“C-TrYp” is the moniker for a fellow named Chris – a single dad from Columbia, South Carolina, who…didn’t really mess about with music until a chance meeting ignited the itch. Submerged in a studio and practically erupting in previously suppressed creativity, Chris completed his first – and very ambitious – musical work: My Nebula, a full-blown concept album detailing Chris’ pervasive urge to be a rock star. Is My Nebula a powerful work that truly leads one through multiple emotions and a strong urge to replay? Or … is it perhaps something that should have remained unwritten? Let’s talk about it.
Wait. Who does what?
Chris. Chris does everything (guitars, drums, keys, etc.). So, I have to think there’s some foundational knowledge and a little hands-on experience at play here – he certainly didn’t just pick up these instruments for the very first time and write/perform a concept album. Well, unless he’s a virtuoso, and totally underselling himself. Anyway, let’s hit the opener…
“Rags 2 Riches??” starts with an effect-laden, growling electric guitar, and then leaps into the meat of the song. It’s big electric chords, and a voice with angst-filled attitude. There’s an interesting tempo change from verse to chorus. It really shouldn’t work, considering it’s almost a complete purging of the song’s gathering energy, but it’s totally on purpose, and in effect, clever.
Track #2, “Adeline,” is an acoustic number featuring Chris’ low, wavering voice. This is obviously a more simple musical confession. This could be a purposely reopened emotional wound, or a memory’s scar accidentally scratched off.
Track #4, “Groovy Girl,” is another mostly acoustic number with some clean electric strumming underneath, blotted with some nice lead guitar notes.
Track #6, “Rock n Roll Dream,” is the meat and potatoes – narratively, and musically. Big, noisy, wet and sloppy electric guitar chords lay the foundation for Chris’ slightly diabolical vocal delivery. This song emits attitude, and perhaps a little resentment.
“Married Woman Blues” begins with those crispy, distorted chords, but quickly reverts to cleaner strumming for the verse. And then a pre-chorus hits, but the volume drops regardless of the more distorted guitar sound. Very interesting. It’s like the introduction to another aggravated personality.
My Nebula closes with “Bosu Sen”– it begins with an arpeggio of nearly flat strings, but holds together long enough for the rest of the song to confidently arrive. “Bosu Sen” sounds like resignation. The chords are struck with some ferocity, and Chris’ voice offers a snidely expressed, perhaps begrudgingly arrived at acceptance.
But is it good?
My Nebula is definitely ambitious. Artists with more years and albums under their collective belts have never swung this far, let alone considered such an undertaking. If you like attitude-dripping vocals and an almost DIY rock vibe with an earnest, honest, at times regret-riddled message, I ask that you give C-TrYp’s My Nebula a spin (or, “a stream”). You may be inspired to make your own unexpected hard-left into a studio and finally indulge your very own rock and roll dream.
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BELOW: Listen to My Nebula and check out C-TrYp on YouTube, Apple Music, Spotify, Facebook, Twitter (*AHEM*- “X”), and Instagram. Please support C-TrYp by visiting his website and playing, downloading, and/or purchasing his music. And, as always, thank you for supporting real music.
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