Multifaceted musician, producer and composer Neacal has shared the third single of his solo chamber pop project, titled ‘Unrest’, with an accompanying video via Neacal Music. The track follows the release of ‘Out of Control’, which received support from notable tastemaker NOTION Magazine, while his debut single ‘The Bell’ received support from CLASH Magazine as well as support from renowned Seattle-based radio station KEXP 90.3 FM and National Radio station Radio X. Neacal has also announced that he will be unveiling his debut album, Stranger from Long Ago, on the 11th of October. Neacal started his artistic career as a founder of one of the most known instrumental progressive/post-rock bands from Eastern Europe, boasting nearly 5 million streams across platforms and tours across Europe and Asia, along with writing original soundtracks for a few video games. The track was written, produced and mixed by Neacal, with co-mixing by Ivan Lubianyi and mastering by the legendaryIan Shepherd (Deep Purple, New Order, King Crimson).
As a kid, Neacal passed the examinations for a local music school for his pitch hearing and began learning the violin, a journey that spanned 11 years. Pivoting to the electric guitar during university, he began composing his own music. This transition marked the genesis of his career as a composer, the path he’s been walking for over 16 years, most of which he spent specialising in instrumental music. Neacalredefined his sound, crafting orchestral pop songs as a means to navigate through trauma and reinvent his musical language. Through resilience and adaptation, his story is a testament to the enduring power of creativity amidst adversity.
Influenced by the brooding orchestral pop of Woodkid, Agnes Obel, Owen Pallett, Neacal‘s music is sure to be enjoyed by fans of the cinematic sounds of The Irrepressibles, Cinematic Orchestra and Ólafur Arnalds.
‘Unrest’ begins with poignantly-picked harp notes which usher in cinematic strings and Neacal’s heartfelt vocals, powerfully saturated with emotion yet intricately tender. The song erupts with a magnificent organ passage, ceremonially bridging the quiet ballad beginning and the orchestral second half, restless yet paced and gentle. The song showcases Neacal’s finesse as a composer, a promising teaser to his upcoming album. The accompanying video, shot on the picturesque shores of Scotland, is a breathtaking work in black and white, a perfect pairing for the song’s solemn mood.
Neacal shared: “‘Unrest’ is the culminating point of my upcoming debut album, where the emotional stakes are at their highest, and the drama peaks. Despite its sombre mood and underworld-themed imagery, this is not a song about embracing death, but about conquering it. And such victory may only come at a very high cost. For me personally this song was a harbinger of my inevitable mental meltdown, an internal collapse that had already begun by that time unbeknownst to me, and that took months to overcome.”
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