Charlotte Wessels - 'The Exorcism' (official music video)

You were here at seven
Banging my head against the wall
To the rhythm of some old hymn
That I still recall
When I was eleven
you told me I’m like the silver moon
As I ran on empty not a day to soon

Your tone changed after
To hunger strikes and hurricanes
Scarlet summers, growing pains
I’d follow you all the same
Oh I kissed you sickly
Smoking out sadness in your room
T’ was the first time ever I thought
Of expelling you

Now I’m gonna stay up
I’m gonna stay afloat
With or without you
Stay away, be gone

You wandered briefly
Left me crying tears of joy
And for a minute
I knew peace
It was beautiful
and so boring
I know I’ll exorcize you
Twice each decade from now on
And though I might sedate you
You will never be gone

Oh, you’ll never be gone
You’ll never be, never be

I’m gonna stay up
I’m gonna stay afloat
With or without you,
With or without you now
Stay Away Be Gone

Johanna Charlotte Wessels: 37χρονη τραγουδίστρια εξ Ολλανδίας (Zwolle, Overijssel). Την γνωρίσαμε κυρίως ως μέλος των Delain, των οποίων διετέλεσε τραγουδίστρια από το 2005 μέχρι προ τριετίας (2021). Επίσης την έχουμε ακούσει (και) σε δίσκους Kamelot, Epica, Serenity, Kissin' Dynamite, Dark Sarah, Knight Area.

Παράλληλα "τρέχει" και την προσωπική της καριέρα. "The Obsession" τιτλοφορείται το νέο της δισκογραφικό πόνημα (έχουν προηγηθεί οι δίσκοι "Tales From Six Feet Under" και "Tales From Six Feet Under Vol II") και αναμένεται τον πρώτο φθινοπωρινό μήνα...

Δελτίο τύπου: «Charismatic Dutch singer / songwriter Charlotte Wessels is set to release her new album, The Obsession, under Napalm Records on September 20, 2024!

While the former Delain vocalist’s earlier solo endeavors, full-length song compilations Tales From Six Feet Under (2021) and Tales From Six Feet Under Vol II (2022), already gained Wessels a remarkable number of devotees, resulting in thousands of monthly listeners on Spotify and a loyal fanbase on Patreon, The Obsession truly takes her solo career to the next level.

While still writing and producing songs in her Six Feet Under basement home studio and sharing their first incarnations with her patrons, now she’s taking them to the next level backed by a band of her fellow ex-Delain cohorts Timo Somers (guitars, additional arrangements), Otto Schimmelpenninck van der Oije (bass) and Joey Marin de Boer (drums) as well as Sophia Vernikov (piano / hammond), contributing to the new heavier sound.

It also features arrangements by Vikram Shankar (Redemption, Silent Skies), cello by Elianne Anemaat, was mixed by Guido Aalbers (Muse, Coldplay, Live, Queens Of The Stone Age, The Gathering) and mastered by award-winning mastering engineer Andy VanDette (known for his work with the likes of Porcupine Tree, Deep Purple, Dream Theater and many more).

Themes like fear, obsessive thoughts and escapism run rampant on the album, presenting dark and heavy on songs like “The Exorcism”, “The Crying Room” and “Ode To The West Wind” (feat. Alissa White-Gluz / Arch Enemy).

In addition, there are songs that offer a more upbeat approach to the subject - like “Dopamine” (feat. Simone Simons / Epica) which deals with SSRI-induced numbness, or “Praise” - which sings the gospel of needing external validation in order to feel anything.

The reimagining of fan-favorite “Soft Revolution” won’t leave a dry eye in the room, while “Soulstice” and “Serpentine” present an unprecedented dark sensuality. Each song itself functions like an exorcism, an attempt to cast out a little of the fear it deals with.

On The Obsession, Charlotte Wessels adds bucketloads of bombast to her genre - bending songwriting, as spellbinding melancholia and dark catchy elements meet progressive and heavier soundscapes.

The storytelling within the songs give the multifaceted album even more depth, making The Obsession an exciting listening experience and Wessels’ most mature solo offering so far.»

Artist: Charlotte Wessels
Video: "The Exorcism"
Video by: Tim Tronckoe and Claire Stuart
Scenography by: Nina Cornelia Schilp
Styling by: Simon de Bruyne, MUA Ashley Groenewald
Lights by: Friso Tjalma
Dance by: Lidewij Bouter

Album: "The Obsession"
Type: Full length
Release date: September 20th, 2024
Label: Napalm Records
Format: CD, 12" vinyl, Digital

Track listing:
01. Chasing Sunsets
02. Dopamine (Feat. Simone Simons)
03. The Exorcism
04. Soulstice
05. The Crying Room
06. Ode To The West Wind (Feat. Alissa White-Gluz)
07. Serpentine
08. Praise
09. All You Are
10. Vigor And Valor
11. Breathe;
12. Soft Revolution (2024)

Line-up:
Charlotte Wessels - Vocals
Timo Somers - Guitars
Otto Schimmelpenninck van der Oije - Bass
Joey Marin de Boer - Drums
Sophia Vernikov - Piano, Hammond