Learning to let go with the sound of acceptance.

As humans, it is almost inevitable to have a realization that something around us has changed, and go through a season of loosening our grip in preparation to let go. Maybe to take us into a different season of our lives. It could be a person, a social or familial dynamic, a place or a habit. The way a tree lets its leaves wither and fall from its grip once they turn color, we too witness those around us change, and have to free one’s hold to enter a new season.

In any kind of media, there are often common themes of change, usually stuck in the before or after, but it’s special when an art form is rooted in being present in the change. When we experience these points in our lives, we may grieve for the before, for comfort or the unachieved after, to skip to the fully adjusted and competent version of ourselves.

These themes are ever present in the collaborative album Never Die by Matt Jencik and Midwife. This album is a deep dive into the natural patterns of before and after, changing and being changed, life and death. In so many tracks of Never Die, the listener pines for tonal closure of the chord progressions while rarely receiving it, mocking the feeling of yearning for resolution in our human patterns of change and being between places.

Artists Matt Jencik and Madeline Johnston first met in ’15, and afterwards, Jencik began to create Never Die. From there, Johnston’s creativity and style stood out to Jencik. He asked her to collaborate on the album, and each artist brought their elements of musical style, creating a spiritual musical journey with this album.

The album begins with “Delete Key,” where the artist sets a firm boundary, realizing that all along they have been drained by someone or something at hand – they are going to hit the ‘delete key’ and release all grip from the relationship. These lyrics illustrate the emotions of running for freedom, from the emotional exhaustion of a draining relationship with someone or something, maybe not yet healed or cup filled, but catching your breath, saying, “I’m just glad I got away.”

Throughout Never Die, we hear ethereal, brooding soundscapes, some vocal-led and some solely instrumental, giving time to sit in the haunting, soul-stirring resonances of this album.

While the album is titled Never Die, the themes of life, death and acceptance of those patterns in nature are present throughout the album. Despite the strong themes, there is still much room for individual listeners to apply these elements and messages to their own lives.