Demons
By
Steg G
Now, it’s been a little while since I last reviewed
something by Steg G, in fact it was way back in June 2020 when I reviewed the
album No Justice, No Peace by The Scottish Hip Hop Artists for Equality (Click
for my review of that one), so its high time he was back on and his latest
album Demons is what I am focusing on here.
For those of you who may not be aware, Steg G is an
award-winning artist/producer from Glasgow Scotland. He is also actively
involved in music education, broadcasting, and community development. So, what
can we expect from Demons; Demons delves deep into the
internal battles he has faced in recent years. Steg G drew inspiration
from the mental health issues and the process of facing his
own personal demons head on. Although the album is a more personal take on
the impact of current affairs on his own mental wellbeing, his words are
still wholly relatable in their meaning. Demons features Steg G on vocals
and production duties with guest appearances from Best Hip-Hop act winner
at the Scottish Alternative Music Awards, Solareye (Stanley
Odd), Nottingham-based rap artist Cappo, rapper Freestyle Master and
renowned performer Empress, and other hotly tipped rappers McRoy and Jam of duo CCTV.
Bearing all that in mind, lets get straight
into Demons…
First up is Weegie
which features Freestyle Master and Jam. The
mix of drums, bass, keys, and triangle sounds, starts off in a way that makes
you think this is going to be quite dark but, once the beat kicks in, it
uplifts the tone and gets you head nodding; and you need that because the focus
of this track really seems to be the internal struggles of the mind. This is a
place so many of us go to where we question what is going on around us, because
all we see is negativity, and the mind begins to question its own sanity and
its ability to even want to continue. With the stage set, we move on to the album’s
title track Demons, which features Freestyle Master. It has a
heavy live instrument sound with drums and bass taking the forefront, with some
sonic sounds and heavy electric guitar mixed in for good measure, giving this
one a raw, rock-rap vibe. The way the sound grates on my mind is the perfect
platform for the darkness in the vocals. We all have our own demons to deal
with on our journeys through life and, during the times our mind is most
vulnerable, are the moments in which these demons can so easily come to the
surface. we can then find it so hard to tackle them and our vulnerabilities can
allow the demons to take control of that fragile mental state. An eerie piano
sound then toys with our nerves but, allows the lyrics to take the centre stage
on Exodus, again featuring Freestyle Master. You might
think that’s how this one will play out but, the beat kicks in following a sax
solo, all of which combine to emphasise the loneliness in which you can find
yourself, something the lyrics bring into stark reality as we explore how
someone can deal with the pain the demons bring; you would do anything just to
numb the pain or to find a place where the demons can’t find you…
Livin Devilish features the legendary figure of Cappo and Solareye, the biggie sample takes us into a heavy head nod vibe that
has keys, bass and other sounds that combine to create this reflective sound.
Moments of clarity, maybe when you wake first thing in the morning, can allow
you to reflect on the things you have done and said, these are the moments that
are filled with regret for all the things you have done but, wish you hadn’t.
The outcome of this can push you one of two ways, either towards a desire for
change or, as so often happens, it creates more stress and anxiety as drag
yourself into your day. Drums and piano are the main component of Voices, which creates this feeling within about being lost in
your own mind. Freestyle Master joins Steg G here to highlight how those demons
in your head can become so strong they take on their own persona and have their
own voice. Those voices can become the controlling factor in your live, telling
you how to live and that the only one you can trust is the voice itself. There
are mental health conditions that can involve voices that only that person can
hear, and it is important that these are highlighted and the stigma and
discrimination around them is removed.
