Brisbane's Sali Eri mesmerises on intense debut single, 'Shadow Puppet'

Brisbane-based music-maker, Sali Eri is diving in to the local scene with verve. Utilising her background in classical music, the artist explores the limits of vocal styles and toes the lines of genre creating a unique sound in the process - all of which can be witnessed in Sali’s debut single, ‘Shadow Puppet’.

Using her songwriting as an outlet for everything she can’t express; frustration, violence and fragility, all of which are visited through anecdotal lyrics, giving what she hopes to be a voice to even the most alien of experiences.

With influences ranging from the introspective Frightened Rabbit, to the stylistic Dolores O’Reardon, to the sweet and sardonic Rina Sawayama, Sali Eri’s gloomy bass tones, soaring vocal lines and irony-laced lyrics meet at the intersection of doom and a sense of humour.

In ‘Shadow Puppet’ , Sali carves a lyrical pathway for fellow introverts to follow, all of whom are far too familiar with being something they are not, to fit in with the more socially-adept. It’s delicate, raw, and beautifully voiced, with Sali balancing gentler takes with soaring moments, and showcasing a vocal style that is so often pushed aside in more modern alternative music. Peeling back the sonic textures in ‘Shadow Puppet’, the drums pound and build much like that of an anxiety-driven heartbeat, fuzzed bass and guitars thicken the air, while underlying pads and a reverb-saturated synth deliver the sombreness while simultaneously, and contradictorily bringing some hope. ‘Shadow Puppet’ represents a beacon for the introverts struggling in a sea of social acceptance.

‘Shadow Puppet’ was written in a notes app on the ride home after a party. Hit with a wave of exhaustion after a night surrounded by extroverts, the lyrics outline how it feels to mask one’s personality, resorting to feeling as though the only chance of acceptance is through mimicking the mannerisms of the less socially awkward.

The music itself evolves with the lyrics, taking inspiration from the intensity, sincerity, and storytelling of artists such as Mitski and Ali Barter. It follows the awkward and static feeling of not knowing what to do with yourself as it grows into a messy mix of envy and adoration.

Creating ‘Shadow Puppet’ was a collaborative effort within the local Brisbane scene. The track was produced by Gus Honeychurch (Honeychurch) and mastered by Matt Gray, with drums and drum tracking by Sean Puxty (June, Old Town) and Matt Sorensen (Mattsoro, Altfiction). The artwork was created and conceptualised by Sydney Gainsforth (PhD!).

‘Shadow Puppet’ is streaming now on all platforms.