In Conversation With: 13//ali_fawn
Citing time-travel and death as an influence, 13//ali_fawn definitely makes an impact with his debut single ‘Future Swim’. Having been tutored by the legendary Hans Zimmer, the tracks hits all the right boxes when it comes to psych-pop.
Your new single ‘Future Swim’ is out now, can you tell us what the track means to you and the inspiration behind it?
I was very interested in the song ‘A Forest’ by The Cure. To me, the lyrics start with the singer inviting the listener in, “Come closer and see.” By the second verse the song transitions into the listener taking the singer’s place, “I Hear Her Voice.” We did something similar by starting with an invitation for the listener and then transitioning to the listener experiencing the song in first-person. While recording the song I was also fascinated by the book ‘The Story of the Eye.’ I wanted to incorporate the feelings that were evoked while reading that book. Specifically the part when the narrator and Simone go to see Marcelle at the asylum. ‘Future Swim’ is about time travel and death. It contemplates whether or not the two are intertwined as one thing. Musically, we wanted to give the feeling of time warping and stretching in the intro and then skyrocketing forward in a linear fashion. Lyrically, the song is about a man who stands at the edge of a sea cliff and hears the ocean call him in. He interprets this as an invitation to a portal in which he can go to another time and place—specifically the past to prevent the death of his loved one.
It touches upon the idea of time travel and death, if you could travel back in time to a certain period and stay there, where would it be and why?
I’m not sure. I enjoy moving forward.
While at university you studied music, visual arts and poetry. Are there any poets or artists that you are personally a big fan of? If so, why? Do you feel they contribute to your music style?
I’m inspired by Sterling Ruby, Georgia O’Keeffe, Ellen Von Unwerth, Daisuke Yokota, Ren Hang, Drexciya, Frida Kahlo, Tatiana Trouvé, Agar Agar, Huerco S., Helmut Newton, Ren Hang and Agnes Bernice Martin. The feelings I receive from each artist’s work is what inspires me. There are also philosophies and processes that some of these artists practice that give me ideas and new ways of thinking.
A few years ago, you worked under the tutelage of Hans Zimmer, how was that experience? What do you feel you learned from it?
It was an interesting experience. I learned a lot about how I want to focus my energy.
This project has seen you involving photographer Daisuke Yokota, how did that partnership come about? And what made you give so much focus to the visuals of this project?
I first saw his work a couple of years ago and felt verconnected to and inspired by it. His photography is full of life and energy. Certain methods he uses for processing are amazing.
The partnership came about through reaching out to his management. I’m very grateful to have the opportunity to use his photography as album artwork.
Now the single is out there, what next? What are your plans for the next few months?
There are more releases coming and plans to make more music.