Symptom of Life

Last updated

"Symptom of Life"
Symptom of Life - Willow.png
Single by Willow
from the album Empathogen
ReleasedMarch 12, 2024 (2024-03-12)
Genre Math-pop
Length3:09
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Willow
  • Chris Greatti
Willow singles chronology
"Alone"
(2023)
"Symptom of Life"
(2024)
"Big Feelings"
(2024)
Music video
"Symptom of Life" on YouTube

"Symptom of Life" is a song by American singer Willow from her sixth studio album, Empathogen (2024). She wrote it with Chris Greatti and Brad Oberhofer, and produced it with the former. The song was released through Three Six Zero and Gamma on March 12, 2024, as the lead single from the record. An accompanying self-directed music video was published on the same date. "Symptom of Life" is a math-pop track led by piano, drums, and a bass countermelody.

Contents

Release

The release of "Symptom of Life" was announced via Willow 's Instagram account on March 5, 2024, alongside a snippet of the song, which she captioned, "y'all are not ready". [1] Days before the release of the single, she shared the lyrics to the track, explaining that it could let listeners "deeply digest the words before diving into the whole composition". [2] [3] The song was released on March 12, 2024, as the lead single from her then-upcoming sixth studio album, Empathogen (2024). [4] [5] [6] A music video for "Symptom of Life", directed by Willow, premiered alongside the song; it opens with Willow and two friends walking through a forest, and then sees the singer lying down on the floor, a large rock, and on grass strewn with flowers. [3] [6] [7] About the visual, she said that it "is for all the beautiful people who have ever gone into nature with their friends & been guided to a deeper understanding of life together by plant medicine". [3]

Composition

"Symptom of Life" is a math-pop song based on a jazzy piano, drums, and a bass countermelody. [8] Its lyrics center on self-knowledge, reinvention, mortality, and beauty. [8] In a statement, the singer discussed the track's production: "It has a very beautiful, whimsical nature but holds a lot of mystery. There's this beautiful light coming in through the piano, but also this syncopated rhythm of the bass, bringing in that mysterious element — a juxtaposition of light and dark". [9]

In an interview with Vogue Australia , Willow stated that the song "came from a very special place", and explained: "Buddha said that life is suffering ... that is definitely true. A symptom of life is pain, suffering and loss, but another symptom of life is birth, and renewal and joy. I like that that song was kind of an exploration of [that]". [10]

Critical reception

Pitchfork 's Dylan Green said that the song "best illuminated the next phase in Willow's [sound] evolution", following her experimenting with various music genres throughout her career. [11]

Related Research Articles

<i>Bringing It All Back Home</i> 1965 studio album by Bob Dylan

Bringing It All Back Home is the fifth studio album by the American singer-songwriter Bob Dylan, released in March 1965 by Columbia Records. In a major transition from his earlier sound, it was Dylan's first album to incorporate electric instrumentation, which caused controversy and divided many in the contemporary folk scene.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St. Vincent (musician)</span> American musician (born 1982)

Anne Erin Clark, known professionally as St. Vincent, is an American musician and singer. Her guitar playing has been praised for its melodic style and use of distortion, and she has been listed among the best guitarists of the 21st century by multiple publications. Rolling Stone named Clark the 26th-greatest guitarist of all time in 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stacie Orrico</span> American singer-songwriter (born 1986)

Stacie Joy Orrico is an American singer and songwriter. After signing to ForeFront Records, Orrico recorded her first album, Genuine (2000). Her second studio album Stacie Orrico (2003), released by ForeFront and Virgin, debuted at No. 59 on the Billboard 200, and was certified gold with over 500,000 sales in the United States. The first single "Stuck" reached No. 52 on Billboard Hot 100, and achieved greater success worldwide. Her second single "(There's Gotta Be) More to Life" peaked at No. 30 on the Billboard Hot 100.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eels (band)</span> American indie rock band

Eels is an American rock band formed in Los Angeles in 1991 by singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Mark Oliver Everett, known by the stage name E. Band members have changed over the years, both in the studio and on stage, making Everett the only official member for most of the band's work. Eels' music is often filled with themes of family, death, and unrequited love. Since 1996, Eels has released fifteen studio albums, seven of which entered the Billboard 200.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Beautiful (Christina Aguilera song)</span> 2002 single by Christina Aguilera