Vultures features McRoy and has a far more modern
grime/trap vibe to it, while still having a heavy sound. The vocals have more
pace to the flow and this, in itself, tweaks your nerves as you look to keep
pace and listen to the message within. That message is all about those vultures
that look to feed off your success, taking little pieces for themselves until
it’s all gone, at which point they are the first jump ship and look for the
next corpse to feed off. Freestyle Master returns for Scheme
Songs which has a heavy sound from drums and a host
of multi-layered sounds. The track focuses on the addictions that so often come
hand-in-hand when you struggle with your mental health; it’s only when you
begin on the road to recovery do you understand when role those addictions
played, then it's all about doing what you can to keep yourself in the light
and to stop yourself slipping back into the darkness…
Strings, melodic drums, and synth vibes create
a deep vibe that seems to grip your heart on Torments
of the Flesh. Featuring Empress, Jam, Freestyle Master and
Solareye, this is like a posse cut where each emcee opens up and details their
own struggles. You get the sense that this one is almost saying to you, ‘you’re
not alone,’ ‘we all have our demons, and it is safe for you to speak up.’
Knowing you are not alone is huge and feeling that within the music speaks to
you on so many levels. Empress remains here for Saint
and Sinners, which has that live instrument vibe to it.
You can almost picture dark dusty place where a small band play while Empress
grips the mic and speaks one her own struggles through the darkness and the
battle of good and evil, to a place where the light ultimately wins out,
dispelling the darkness and opening up a new road on life’s journey. The final
track of the album is The Grand Plan and feature
Freestyle Master, the melodic drums, keys and flute give this one a thoughtful
air, allowing you to really focus on the lyrics. Here Steg G and Freestyle
Master bounce of each other, line for line, as they take a deep look at what is
the acceptance of who you truly are, all the good and the demons too. That
acceptance I what can ultimately set you free as the demons no longer control
you and perhaps that is what the grand plan truly is, you accepting you for
being who you truly are, the one thing that gives you control over your life
and can help you stop the influences of the external pressures…
There is no doubt that Demons is a deeply personal and challenging look at struggles of
life and how these can have a disturbing impact that can change who we are, how
we see ourselves and how others can see us. These changes can make us stop
seeing the love and value of all that is around us and can make us want to give
up. But we can free ourselves from this by gradually opening up to others,
accepting who we are and learning to love ourselves once more. It is never easy
to open up and to tell your story and what Demons does is to tell a story that
is very personal but, at the same time so relatable to so many of us.
Ultimately Demons is an album that makes a bold statement in that it speaks to
those of us struggling and shows us that we are not alone. It also speaks to
those who may not be struggling, and it asks those people to open their eyes
and their hearts and to recognise the pain of others and to be someone who will
listen. Because those who struggle only need to find a sympathetic ear to be
able to find their voice…
Now, aside from the deep impact this album has
there is also a lot more besides that to look at. Musically Steg G has created
this stunning sound scape that flows so well and highly listenable and
enjoyable, while keeping a very emotive edge to every track in order o help
convey the powerful message within the lyrics. Those lyrics from Steg G and
those guest artists keep you hanging on their every word as they use emotional
and intelligent lyricism to produce some stunning mental images in the mind of
the listener and I have to say that I commend Steg G and all those guest
artists for delivering what has to be, for me one of the most deeply thought
provoking albums I’ve heard this year, if not singly the most thought
provoking.
Demons is also a very important album because, as I
have said above, it brings a spotlight on to mental health issues and the
struggles so many of us go through as we navigate the stormy waters of life’s
ocean, and I know this on a personal level too. Demons shows the powerful force
that music, in this case Hip Hop, is in being able to convey such important
messages; because within the music you can hear one persons story, their ups
and downs through live and their ultimate triumph in stepping into the light
from the darkness but, beyond that it speaks to those who are also struggling
and those who need open their eyes to what others are experiencing. It might
tell one story but, it has many messages to many people.
Demons is available now on Powercut Productions in these formats, Limited Edition
vinyl, CD and Digital.
I would also like to give a huge thank you to
Steg G for sending me this stunning album to give you my thoughts on.
On that note,
I’m Out,
Steve
LINKS
Get Demons from Bandcamp Here:
https://surfacepressure.bandcamp.com/album/demons
Album and Merchandise available from the Steg G Website Here:
Powercut Productions YouTube Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/@PowercutProductions/featured
Steg G social media links:
https://www.instagram.com/steg.g/
https://www.facebook.com/Steg3000
VIDEOS
DEMONS ft Freestyle Master
No comments:
Post a Comment