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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.
℗ 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