“Atheist's Afterlife” by Quiet Hollers – A Song Feature

     Even before their most recent release, “Quiet Hollers” was our counterargument when fellow music followers would assert that lyrical substance and intelligence are rare compared to the past. We first became aware of Quiet Hollers with their release of “Mont Blanc” in 2015. It’s an accounting of life in a post-apocalyptic world, as told in the first person by an educated man who readily admits that he was unprepared for the requirements that were suddenly thrust upon him. “Mont Blanc” is powerful because the description is relatable, even though the circumstances are foreign to the song's listeners.

 

    While “Mont Blanc” engages our imaginations by poetically portraying life after “the bomb,” the lyrics of “Atheist's Afterlife” are engaging in inviting interpretation. The lyrics are included in this post. The song begins “When we die, we return to our Mother.” This is not our maternal mother or the Mother Mary, since he is an atheist. It must be Mother Earth. According to the single, we return to an pre-birth "existence." Twice, “Atheist's Afterlife” refers to the lapping cosmic rays that are our graves. The atheist believes in an afterlife, it’s just a different afterlife than is the focus of the believers of a supreme deity.

     The instrumental support during the first verse of “Atheist's Afterlife” is solemn. For the second verse, percussive rhythm is added, which is likely from a drum machine.  A guitar enters near the end of the second verse, then carries the single during the bridge and during the conclusion. These instrumental changes aid in maintaining the melodic beauty throughout the single.

     “Atheist's Afterlife” is among the tracks from the upcoming album of Quiet Hollers. “Forever Chemicals” is scheduled for release on January 21, 2022. The album can be pre-ordered at the Bandcamp site - https://quiethollers.bandcamp.com/. The credits include:
   Vocals, guitars, bass, piano, keyboards, drum machine: Shadwick Wilde
   Drums, keys: Dave Chale
   Drums on "Happy with You": Dave Givan
   Strings: Aaron West
   Saxophones on "Why Henry": Drew Miller, Amber Woodhouse
   Theremin on "Addicted (Relapse)" by Scott Carney
   Album Art by Sarah French Wilde

 

     Quoting the press materials:
  “Forever Chemicals” is the joyfully nihilistic fourth LP from genre-bending Indie group Quiet Hollers, based in Louisville, KY and led by singer-songwriter Shadwick Wilde. Referencing the ancient practice of Alchemy both in its artwork and its production, it mixes elements from across the spectrum of rock music to deal unflinchingly and compassionately with mortality, mental illness, and the grand mystery of existence. Wilde explains, “We are forever chemicals. The same particles we’re made of have been here since the beginning of time, and will be here indefinitely. Yet, all we have is this moment, and how we choose to spend it."

     "Atheist's Afterlife" by Quiet Holler 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/QuietHollers

Website: http://www.quiethollers.com/

Lyrics of “Atheist's Afterlife” by Quiet Hollers
When we die, we return to our Mother
we unbelievers who believe so deeply
in love with everything
the wild violence that stirs
the seasons of Earth
and the lapping cosmic waves
 
When we die, we return to our Mother
we unbelievers who believe in everything
so deep in love
with the wild violence that stirs the seas and the birds And the lapping cosmic waves
that are our graves, our graves
 
When we die, we return to our Mother
we unbelievers who believe in Love
so deep with everything
with the wild violets and dandelions
that dance across my mind
and on the lapping cosmic waves
that are our graves, our graves, our graves

     "Mont Blanc" by Quiet Hollers