Freddy Black is a multi-talented and experimental poet, songwriter and musician from Dublin. His music transcends boundaries, inviting listeners to explore the depths of human experience.
Following close on the heels of his recent single, ‘Drainpipe Diamond’, which saw him land the likes of Hot Press, Near FM, RTE 2XM, Ragged Cast and many more.
Black continues to showcase his distinctive artistic sensibilities via a nimble combo of blues-infused lyrics and a carnival-like atmosphere of piano, slide guitar topped off with his asphaltic half-spoken, half-sung vocals. He’s previously played venues such as Crow Bar Terrace in the Button Factory, Smithfield Creatives and more.
“Cloak and Dagger” is his latest offering, a powerful testament to the ever-present interplay of grace and danger. Follow his journey as he redefines the musical landscape.
Following on from the release of his last single, is due to release his compelling new single, “Cloak and Dagger.” While the title may not indicate it, ‘Cloak and Dagger’ is another of Black’s anthems of empathy. Still, it’s also a quiet demon of a song that menacingly hints at its protagonists’ downfall at the hands of a femme fatale who ‘commands the whole room/with grace with and ease/selecting her prey/another plaything…’.
If the chief aim of the artist is to confront life’s harsh truths via unbridled creative expression, then Freddy Black does so here with aplomb. “Cloak and Dagger” is the latest demonstration of his poeticism, depicting the powerlessness faced by the protagonist at the hands of a woman of great seductive authority who merely views him as disposable, weaving a narrative that is bound to immerse leaders in the dangerous game the protagonist has little choice but to play.
Much more than just a hard-luck tale of seduction gone wrong, ‘Cloak and Dagger’ hints at something far deeper and more insidious. The song is part of a seven-part song cycle drawn from the mystical power of the number 7, touching on luck, whether good or ill-starred, on the seven deadly sins, and the notoriously seven-headed apocalyptic ambassador that arises from the sea in the Book of Revelation.
With ‘Cloak and Dagger’, the sonic odyssey begins, and transcends mere lyrics, hinting also at centuries of institutionalized abuse sanctioned by the Catholic Church in Ireland. Indeed, the church’s fundamentally damaging doctrine on sexuality and its corrosive teachings on sexuality have left a legacy of trauma for generations, the symbolism of Black’s creation demands greater scrutiny of the listener. Recorded live at temple lane studios under the guidance of producer Dan Wheatly.
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