There’s music that exists. And then there’s music that builds a nest somewhere deep inside and occupies a space without any inhibition. Canberra-based, fiercely independent, and free-spirited artist Erotika Dabra’s ‘I Wonder (for Us)’ is a two-part journey of self-discovery and rebirth that is wildly attention-grabbing. Coming out of a traumatic past, ‘I Wonder (for you)’ was released earlier this year, while Erotika Dabra’s journey of turning inside is mirrored in ‘I Wonder (for me)’, which is a more recent reveal. A rare dual delivery that feels like walking around a once inaccessible house, only to find that the keys were always within.
Read Another Review: ‘Awe Walk’ by Blacklight Beat Patrol is a Sonic Pilgrimage into the Unknown
In the first part, ‘I Wonder (for you)’, Dabra initiates the space with some striking words. He initiates the deep dive with, “The mind is the most powerful tool, and if you believe in magic, you’ll start to create it. You’ll start to see this magic everywhere.” And confesses, “But it took me a while to get here.” The song then unfolds a story that is an intertwined presentation of Erotika Dabra’s raw voice and an honest but bitter play of electronica. The sound reflects the shadows of violence and trauma that Dabra faced in the past. Honouring the battered past selves, there is aching generosity and also gratitude. “This is for every You who has impacted every Me out there.”
In News: Foo Fighters Drummer Jesse Freese ‘Shocked’ on Being Fired
Where ‘For You’ is like an exhale, ‘I Wonder (for me)’ is an inhale that follows. The shift is more daring, more angular. Dabra sheds his skin of survival and steps into the reclamation of Magic with a powerful affirmative voice. He grounds his existence in “Me” during the first 30 seconds, and then claims himself back in the next, “I’m done with you. Now it’s me.” Dabra’s untamed approach to reaching a state of triumph through intimacy and self-love. Every beat feels like it’s coming from inside the chest cavity. The sound gets bolder and is a testament to a voice that is no longer asking permission to heal.
The production of ‘I Wonder (for Us)’ is candid with gitchy ambient waves and breathlike synths that rise and fall like emotional tides. There’s no climax because both tracks in their entirety feel like the climax! Erotika Dabra is just sharing his personal story but constructing a shared language of resilience through such documentation of trauma and recovery. These songs are codes of healing for anyone whose identity is eclipsed by suffering. Listen to Erotika Dabra on all music streaming platforms now.
Check out our playlists here!
Check out our YouTube channel for music reviews, playlists, podcasts, and more!
