By Charlie Maybee
Canadian singer-songwriter, Mark Fossen, is back to serenade us with a soft, intimate, new single titled “Brother,” which released on February 18.
Fossen describes the song as “a platonic love song” for his best friend, stating “He has been struggling with addiction for years, and in an effort to support him best, it became apparent that the best way to support someone in their struggles is through a lens of acceptance, non-judgment, and unconditional love. I think it’s important for people to know that they are much more than the sum of their problems, so this was my way of letting him know that I’m with him all the way.”
The structure of the song is spacious and flowing, which allows for a natural state of emotive contemplation. Driven by the gentle strumming of an acoustic guitar, it echoes with the sounds of ringing piano chords that seem to create a sonic dome where one could give themselves the time and space to feel deeply.
At the same time that “Brother” feels meditative, it also has the feel of an intervention in that there is an extreme amount of care and sadness emanating from it. There’s a yearning for changed behavior, but the reality of addiction is not so simple to combat. Fossen does a nice job capturing the complicated intersection of these emotions, while also alluding to the importance of external support and chosen family.
To mark the scale of the emotions this song capture, Fossen writes, “This is a song about friendship. It starts small but gets big.” They swell up and take over us in ways we can never imagine.
“Brother” is available on major streaming platforms like Spotify and Apple Music. Follow our Alchemical Weekly Spotify Playlist for more great music featured on the site.
Charlie Maybee is a dancer, musician, educator, and writer based in Charleston, South Carolina who currently teaches with the Dance Program at the College of Charleston. His primary work as an artist is with his performing collective, Polymath Performance Project, through which he makes interdisciplinary performance art that centers tap dance as the primary medium of expression and research. He also currently plays rhythm guitar for the Charleston-based punk band, Anergy, and releases music as a solo artist under the name Nox Eterna.
After AFI DOCS’s departure, the capital city once again has a documentary festival.
Alchemical Records is a Washington, D.C. based music publication. We cover the Washington, D.C., Baltimore and Richmond, VA metro area music scenes, including band interviews, articles about your favorite musicians, new music and concert dates.
