Wake
Evan Gildersleeve
14.03.2025
MESH0103
Digital
Wake
A frequent collaborator with a wide range of artists including Jónsi of Sigur Rós and the late Jóhann Jóhannsson, Evan’s musical practice hones in on the minutiae of sound design as a tool for producing vast, highly emotive sonic wanderings. Cinematic in scale, his compositions speak to the human experience in a multitude of ways, in this case, tapping into the fragility of rebirth.
Wake is deeply personal account, documenting a turbulent period of self-recovery and exploring the power of collective empathy. Across six tracks, Evan considers complex notions of existentialism with a masterful ear for sonic arrangement.
The opening title track is an epic crescendo of melancholic arpeggios and harmonic progressions that builds into powerful, slow marching drums - verging on industrial, but firmly placed in the ether. ‘Fathom’ leads with sharp edged drums through warehouse acoustics, building a careful tension. ‘Ego’ opens softly, gliding through clouds of distant chorus, whilst ‘Altar’ arrives at a vocal lament paired with vast orchestrations. ‘Portal’ rolls with swayed percussion through a dubbed out half time step. Closing things off, the aptly titled ‘Grief’ is a distillation of emotion, venturing through deeply layered soundwaves.
Whilst Wake deals with immensely personal topics, it also operates with a sense of optimism that encourages collective approaches to healing, and in doing so, provides space for any number of interpretations.
Wake is deeply personal account, documenting a turbulent period of self-recovery and exploring the power of collective empathy. Across six tracks, Evan considers complex notions of existentialism with a masterful ear for sonic arrangement.
The opening title track is an epic crescendo of melancholic arpeggios and harmonic progressions that builds into powerful, slow marching drums - verging on industrial, but firmly placed in the ether. ‘Fathom’ leads with sharp edged drums through warehouse acoustics, building a careful tension. ‘Ego’ opens softly, gliding through clouds of distant chorus, whilst ‘Altar’ arrives at a vocal lament paired with vast orchestrations. ‘Portal’ rolls with swayed percussion through a dubbed out half time step. Closing things off, the aptly titled ‘Grief’ is a distillation of emotion, venturing through deeply layered soundwaves.
Whilst Wake deals with immensely personal topics, it also operates with a sense of optimism that encourages collective approaches to healing, and in doing so, provides space for any number of interpretations.
℗ 2025 Mesh © 2025 Mesh
Additional Production on ‘Wake’ by Aneek Thapar
Mixed by Aneek Thapar
Mastered by Shawn Hatfield at AudibleOddities
Art Direction by Chris Clarke
Photography by William Bunce
Additional Production on ‘Wake’ by Aneek Thapar
Mixed by Aneek Thapar
Mastered by Shawn Hatfield at AudibleOddities
Art Direction by Chris Clarke
Photography by William Bunce