Fred Issid, a Canadian-Spanish composer, pianist, vocalist, and songwriter, uses creative outlets to explore emotions, relationships, life, and connectivity. A classically trained pianist, he began learning at six and earned a master’s in piano performance. He recalls growing up in the structured, formal world of classical music before discovering the fluid, tribal energy of electronic music at live shows and raves. He loves the inclusivity of the electronic genre, the fusion of diverse elements, and the connection between the music and its fans, all of which influenced the synthesis of his current music style.
Inspired by artists like Björk, who pioneered the blend of classical music with electronic elements, Fred admires how these genres don’t have to exist as polar opposites but can instead complement, build upon, and expand each other. He sees music as raw material that can be morphed into something entirely different, symbolic of his upcoming album titled, “Topology.” Topology explores continuity, compactness, and connectedness, that help us understand the structure of things. Yet, certain properties remain unchanged; for instance, the foundational structure of his classical piano parts combined with the ambience of electronic synth, that transforms into an entirely new piece of music.
The newest of which, is his second single titled, "My Bluest Music Box," a cathartic narrative about internal dilemma. With its ballad-like structure and spacious sound, it offers a contrast to the first track on the album, “Stall,” which is more pop-driven, danceable, and musically dense in style.
In “My Bluest Music Box,” Fred opens with the emotive line, “Tip-toeing around your heart,” immediately followed by the piano keys tip-toeing each note. The music slowly builds an intense pressure, which underscores a conflicted storyline of whether or not to tell your close friend how you really feel about them. A depressing fear that if you reveal these emotions you could risk tainting or even losing the friendship all together.
In the lyrics, “Pretending not to love you is my secret weapon Protecting my desires from getting out of hand.”
Here, on the other hand if you keep these feelings inside, then you’re tormented with a silenced truth that beats desperate to get out. The slow percussive tension of the track mirrors the pounding of a heart that doesn’t know what to do. Inside, he feels vulnerable and conflicted, while outwardly pretending to have it all under control… (more like under wraps).
Within the track you feel the tension grow like the knots that are tightening inside, and the spaciousness between melodies lets the introspection linger.
Fred shares that writing this song allowed him to no longer suffer in silence. While the song didn’t solve his predicament, nor untie his knots fully, it served as an outlet for release. Having an outlet for pent-up pressure, whether from emotional trauma, dilemmas, or life’s hardships, is necessary for well-being, especially if you don’t have other tools to deal with it. Fred adds the mere act of creating, materializing the melodies and striking the piano keys makes space to validate the complexities of these emotions amidst the chaos of it all.
What’s further, Fred Issid shares that this song integrates nicely into the overarching theme of his upcoming album Topology, which is “a liberation, from words never spoken, to apologies never given or expressed extrovertedly.”
When asked about his favorite part of making the project, he described the magical moment of sitting at the piano and experiencing his emotions transmute into melody. From there, he elaborates on the collaborative elements in “My Bluest Music Box.” His producer in Spain helped arrange the Japanese drums and he worked with a DJ to contribute various electronic sounds in the studio. The track then passed through various mixing and mastering stages, with John Muller aka @stonegroov, best capturing Fred’s emotional centerpiece.
Fred reflects overall that it's not easy to connect with all the things you really feel inside. He emphasizes that tapping into and being creative with your emotional state is a powerful way to feel better. He encourages others to find a way to connect with their inner voice, express it outwardly, and give those emotions direction. It’ll only hurt worse if you don’t listen to yourself.
To relate in your own way, catch “My Bluest Music Box,” on all streaming platforms March 14th.
To follow Fred Issid’s musical journey as he continues to morph and unveil the rest of “Topology,” connect with him here:
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