Ritual Cloak Collaborate With Photographer Michal Iwanowski On New Single “Witaj w Domu”
Due April 1st via Bubblewrap Collective
Ritual Cloak follow-up an ambitious year of releases (Divine Invasions, A Human Being is the Best Disguise & Orange Crush) with a collaboration between the duo and photographer Michal Iwanowski.
Witaj w Domu was recorded during the Divine Invasions sessions, but it felt like the track deserved to stand alone. Having been inspired by Iwanowski’s photographic project, Go Home Polish, Ritual Cloak composed a piece of music in response, inviting Iwanowski to contribute spoken word, drawn from writings of his 1900km journey between his two homes – Wales and Poland. Michal narrates three stories, all different, yet all similar and asks, just like the photographic project, where is home? The answer is elusive and complex, a riddle that transcends time and administration.
“The title of the song was inspired by images of Michal’s mother and family awaiting his return as he walked the final stretch towards the family home in Poland, holding the sign Witaj w Domu (Welcome Home). We wanted the title to completely contrast the hostility of the graffiti that Michal felt compelled to respond to. The composition even features audio sampled from a live streamed video of his arrival at his family home. The sounds and voices of his family played a key part in closing the track as these are the people that mean the most to Michal, especially the sound of Michal’s mum’s laugh weaving between the piano notes that brings an emotional texture.” – Ritual Cloak
This is hiraeth. This is heimet. Home.
Embracing Witaj w Domu be it the English version, Polish or taking in the instrumental cut, the audience will be mesmered from all versions. With Witaj w Domu, Ritual Cloaks build this ominious and expressive landscape that immediately grips you. Whilst this cosmic, enthralling composition showcases this mighty structure, focussing on the soaring notes and the hypnotic, powerful keys which loop throughout. It’s the immersive words of the personal lyrics of Iwanowski that help add this essential visualitation to the ensemble. That essential affection adds this emotive value to the release which becomes the most infectious hook.
This collaboration offers this deep, moving and sincere orchestration that leaves this almighty impression. Ritual Cloak and Iwanowski have cultivated their crafts into this powerful art form, cemented with this intensity and ease of connection from artists’ to audience, creating this conusming piece which emits something so real and relative.
Witaj w Domu will be available on all streaming services via Bubblewrap Collective on Friday, 1st April and presented in three different versions, in English, Polish and instrumental.
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