By Mothman
Still Buys CDs
April 1 will mark a day in history for The Elm’s News Co-Editor Grace Apostol. Her debut album, “A Passion Against Birdsong,” will surely rival the fear instilled by Alfred Hitchcock’s motion picture “The Birds.”
This album is more than three years in the making; however, Apostol’s fear of birds has lasted a lifetime.
“My fear of birds began when I was 11 years old at the beach when a seagull pooped on my head, and my mother refused to take me back to shower and made me wash my hair off in the ocean,” Apostol said.
Apostol dedicated her life to creating this album, putting aside her dreams of attending graduate school for journalism to pursue a career in music. Each track is inspired by some of her least favorite birds.
“I want [my fans] to take away a strong passion of hatred for birds after listening to the album,” Apostol said. “But on a more serious note, this album is dedicated to Stevie Chicks (a former campus chicken) who was taken away by a hawk far too early in their life. That’s really where this album comes from.”
“A Passion Against Birdsong” is a mix of genres, with the hopes of reaching many types of music listeners.
The first song on the track is rightfully named “Seagulls of Serenity.” The style is its own, but one can recognize the subtle hints of inspiration to Carly Simon’s “You’re So Vain.”
Apostol draws deep from her soul in this song to create a beautiful piece dedicated to her hatred of seagulls. With basic instruments and digital alteration, her raw voice can literally lift the listener up with joy.
The next song that sticks out is the “The Profane Pootoo Bird.” The remix of the song is called “The Ghost Bird Dance.”
This track is one of the more pop-inspired songs that critics have said is perfect to play in the clubs or just to dance to at home.
This song is all original, but it has sparked some controversy as a leaked version got to Taylor Swift, who is now filing a lawsuit due to its “similarity” to “Look What You Made Me Do,” according to Swift’s lawyers.
“The Profane Pootoo Bird” uses a mix of electronic instruments and a live orchestra to create an eerie sensation for listeners. Apostol’s voice is also altered throughout the song to create a reverb style and the illusion of a choir singing in the background.
This song will surely get people on the dance floor. When Apostol played it in her dorm room, the frequency of the song seemed to influence the campus squirrels, who sit and watch with uncanny looks.
This album is sure to be a hit around the world and one that will truly reach the hearts of those who hate birds, sleriod.
Photo by Michael Keaton.
Photo Caption: Apostol’s album cover features some of her most feared birds, including the seagull and the pootoo bird.