We’re glad to announce that Los Angeles-based solo artist Roxana Line has released a new single, entitled “Among The Dead.”
Roxana seamlessly blends emo, musicals, and rock influences in a self-contained, easter-egg-filled universe of musical fairytales. Drawing inspiration on the one hand from emo, rock, and pop-punk bands such as My Chemical Romance, The Used, Panic! at the Disco, Green Day, and Evanescence, and on the other hand, Disney movies and Broadway musicals such as Beauty and the Beast, Frozen, Aladdin, The Greatest Showman, Mozart L’Opéra Rock, Wicked, and others, Roxana Line has played over 200 gigs throughout her performance career.
Roxana has also taken part in over a dozen competitions and talent shows (some televised), often winning first prizes for outstanding vocal performances, original music, and stage appearances with her bands. In 2009, still in Russia, she took first place on a regional level of The Festival of French songs, performing her original song; and in 2013, Roxana won a televised voice talent show in Russia, performing a song from Disney’s “Camp Rock.” Also in 2013, her band became the “Break-through of the Year” at the Metal Hail Fest held in Russia, and opened for the German band The Ocean on their visit to her band’s hometown.
On February 24th, 2020, Roxana Line’s single “Paper House” made it into the semi-finals of the 2019 International Songwriter Competition, leaving over 16,000 submissions behind; and in March of 2021, the music video for Roxana’s original song “That’s The Way You’re Giving Up” (which she also produced and wrote a script for) became a semi-finalist of ISC as well. In addition, in September 2021 Roxana took part in DC Stargirl Scoring Competition organized by Spitfire Audio, Pinar Toprak, Mad Ghost Productions, and DC Entertainment, and wrote an original re-score for a provided video clip from DC Stargirl TV series, garnering a very positive response from the community.
On February 24th, 2020, Roxana Line’s single “Paper House” made it into the semi-finals of the 2019 International Songwriter Competition, leaving over 16,000 submissions behind; and in March of 2021, the music video for Roxana’s original song “That’s The Way You’re Giving Up” (which she also produced and wrote a script for) became a semi-finalist of ISC as well. In addition, in September 2021 Roxana took part in DC Stargirl Scoring Competition organized by Spitfire Audio, Pinar Toprak, Mad Ghost Productions, and DC Entertainment, and wrote an original re-score for a provided video clip from DC Stargirl TV series, garnering a very positive response from the community.
“Among The Dead” is the second chapter of Roxana’s original musical horror story, and like the other songs (chapters) from this upcoming concept album “60% Wonderworlds, 40% Tragedies,” “Among The Dead” is inspired thematically by “Penny Dreadfuls,” a 19th-century British publishing phenomenon. The song is set in 1838, at Grim Town’s infamous Berghorst Mortuary, where many years ago Sir Berghorst went missing in the swamps one night when the moon seemed especially bright. Reportedly, overtaken by her grief, Lady Berghorst was unable to come to terms with her loss. Townsfolk say that she carried on with their family business as if nothing happened, but “she wasn’t all there,” as some put it. Her confused mind led her to believe that her husband was returning soon. Later, her body was found in a chair in her room with walls covered in mirrors and a blown candle on the floor…There are talks of frightening whispers and strange glowing lights wandering through the graveyard. Some even swear that they have seen Lady Berghorst in the window of the mortuary, saying that she might still be waiting for her dearly departed husband to come back home…
“Among The Dead” is not only a thrilling ghost story that is a part of Roxana’s connected universe of songs, but it is also a song about the loss of a loved one, denial, and insanity that tragedy can bring with it. It is a song about finding a way back to reality, even if that reality hurts a lot. It is also about depression, broken dreams, and attempts to find the meaning in things around and continuing your journey. The song is presented in a form of a conversation between a wife and her late husband who returned to take her with him to the next world.
Roxana Line (music and lyrics, arrangement, orchestration, programming, producer, vocals, background vocals, choir, keyboards) is joined on “Among The Dead” by Alexander Verbitskiy (co-producer, recording engineer, mixing engineer), John Graber (recording engineer), Reade Wolcott (recording engineer), Ted Jensen (mastering engineer), Sean Green (vocals), William Jacobsen (guitar), Joe Cho (bass), and Kenny Schwartz (drums). The single was recorded at Matter Music and Abducted Fox Records, mixed at Abducted Fox Records, and mastered at Sterling Sound, TN.
“Among The Dead” begins with a spooky, twinkling melody played by bells and a range of ominous effects, creating a foreboding atmosphere that suits the song’s mysterious story quite well. A dark, distorted electric guitar chord progression then joins in along with the driving rhythms of the bass and drums, highlighting Roxana’s captivating vocals quite nicely throughout the song’s dynamic lyrical passages. In “Among The Dead”’s compelling choruses, Roxana Line trades lyrics with Sean Green as they further develop the story, the ghost of Sir Berghorst finally coming back and taking the soul of Lady Berghorst with him as she realizes everything that has been happening over the years. During the bridge that follows, this realization sets in as the eerie bells return along with resonant chimes, leading nicely into a soaring guitar solo and then into the final chorus, with the ominous effects returning at the track’s conclusion. “Among The Dead” is quite an enjoyable listen throughout, highlighting Roxana Line’s brilliant songwriting and superb musicianship, as well as her penchant for spellbinding storytelling. I would highly recommend this track to fans of emo, alternative rock, and musicals alike.
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