Exclusive First Look: Sijya Cushions Tough Narratives With 'No Words'
30 January 2023
New Delhi act Sijya has been busy unfolding her debut EP 'Young Hate' to notable critical acclaim over the past months, elevating the release with music videos for its six tracks. For each number, the producer, composer and visual artist has partnered with different creatives to offer a unique approach with each drop. The latest and last in the series sees her work with filmmakers Bhushitendu and Subodh Pareek for her track 'No Words' – the video for which she shares exclusively via Wild City ahead of its wider release.
The track embodies Sijya's observation for Mixmag Asia, where she stated: "I’ve been told my visual work has a musical quality, and the way I use music is like visual elements." Similar to the abstract nature of her visual forté, 'No Words' begins with meandering piano noodling and whispers that are hard to make out and intentionally so. Vocals are just another timbre for the New Delhi talent to include in her meticulous collage of synths and found sounds. The resultant texture, in its abstractness, conveys an intimate and wistful introspection that few could with direct lyricism, after which Sijya breaks into a lilting song that feels like remembering melancholy and finding hope in the strength that saw you through it.
Similar to the playfulness of the video for 'Stonefruit' and the home movie montage of 'Clear', the music video for 'No Words' by Bhushitendu and Subodh reflects the theme of nostalgia and childhood by casting the soft toys, that Sijya never allowed her mother to throw away while growing up, as the protagonists. Through the lighthearted casting, 'No Words' deals with a heavy atmosphere of grief and hopelessness to touch upon topics like loss and depression.
The idea of soft toys having depression feels like the light humour we reach out to while conveying difficult personal issues and it allows the creators of the work to present a sincere and intimate expression while also imparting the message: anyone can be depressed.
Watch the music video for 'No Words' below and follow Siiya for more information.
Artist's note: If you or someone you know might be depressed, there is help out there: @itsoktotalk @the.outlive.project @karma_care @tatva_center @icallhelpline"