"Beautiful" is a song recorded by American singer Christina Aguilera for her fourth studio album, Stripped (2002). It was released as the album's second single on November 16, 2002. A pop and R&B ballad, "Beautiful" was written and produced by Linda Perry and discusses inner-beauty, as well as self-esteem and insecurity. Aguilera commented that she put "her heart and soul" into the track, which she felt represented the theme of Stripped.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Willow Smith</span> American singer (born 2000)

Willow Smith, also known mononymously as Willow, is an American singer. The daughter of Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith, she has received various accolades, including a Young Artist Award, an NAACP Image Award, a BET Award, and nominations for two Daytime Emmy Awards, a Grammy Award, and a MTV Video Music Award.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">All Tomorrow's Parties</span> 1967 single by The Velvet Underground and Nico

"All Tomorrow's Parties" is a song by the Velvet Underground and Nico, written by Lou Reed and released as the band's debut single in 1966. The song is from their 1967 debut studio album, The Velvet Underground & Nico.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Make You Feel My Love</span> 1997 song by Bob Dylan

"Make You Feel My Love", also known as "To Make You Feel My Love", is a song written by Bob Dylan for his album Time Out of Mind, released in September 1997. It was first released commercially in August 1997 by Billy Joel for his compilation album Greatest Hits Volume III.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wild Nothing</span> American indie rock and dream pop band

Wild Nothing is the indie rock project of American multi-instrumentalist Jack Tatum, formed in 2009 in Blacksburg, Virginia. In the recording studio, Tatum writes, records and performs the project's music. As a touring act, Wild Nothing performs as a full band, featuring longtime bass guitarist Jeff Haley, guitarist Christoph Hochheim, drummer Victor Donahue and keyboardist Lou Rebecca.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grimes</span> Canadian musician (born 1988)

Claire Elise Boucher, known professionally as Grimes, is a Canadian musician, singer, songwriter, and record producer. Her lyrics often touch on science fiction and feminist themes. The visuals in her videos are elaborate and sometimes have fantasy themes. She has released five studio albums.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sabrina Carpenter</span> American singer and actress (born 1999)

Sabrina Annlynn Carpenter is an American singer, songwriter, and actress. She first gained recognition starring on the Disney Channel series Girl Meets World (2014–2017), and signed with the Disney-owned Hollywood Records. She released her debut single, "Can't Blame a Girl for Trying" in 2014, followed by four studio albums: Eyes Wide Open (2015), Evolution (2016), Singular: Act I (2018), and Singular: Act II (2019). The albums contained the singles "Alien", "Almost Love", and "Sue Me", which topped the Billboard Dance Club Songs chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">X Ambassadors</span> American rock band

X Ambassadors are an American pop rock band from Ithaca, New York, that consists of lead vocalist Sam Harris, keyboardist Casey Harris, and drummer Adam Levin. Russ Flynn is a touring member who plays guitar and bass. Their most notable songs include "Jungle", "Renegades", and "Unsteady". The band's debut full-length album, VHS, was released on June 30, 2015. Their second album, Orion, came out on June 14, 2019. Their third album, The Beautiful Liar, was issued on September 24, 2021. Their fourth album, Townie, came out on April 5, 2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kali Uchis</span> American singer and songwriter (born 1994)

Karly Marina Loaiza, known professionally as Kali Uchis, is an American singer and songwriter. After releasing her debut mixtape Drunken Babble (2012), she gained recognition for her debut extended play, Por Vida (2015). She signed with Virgin EMI Records to release her debut studio album Isolation (2018), which peaked at number 34 on the Billboard 200 and saw widespread acclaim. She then signed with Interscope Records to release her second studio album and first Spanish-language project, Sin Miedo (2020). It spawned the single "Telepatía", which first gained virality on TikTok and marked her first entry on the Billboard Hot 100 at number 25, also receiving double platinum certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Her third studio album, Red Moon in Venus (2023) peaked at number four on the Billboard 200, while her fourth album and second Spanish-language project, Orquídeas (2024), peaked at number two.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tierra Whack</span> American rapper and singer (born 1995)

Tierra Helena Whack is an American rapper and singer. She originally performed as "Dizzle Dizz" as a teenager but reverted to her birth name in 2017. Her debut mixtape, Whack World, was released in May 2018 and received widespread critical acclaim. Her song "Mumbo Jumbo" was nominated at the 61st Annual Grammy Awards for Best Music Video. Whack has since collaborated with Beyoncé, Alicia Keys, Tyler, the Creator, Chief Keef, and Melanie Martinez.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Willow (song)</span> 2020 single by Taylor Swift

"Willow" is a song by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift from her ninth studio album, Evermore (2020). It was released on December 11, 2020, by Republic Records as the lead single from the album. "Willow" is a chamber folk love song making use of several metaphors to convey the singer's romantic state of mind, such as portraying her life as a willow tree, over picked guitars, glockenspiel, flute, strings, and percussion.

