Progressive metal/rock band Source formed in Boulder, Colorado, in 2013 and their music expresses perception, emotion, human adventures, and “the beauty of all that is”. Comprising Ben Gleason, Justin Mirarck, and Riley Selleck, their latest single, ‘Benjamin’, is loud and fierce, and tells the story of Benjamin, who fights against a world which tells him to conform while at the same time wanting him to be himself. It comes with a music video which skilfully slips between live action and animation.
Signed to Pavement Music, Source consider their main influencers to be Tool, Mastodon, and A Perfect Circle. ‘Benjamin’ is a cleverly written song – interestingly – inspired by philosophy, yoga, and other restorative mind practices.The band will shortly be heading out on tour to promote their second album, ‘Totally’, which follows up their well received debut, ‘Return To Nothing’, released in 2016.
‘Benjamin’ is set in a school classroom, and mocks the setting completely. The band are dressed in suits and ties, while equations are written on the whiteboard. They tell the truth through song, of how forced societal pressures curb imagination and creativity – the equations hide the message, “You Must Know To Survive” which represents the flawed ideas of how arranged pathways are the only options that will allow us to succeed”. In the words of Dr Seuss:
Why try to fit in when you were born to stand out?
Switching from live action to animation, a boy is metaphorically boxed in by his parents: clothes, appearance, even his actions are strictly ruled by them. The result is that he feels hidden, and disconnected from his true identity. The resentment he feels towards those things which weigh him down is given release by way of an impassioned guitar break. Finally, the boy breaks free, allowing his creative galaxy to flow: he floats amongst his own messy, yet colourful thoughts, which work togetehr to create his world.
Find out more about the incredible Source here.
