with its melody. Although much of that progress is due to the writing and delivery, I also want to pay dues to the excellent production courtesy of Martin Wave.
He has done a brilliant job evolving the melody with the vocal performance and elevating the lyrics. There is a sense of awe built up by the ethereal high tones of the vocals contrasted by the rubbery, industrial fuzz of the synths underneath it. Together, they create a rich sonic tapestry that matches the intense themes discussed throughout the track. The low rhythm and synth periodically drop out of the mix, allowing space for vocals to take centre stage. This awareness of using absence as an instrument shows Wave’s maturity and experience as a producer. Lyrics like “space beyond my mind” hit even harder because of the literal space in the mix created during that section.
The vocals are also brilliant. From beginning to end, they act like a guiding light throughout this trip of a track. They add emotion and charisma to the introspective themes. The vocals also heighten the composition’s intensity throughout their range by showing a diversity of passion and cadence as the track evolves. The vocalist feels as comfortable at the slower sections as they do belting out the lyrics in the most intense moments within the track.
At the end, the track transforms into this beautiful classic piece. This choice reminded me of the end of Frank Ocean’s Siegfried. As an obnoxious and unashamed Frank Ocean superfan, that detail stood out. That beauty felt like the perfect end to such a chaotic trip.
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