The singer of my favourite band recently started a solo project. These projects are fairly common, and fun to witness from the consumer’s perspective. Understanding how the single person’s style ties into the music of the band helps with understanding the person doing the solo project and understanding the whole band a little better. It gives someone a stage to show who they are outside of the band, and how their influence makes the band what it is.
Conor Mason, as Man Made Sunshine, released a first song which immediately captures you with familiar vocals, if you like Nothing But Thieves. Life’s Gonna Kill You (If You Let It) is a very soft song, honest in more ways than just through the lyrics. It gives a feeling of something open and vulnerable, a look into someone’s soul. This impression very much matches what the artist himself says about the music.
I feel comfortable showcasing the dark personal matter in hopes that it may offer solice to another. I hope if you need you can tune into them too and they offer some comfort to you.
Conor Mason, in the Man Made Sunshine newsletter
I wanted to capture this softness and fragility in art. My immediate connotation was pastel colours, nothing vibrant or dark, but soft on the eye. The clean style and cartoonish rays of sunshine followed as I was sketching. Compared to the wild guitar sounds of Nothing But Thieves, Man Made Sunshine does strike me as a bit clearer, so I love to see this reflection in the art, when my painting for Nothing But Thieves are usually a little messy, more painterly than illustrative.
Parts of the lyrics are incredibly relatable to me. Dealing with loss can become consuming. But you can get through it. Eventually, you take a step back and realize how much you’ve changed. It’s important to re-discover yourself while holding on to the parts that make you who you are. There will be parts that you don’t recognize, parts you would like to discard, but accepting this new version of yourself is freeing.
He’s alone with his thoughts
Man Made Sunshine – Life’s Gonna Kill You (If You Let It)
Still, the days, they roll on
I wanted to put this experience of finding comfort in yourself into my piece. The sunshine is still present, even if the character isn’t facing it right now. But sometimes facing yourself is more important. The sun will still be there and keep you warm, the world will continue to spin, but this peaceful moment is for you and yourself alone.
Life is painful, and annoying, and it is going to kill you both metaphorically and literally. Life is going to kill you, but please don’t let it.
jenyoyo 