Los Angeles-based singer-songwriter, musician, and recording artist Curt Barlage takes us through the tribulations of suffering and acceptance with his debut single and accompanying music video, "So Long Cecilia."
An active entertainer in the Los Angles music scene for over two decades, Curt Barlage has spent lots of his time touring throughout Mexico with his former band, The Bixby Knolls. More recently, Curt Barlage came to the conclusion that he was unable to perform live with his bandmates due to the pandemic, which inspired his blossoming solo career.
Now releasing his shoegaze and introspective single, "So Long Cecilia," Curt Barlage mentioned that the song offers "black-hearted lyrical reflection of love dissolved into confusion." The accompanying music video holds a similar theme, where Curt Barlage is clearly suffering from hefty amounts of reflection while being psychically pelted with eggs and bottles.
Hitting play on the single, "So Long Cecilia," the track kicks off with distant background pads that lead to the solo acoustic guitar introduction. As Curt Barlage begins to vocalize his emotions while bidding adieu to Cecilia and wishing that her dreams will come true, the song begins to transform into this wildly emotional and Pink Floyd-esque psychedelic atmosphere.
On another note, the song's music video plays an equally stimulating role through the opening scenes of Curt Barlage basking in the sunlight while contemplating his separation from Cecilia. While being pelted by eggs, bottles, and tomatoes, we can't help but feel that this concept enhances Curt Barlage's introspection, as he pays no mind to what's happening around him while saying farewell to someone close to his heart.
Catch the highly emotional single "So Long Cecilia" on all digital streaming platforms and watch the accompanying music video on YouTube.
Welcome to BuzzMusic Curt Barlage, and congratulations on the release of your emotional debut single, "So Long Cecilia." Why did you want to release this song as your debut? How does it help us get to know who you are and the music you create?
Thank you for that and this opportunity. I was compelled to release 'So Long Cecilia' as my debut because it really rang true to my state of mind and emotion at the time. I felt it was 'in real-time and would be the best representation of my creativity at that very moment. When I decided to go solo after taking much time off of creating original material sometime during the pandemic lockdown, I begin to cultivate a different approach to creating music. An approach that was more honest and very vulnerable. Maybe something I had reservations about doing before then, in my other musical projects and in general. I was brought to a challenging moment in my life, which a lot of us were, and the notion landed on me like a thirteen-story piano drop. I began to cut the boundaries of expectations and ideals. I've always pondered that quote "write what you know about" and did just exactly that. Now, I can't imagine it any other way.
What inspired the emotional and passionate lyrical content within "So Long Cecilia?" What moment or experience compelled you to create this piece?
Emotional and passionate are exactly where it's at. That's the vulnerability and honesty projecting itself. The song is pretty autobiographical. My heart was shattered. I also got heavy into poetry during this time and believe that helped a bunch in cultivating the writing style. But also, I think these things just happen...when your heart is open and accepting. That's when we know we are just doing what we're supposed to be doing as creators. I'm trying to live in that space in all aspects of life.
Could you expand on the concept within your music video for "So Long Cecilia?" Why did you choose to be pelted with food and bottles for the music video?
That was Steven Soria's (the director) idea. But, he knows me very well and essentially reads me like an open book, knowing exactly the concepts to apply. I guess the main idea is that the visuals were a bit of purging or repenting of sorts to an actual experience I had. It was shot in a couple of hours during the peak of the pandemic in the late Winter of 2021. Very on the fly and capturing the raw essence of the emotion, shot in my backyard essentially. On a side note, everything was thrown at point-blank, the tomatoes weren't ripe so were microwaved to high heat to be a bit mushy and the milk was really cold, taken straight from the fridge. We didn't take these things into account and it all actually hurt a bit haha! But, I imagine it's all perfect that way. Lends to the idea of the lyrical content. Also, to make it all more than real, in a last-minute twist of fate, the actual 'Cecilia' partook in the shoot.
Should we expect more introspective and deeply emotional songs like "So Long Cecilia" in the future? Are songs like this a staple for you and your brand?
I don't really think about placing guidelines or imposing ideals on the creations these days. I think going solo, I was able to let go of all that stuff. Although, since I'm adhering to the idea of being very open and vulnerable in the art, it'll probably flow in the direction of being deep and introspective. For now, it does feel kind of like a 'thing' that is just happening. And I'll take it. It's a good release of emotion.
What's next for you?
I'm currently working on the debut full-length album. Hopefully, will have that out in the Winter of 2022. There's a new single coming out as well, sometime in the next couple of months. And speaking of no guidelines, it's a bit different from the previous two releases. All synth, no guitar. Just experimenting with the styles and keeping it all impulsive. I'm currently working on a podcast as well called 'The Pendulum and The Human Condition' with a good friend of mine. Covering topics related to self-awareness, trauma, spirituality, love, death, quantum theory, etc. Really jazzed about that. Some cinematic projects and other stuff are being cooked up, but that's the short of the long.