Glowing with a dazzling radiance, Gizmo Varillas’ excitingly intimate new single “Out of the Darkness” sparks a light through buoyant melodies and an immersive effervescent energy.
For fans of Glass Animals, NoMBe, Crystal Fighters
Listen: “Out Of The Darkness” – Gizmo Varillas
Gizmo Varillas is among a select batch of artists blessed with the uncanny ability to find love and light in any situation. It’s hope, not naïveté, that drives Varillas’ bright textures and warm, positive outlook: Hope for a better world and a better tomorrow. The Spanish-born, London-based artist established this natural shine in his 2017 debut album El Dorado, and he invested further in that message and mentality with 2018’s follow-up Dreaming of Better Days. In premiering that album last year, Atwood declared, “Rising up out of the darkness, Gizmo Varillas’ Dreaming of Better Days shines a light on the world, realizing humanity’s extremes and committing to a brighter future.”
While no one should claim to be another’s inspiration, it would seem our assessment stuck with, or at least rubbed off on Varillas: Glowing with a dazzling radiance, his exciting new single “Out of the Darkness” sparks a light through buoyant melodies and an immersive effervescent energy.
Trouble’s been knocking on my door
Stay away, stay way.
You can’t come here no more
Fears try to weigh me down
But I won’t let them in, no no.
What a crazy old town
Out of the darkness
Atwood Magazine is proud to be premiering “Out Of The Darkness,” Gizmo Varillas’ first new single of 2019 following Dreaming of Better Days. Driven with an infectious bounce, sun-kissed instrumentation, and Varillas’ signature blend of rock/pop with Spanish influence, “Out of the Darkness” injects unequivocal love and tenderness into the coldest of voids.
Trouble’s been knocking on my door
Stay away, stay way.
You can’t come here no more
Fears try to weigh me down
But I won’t let them in, no no.
What a crazy old town
“‘Out Of The Darkness’ was one of the first songs I wrote for [my third] album which set the tone and theme for the rest of songs that followed,” Varillas tells Atwood Magazine. “The writing process was cathartic to me, as this was a difficult year in many ways. The title track and album subtly deals with issues like depression, anxiety, stress and mental health. Each song on the album depicts different shades of darkness and finds light therein. Ultimately it’s an album of hope and making it to the other side. It’s about transformation, from dark into light.”
Ultimately it’s an album of hope and making it to the other side. It’s about transformation, from dark into light.
One can only imagine the difficulty with which an artist like Gizmo Varillas maintains his sunny disposition. Previous songs like “One People,” which was re-released this year in collaboration with German producer Sebastien, urged people of all backgrounds to come together like the glorious rainbow we could be, and support one another despite our differences. While this song and others like it took the world’s need for love to a global scale, “Out Of The Darkness” focuses on the individual’s needs for self-love, caring, and nurturing.
My eyes wander on through the night
Sleepless hours, up until twilight
Worries try to break on in
But I won’t let them in, no no.
Don’t let them under your skin
Out of the darkness
Release me, my darling
Diving deeper into the track, Varillas elaborates on the cathartic significance of “Out Of The Darkness,” the healing power of music, and the nature of its stunning arrangement:
I think ‘Out of the Darkness was the perfect lead track because it sums up the album as a whole. I wrote OOTD in a challenging period of time for me, and creating it helped me get through it. There are moments in everyone’s life when you have to overcome something difficult and each song on the album touches on that notion. It became the concept behind the whole album. Music has a strong healing power, and this body of work really helped me. I can only hope that it will also help others to come through to the other side/ out of the dark times.
During this time I became obsessed with the track Papa Wemba – La Vie Est Belle. These days it’s rare for me to get such feeling but I couldn’t stop playing it for days on end. When that happens I usually get really inspired to create my own music and that is how Out of the Darkness happened. I wanted to create something African sounding, but coming from my own perspective and with more of an indie touch. I also became obsessed with everything Francis Bebey and his creative music. I called shops across London to find out what kind of flutes he was using and finally hunted one down. I then created multiple layers for the record to create what is now the flutes to the intro.
Sonically I wanted to take my usual influences from Spain, South America and Africa and take it somewhere more indie. By using indigenous flutes within the context of an indie/pop song I think that’s how it adds character and depth to the overall aesthetic. Lyrically this is the most personal album/song to date… my other 2 albums were very much outward looking in terms of themes, Freedom For a Change, No War or Dreaming of Better Days all talk about the world… in this album I go deep within and talk from my own personal experience.
Stream Gizmo Varillas’ shining “Out of the Darkness” exclusively on Atwood Magazine, and stay tuned for more from the energizing musician as he readies his third album, set for release later this year!
Listen: “Out Of The Darkness” – Gizmo Varillas
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