Vents MagaZine Music and Entertainment Magazine
Related Articles
Singer/Songwriter Jason Shand holds nothing back with title track The Petty Narcissist (Arctic Ocean). This is the third single off of Shand’s second full length album which explores interpersonal relationships with lovers, family, and friends. With a touch of soul searching to boot. Exploration is exactly what Shand does through his dynamic lyrics. Documenting the heartache, complexities, and sometimes not so favorable dilemma’s relationships bring to our door.
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/jasonshandmusic
The Petty Narcissist (Arctic Ocean) is an alluring track that doesn’t give its mythologies away in an instant nor does it preach at you. Shand maintains a poetic quality to his lyrics that leave them both relatable, yet open for interpretation. One stand out lyric is when Shand croons, “Forgiveness is a long road travelled for you and your glory days“. These lyrics hit hard but still remain personal to Shand. There are several allusions to the title of the song where Shand sings of “drowning in your arctic ocean” or “I can feel the arctic ocean in your soul”. These are painfully real words about someone else but there are no character assassinations on this track, only Shand’s inner journey.
Where the lyrics keeps you guessing is when Shand belts “The petty narcissist can’t see himself for what he is, I’m left to wonder oh my god,” before we are plunged into the strong opening chords. Shand shifts his point of view, adding a layer of mystery to this track. Shand’s melodies support the lyrics by provoking a cool atmosphere for Shand’s voice to guide us through. A moment where are all of these elements come together is when Shand sings, “Another game of knick knack paddy whack to see which one of is wrong.” Shand’s vocals are low to a ground, hitting every beat. It feels like a personal touch reaching back to childhood, but to whom’s, I can’t say. I commend Shand for honestly commenting on how responsibility never falls on one person alone, that too is shared.
APPLE MUSIC: https://music.apple.com/us/album/the-petty-narcissist-arctic-ocean/1604012792?i=1604012793
The Petty Narcissist (Arctic Ocean) is meant to be of a darker nature but not a depressing one. Shand excels through his production of this track by finding a delicious equilibrium between the composition of the song itself and the cerebral nature of the lyrics. Shand also subverts the normal pop song by releasing some of the coolness through a feathery bridge where Shand croons, ‘I’m trying to find my way”. The choice to ascend rather than descend made me think of Seal’s Kiss From A Rose, who happens to be one of Shand’s musical influences.
Shand proves his songwriting abilities and his vocal range on this track. The Petty Narcissist (Arctic Ocean) is going to be a collection of deeply personal songs all written, produced, and composed by Shand. If the rest of the album follows suit lyrically and atmospherically, Shand is going to reach people on a soul level. Don’t worry, The Petty Narcissist (Arctic Ocean) comes out on January 21, we won’t have to wait long to see where Shand decides to take us!
by Lauren Millar
The music of Jason Shand has been heard all over the world in partnership with the radio plugging services offered by Musik and Film Radio Promotions Division. Learn more https://musikandfilm.com