<i>A Touch of the Beat Gets You Up on Your Feet Gets You Out and Then Into the Sun</i> 2021 studio album by Aly & AJ

A Touch of the Beat Gets You Up on Your Feet Gets You Out and Then Into the Sun is the fourth studio album by American duo Aly & AJ, released on May 7, 2021. The release marks their first studio album in 14 years, following Insomniatic in 2007. The album was produced by Yves Rothman, and each track holds writing credits from both Michalka sisters. Aly & AJ stated that despite the COVID-19 pandemic, it did not hinder their writing process, as they felt that they were "born to make" this album. They stated that while making the album, they were influenced by 1960s and 1970s music, and that it would differ from their two previous projects, Ten Years (2017) and Sanctuary (2019), which were influenced by 1980s music. The duo also wanted to capture the music of their home state California, and create a body of work that felt "timeless" to listeners. The result was a pop and pop rock record that draws musical influence from disco, soft rock, and country.

<i>In the Meantime</i> (Alessia Cara album) 2021 studio album by Alessia Cara

In the Meantime is the third studio album by Canadian singer and songwriter Alessia Cara, released on September 24, 2021, by Def Jam Recordings. Cara collaborated with Jon Levine, Salaam Remi and Joel Little among several other producers on the project. Deemed as a concept album based "In the meantime between life and death", the album unravels the anxieties of introspection, healing, love and self-reflection.

<i>Coping Mechanism</i> (album) 2022 studio album by Willow

Coping Mechanism is the fifth studio album by American singer Willow. It was released on October 7, 2022, through MSFTS Music and Roc Nation. The album was preceded by a slew of singles, including "Maybe It's My Fault", "Hover Like a Goddess", "Curious/Furious", and "Split".

<i>Empathogen</i> (album) 2024 studio album by Willow

Empathogen is the sixth studio album by American singer Willow. It was released through Three Six Zero and Gamma on May 3, 2024.

"Big Feelings" is a song by American singer Willow from her sixth studio album, Empathogen (2024). Music companies Three Six Zero and Gamma released the song on April 11, 2024, as the second single from the album. It was written and produced by Willow and Chris Greatti, with additional songwriting from Zach Tenorio.

References

  1. Carter, Emily (March 5, 2024). "WILLOW announces new single, symptom of life". Kerrang. Retrieved October 6, 2024.
  2. Kaufman, Gil (March 13, 2024). "Willow Gets Introspective on Jazzy Single 'Symptom of Life'". Billboard . Retrieved October 6, 2024.
  3. 1 2 3 Mier, Tomás (March 12, 2024). "Willow Drops 'Symptom of Life,' a 'Whimsical' Single With a 'Lot of Mystery'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved October 6, 2024.
  4. Taylor, Sam (March 13, 2024). "WILLOW explores light and dark with her new single, 'symptom of life'". Dork. Retrieved October 6, 2024.
  5. Kelly, Tyler Damara (March 12, 2024). "WILLOW returns with the brand new single, "symptom of life"". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved October 6, 2024.
  6. 1 2 Duran, Anagricel (March 12, 2024). "Willow returns with "mysterious" new single 'Symptom Of Life'". NME. Retrieved October 6, 2024.
  7. ""Symptom of life": WILLOW drops new single, music video". 105.7 The Point. March 12, 2024. Retrieved October 6, 2024.
  8. 1 2 Pareles, Jon (March 15, 2024). "Becky G's Rowdy Obsession and 8 More New Songs". The New York Times. Retrieved October 6, 2024.
  9. Pointer, Flisadam (March 12, 2024). "Willow's 'Symptom Of Life' Video Is The Perfect Dose Of Emotional Exposure Fit To Heal Your Inner Hopeless Romantic". Uproxx. Retrieved October 6, 2024.
  10. Waterhouse, Jonah (May 6, 2024). "Willow talks 'empathogen', her most mature and layered album yet". Vogue Australia. Retrieved October 6, 2024.
  11. Green, Dylan (May 9, 2024). "Willow: empathogen Album Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved October 6, 2024.