Exclusive video premiere of ‘Violets in the Haze’ by James Forest & The Dead Shakers.

What is “Violets in the Haze”? To me, this song is about everything and nothing at the same time. Sometimes in life, one event, responsibility, or relationship can feel overwhelming and take up all the space in one’s mind and heart. In our shared reality though, an emotional burden is usually just one thing in a person’s long and complex lifetime. That being said, we’ve all felt this way before and lived in our own personal fog. Idiosyncratic as our lived chaos is, as a community, we are able to build a great tower of haze. There is a random collaboration of emotional labor in our daily rituals.

The funny thing about the color purple is how often we think we see it vs. the rarity of a true sighting. The screen you are staring at can really only create RED, GREEN, and BLUE. Purple, on screen, is really just a neat trick on our eyes. By clustering very small dots of those three colors together, and lighting them in specific combinations, our brain accepts the light seen by the eye as purple. Last summer I had the most profound experience, laying on my back, staring at a rainbow above my chili pepper plants. The longer I looked into this unobstructed rainbow, the more depth I could perceive in each color band as I started to see it less like a ribbon of flat stripes and more like a stack of tubes. The way I felt color in that moment was a deeper experience and my brain lit up like a wildfire.

The “Violet” is our connection to the real, the love between all beings, indescribable by digital means. The “Haze” is the hell we create. Everything is already within us, both haze and violet. The track is a choice, which would you like to hear? – Kevin Bloom

James Forest – vocals, Wurlitzer, bass, synthesizers
Kevin Bloom – guitar
Vinchenzo Sicurella – synthesizer
Zack James – drums

Video by David D.D.

James Forest is a composer-songwriter, producer, multi-instrumentalist, singer and tireless traveler. Born in Quebec, can be found throughout the world including India, Pakistan and
Europe where he often lives for extended periods searching for the perfect words, sounds and moods for his productions. Forever bringing his deep and moving experiences from around the globe to a sweet expression in his signature style, James takes you on a journey that is both from life and above it at the same time. Forest shows himself to be a true cinematic composer. His music truly reflects his expansive, universal sound. Stunning moods, massive soundscapes and moving arrangements. Music from the Heart and Soul for the Heart and Soul.

James Forest & The Dead Shakers Official Website / Facebook / Instagram / Bandcamp / Apple Music / SoundCloud / Spotify / YouTube