Purchase track at https://disconnectica.bandcamp.com/track/thought-bubble

Official music video: https://youtu.be/mHMNJCS39T4

Thought Bubble is one of my most experimental tracks, and the second single from my upcoming debut album Eclectic Dystopia. It delves into the power of imagination and the allure of escapism. A person lost in their thoughts, creating an idyllic world to enshrine the object of their desire, leaving reality behind. Till it all comes crashing down.

I came up with the verse and chorus separately, then realised they belonged together. The climactic ending was added later to develop the theme and bring it to a conclusion. I often write from another character's perspective, and here it's a character with a lot of hubris. I like the idea of an obscure artist singing “Don't you know who I am?”

The vocals are cryptic and menacing, and the accelerating 7/8 beat gives the feeling of always falling forward. A sparse arrangement at the start builds gradually to a cataclysmic finale. There are shades of Radiohead, Bowie and Nine Inch Nails. The music video received a Special Mention Laurel from the United Kingdom Music Video Festival 2023.

In this 6th version I added some realistic drums in the last section to add energy, from 2:48.

Lyrics:

Don't you know who I am?
Don't you know who I am?
I'm really something 'round these parts
These particular parts

I got you inside my thought bubble
I got you inside my thought bubble
Where we can be together
Leave the weather behind
Where we can be together
Never looking behind

Don't you recognise me?
Don't you recognise me?
You may have seen me on TV
This particular TV

I got you inside my thought bubble
I got you inside my thought bubble
Where we can be together
Leave the weather behind
Where we can be together
Never looking behind

When I close my eyes
I am king of all I see
I built this kingdom for you
This particular you / This version of you

I got you inside my thought bubble
I got you inside my thought bubble
Where we can be together
Leave the weather outside
Where we can be together
Never looking outside

All my thoughts play out in a
Cloud above my head
Got my head in the clouds
And I got clouds in my head

I upload my thoughts to a
Cloud above my head
Got my head in the clouds
And I got clouds in my head

The bubble will burst
The cloud will explode
The rain will come down
With all we upload

Thought Bubble [version 6 - OLD]

"You don't sound like anyone else," said Danny Thompson - renowned bass player for Nick Drake and Joe Strummer - about English musician Conil.

The GRAMMY-winning engineer for Tom Waits and Elvis Costello, Tchad Blake said: "Strange Part of the Country is an awesome album! I still listen to it."

Fleetwood Mac legend Peter Green liked Conil's music so much he stopped by Conil’s house to record with him. They recorded a version of Conil's homage to the jazz greats "Round Midnight". 

Strange Part of the Country never conformed to any current trends and has remained timeless. Now, people are discovering this album and it is becoming an all-time favourite. 

When the album was released in the UK, it received some amazing press. Britain's biggest selling music monthly Q magazine gave it: "Four stars - Q Recommends". Blues Matters magazine wrote: "One of the most original artists out there". In the next issue, Blues Matters put him on the front cover.

Conil left London after Strange Part of the Country was released and has spent the last ten years living in the United States and Europe - including New Orleans, New York City, and Berlin.

Songs from the edge of somewhere.
You don’t know if you’re walking into a protest, a party, or a funeral.
Bluesy, soulful rock’n’roll.
Haunted, deep and raw. 
The kind of raw you can’t fake.

“You don’t sound like anyone else,” said Danny Thompson - legendary bassist for Nick Drake and Joe Strummer - about English producer Conil.

Tchad Blake, sonic architect for Tom Waits and Elvis Costello, agreed: “Strange Part of the Country is an amazing album. I still listen to it.”

Fleetwood Mac’s Peter Green was also a fan, making a rare visit to Conil’s studio to record a mellow take on “Woke Up Around Midnight,” his smoky tribute to the jazz greats.

Conil’s distinct sound has drawn praise from Marc Ribot, Davey Graham, Pino Palladino, and John Leckie - artists and producers known for recognising the real thing when they hear it.

Upon release, Strange Part of the Country made quiet but lasting waves. Q Magazine gave it four stars and a Q Recommends stamp. Blues Matters Magazine put Conil on the cover, calling him “one of the most original artists out there.” In the U.S., “Years Between” climbed to number three on the Alternative Radio Chart.

Raised in England on the Rolling Stones, the Velvet Underground, and Tom Waits, Conil later lived in some of the world’s most musically charged cities - New Orleans, New York, Chicago, Austin and Berlin - chasing sound wherever he went.

That began early. He travelled far, met the Dalai Lama, climbed Kilimanjaro, and crossed the Himalayas - experiences that shaped his perspective and his music.

He is now finishing his long-awaited second album - recorded in New Orleans, Chicago, London and Greece - with Danny Thompson, Tchad Blake and more.

Welcome from Melbourne, Australia!  I recommend going to my playlists, as the track list is a bit of a mess.  I'm mostly focusing now on alternative rock/pop vocal tracks, but have a wide variety of genres.

Influences include Radiohead, The Beatles, Mike Oldfield, Silverchair, Pink Floyd, Grimes, White Stripes, Blur, Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Throwing Muses, The Breeders, R.E.M., EMF, Talking Heads, David Byrne, David Bowie, Philip Glass, The Clouds, Beck, Queen, Godley & Creme, They Might Be Giants, Scott Joplin, and somehow the Coen Brothers!

Thought Bubble [version 6 - OLD]

Disconnectica