BUY / STREAM STARING AT CEILINGS EP HERE
WATCH EDWIN RAPHAEL PERFORM LIVE ON CBC MUSIC’S ‘THE INTRO’ HERE
STARING AT CEILINGS EP OUT TODAY VIA DINE ALONE RECORDS
"Raphael's languid instrumentals are all too easy to melt into." - Exclaim!
"Raphael indulges by opening up that affecting guitar-vocal pairing to a lush bridge with added horn, guitar and drums." - CBC Music
"The track seemingly blooms from a spacious and rustic folk sound into something far more lavish." - Under The Radar
"Tranquil melodies flow over electronic and acoustic instrumentation." - American Songwriter
Photo Credit: Gaelle Leroyer // DOWNLOAD HIGH-RES
Today, Montreal-based singer/songwriter Edwin Raphael shares his Staring At Ceilings EP produced with Marcus Paquin (Arcade Fire, The National, Local Natives) via Dine Alone Records. The 5-track EP reflects the spectrum of human indulgence and the cost of our anxieties. From start to finish, the project reveals a progression from hopelessness to optimism and that the human mind is capable of going to the bottom of the sea and still making it out under the sun.
BUY / STREAM STARING AT CEILINGS EP HERE
WATCH EDWIN RAPHAEL PERFORM LIVE ON CBC MUSIC’S ‘THE INTRO’ HERE
Edwin Raphael shares this of his new EP:
"As with every new day, the earth revolves the same, you live things a little like yesterday, you leave a little space for the hopes of something riveting but it’s rare. But every so often you stumble upon that day where everything is nothing like you knew before. You see colors you’ve never seen before; you stare at the same ceiling but it gives you an entire cosmos today."
The opening track “Time To Sink” begins softly, advanced by layered textures of peaceful vocals, sharp horns, refined guitars, and crisp drums. The track embraces stillness even when life continues to shift back and forth with light.
Last December, Edwin Raphael shared his single "Sea Of Things" accompanied by its music video. On “Sea Of Things” Edwin gives off Jeff Buckley vibes by bearing the same soulful intensity. It's a gorgeous, striking piece of work attributed to Edwin’s innate talents and sheer efficiency with instrumentation. On the narrative front, “Sea Of Things” is an ode to existence and dissociation catalyzed by anxiety. “Sea Of Things” is a testament to the chaotic and oftentimes perplexing nature of the ocean and of living without control.
WATCH AND SHARE “SEA OF THINGS” HERE
Edwin released his first single off the EP “Mild Sanity (feat. Juletta)” this past fall. Deeply absorbing and incredibly cathartic all at once, Edwin’s languid vocals and atmospheric melodies take listeners’ minds outside the cruelties of the world’s relentless wreckage. “Mild Sanity” is also elevated by NYC pop singer-songwriter Juletta’s ethereal cadence.
Influenced by artists such as The Villagers and Ben Howard, “Staring At Ceilings” hits listeners like a much-needed sign of relief. Commanded by therapeutic lyrics, soaring melodies, and expansive instrumentals, the EP’s title track is a cinematic showcase.
“The After” closes out the EP and Edwin hails the track as that “first breath you take after having spent a considerable amount of time underwater.” Doubling down on ambiance, “The After” focuses on textures and production that are unconventional and unpredictable. In result, these sonic choices support the track’s theme of confusion just before one embarks on new challenges that lie ahead.
MORE ON EDWIN RAPHAEL
“You can't win if you don't play” is a quote that lives within singer-songwriter Edwin Raphael. Ditching a career path carved out by his father, Edwin is headstrong on finding his own way in a world no longer concerned with archaic traditions. The 25-year-old artist, living in Montreal, Canada, uprooted from Dubai, creates music instilled with spiraling emotion, which resonates on both the shattered and enriching moments in life.
Edwin released his debut LP Will You Think of Me Later? in 2019. Prior to that, he released a pair of EPs—Ocean Walk in 2015 and Cold Nights in 2017. With over 16M+ cumulative streams spanning ~185,000 monthly listeners, he’s been featured on Spotify’s New Music Friday Canada, indie pop & chill, Indie Chillout, Lush + Ethereal, Chill Singer-Songwriter, and Folk Favourites playlists.
BUY / STREAM STARING AT CEILINGS EP HERE
MORE PRAISE FOR STARING AT CEILINGS
“'Sea of Things' feels primal, mimicking the ocean with cyclical, crashing movements, patiently building itself up and washing itself back out." - FLAUNT
"Calming ambience and angelic vocals." - Lyrical Lemonade
"Chill pop with a touch of folk." - EARMILK
"Weightless and ethereal" - Indie Shuffle
"The instrumental and harmonic components provide the same floating-in-space feeling we love from Fleet Foxes." - Culture Collide
"Offers an escape from anxiety." - Kajal
"Incredibly raw and emotional." - C-Heads
"A gently addictive soundscape, all wistful energy and patient." - Beats Per Minute
"Notes of Bon Iver and Frank Ocean come to a glorious head to create something moving, exciting and fresh." - The Rodeo
STARING AT CEILINGS EP TRACKLIST:
1. Time To Sink
2. Sea Of Things
3. Mild Sanity (feat. Juletta)
4. Staring At Ceilings
5. The After