Big Things Coming Soon is a 19 song album. This is the pursuit of blending musical influences from jazz, rock, classical, acoustic folk, hip hop, etc... to make a cohesive storybook with a variety of themes. Each song is meant to build off the prior in terms of the story arc. The album name originated from a common phrase in the music community that is used by small local bands that unite and make a social media page, however immediately break up. The overall concept is a tongue in cheek semi-self deprecation comedy but also a reflective take on traumatic trials and tribulations. It rides a balance of sharing vulnerable art while using comedy as a vessel to come to terms with life.
This album is sequenced so that the listener establishes a connection to the music as if you were going through the process of forming a friendship with a person. A comedic introduction transitions to a chill mood where vulnerability is expressed and raw hurt feelings get mixed with exaggerated self depreciating comedy. The peaks and valleys of the story use music genre as a metaphor for different moods and themes. For example, the acoustic songs are more emotional and unfiltered than the electronic songs.
Themes tackled in this record are coming to terms with father abandonment, rapid technological development, step-father domestic abuse, heartbreak, grieving, friendship, love, happiness, contemplation of one’s place in society, and most importantly- radically accepting that life may not always change to what is desired. I think a lot of people use comedy as a coping mechanism to come to terms with trauma in their lives and I think that the underlying pain in this album is meant to tackle that and make the album metaphorically be a relatable self-reflective statement on what it means to grow up being "weird" or "alternative".
Comprising of 19 tracks that span alternative/indie rock, punk, acoustic, electronic, and R&B/lofi hip hop- This is Big Things Coming Soon.
Album Singles:
In terms of story arc, we see the protagonist being self-deprecating describing their slacker lifestyle with the chorus being a reminder that things will change in the first song and single (released Nov. 11th, 2022) Slacker Song. It's reminiscent of the jangly theme song of jackass by the punk band the Minutemen.
Song two, Chillin (released Nov 25th, 2022), is a song that is meant to draw the listener in as a friend and peer. We are friends, and we can chill and relax.
Song three, Trippy Tiptoe Tangoo (released Dec 9th, 2022), is the first soft and vulnerable acoustic song that is about growing up in a household where my biggest bully was my step-father. His verbal abuse and lack of emotional attachment to me led to development of more trauma that I still work through today. Growing up in a house where I felt like I was constantly walking on eggshells. This song is also about overcoming that struggle with the bully on the listener's terms. Verbal abuse having the step-parent making the remaining parent declare their love not to their child, but to the bully's (step-parent's) ego. Attention to the bully's actions, I believe, empowers those who have felt the same but maybe haven't found that strength yet- this is an encouragement. The name of track three, Trippy Tiptoe Tango, is reflective of the tango-esque nature of the rhythm and instrumentation and the tiptoe metaphorically being an image of how the listener has walked on eggshells and the stress that builds. The following song resolves that tension from sharing too much vulnerability and wanting to be happy and return to relaxation and comedy.
Credits:
Noah Renken-Kapatos:
Composer/Guitar/Bass/Piano/Drums/Mixing/Mastering/Production
Nick Saathoff - Drums on tracks 1, 3, 14