Some projects are just meant to be. For Kurt Gottwald, Asian-American multi-instrumentalist and songwriter, music represents a life-long passion, an artistic and creative mission to which he devotes his full self. After having played with numerous NYC acts and in every genre, Gottwald felt the need and the motivation to start writing intimate material, recounting events and stories around his life with charming metaphorical storytelling. It’s relatable and relevant artistic matter: the listener will be able to see a little piece of themselves in it, since human nature is one, and it is shared by all of us.
Calling the project Language Games, the talented musician champions an eclectic indie rock aesthetic, compiling a 5-track EP, servings as a debut record. ‘Vignettes for a Sad Life’ echoes a friendly yet nuanced brand of soft indie, not afraid of diving into more haunting territories, when needed. Take the opener ‘Mr EGO’, with its post-punk nuances and cryptic guitar tones. Or ‘Killing Fields’, with its ethereal Sonic Youth vibes.
Fear not, ‘Vignettes for a Sad Life’ also knows how to take you into emotional and poignant territories, with ‘Bandit’ and ‘Symbiotic Love’ highly showcasing this. ‘Xanax Holiday’ dives into more authentic indie bays, perhaps the friendliest episode on the record. Of course, all of the above would be meaningless without Gottwald’s deep, evocative vocals, a very fitting pairing to his instrumental prowess.
Overall, a great debut from Language Games.
Recommended! Discover ‘Vignettes for a Sad Life’ on Spotify:
