Varas—a project created by Swedish singer-songwriter and self-taught producer, Benjamin Muñoz Varas—released his new experimental EP along with its title track “Eaten by Worms.” Creatively addressing deep themes such as feeling unseen or unprotected and the multilayered butterfly effect, Varas’ uniquely crafted, borderless sound highlights his focus on doing his own thing without restriction, challenging the norms of music and the idea of “genre.”
Although Varas has production skills under his belt, he wanted to focus more on writing, making the EP a collaboration-based project. With the help of a diverse group of musical experts to lighten the load, Varas said he had the chance to explore themes he hadn’t before, allowing himself to dig deep and uncover hidden meanings in the human experience.
“Eaten by Worms,” while nearly genre-less, contains influences of the electronica and experimental elements of Radiohead’s work blended with the catchiness of indie pop to create an innovative piece. A mysterious, ominous tone breaks through the tranquil electronic instrumentation and breathy, toned-down vocals, all contributing to the song’s introspective theme.
The track’s compelling lyrics are inspired by Autobiography of Red by Anne Carson, a poem about a red winged monster, Geyron, who longs for the protection of a cage after his wings fail him and cause him to crash to the ground. Using this poem as the track’s driving narrative, Varas said he was able to explore the theme of resourceful self-preservation through the lenses of nostalgia and growth.
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