-
- November 19, 2021
On November 11, Australian trans singer/songwriter flowerkid, released his debut EP EVERYONE HAS A BREAKING POINT. Throughout the six tracks, flowerkid (whose real name is Flynn Sant) openly confesses the experiences and feelings of mourning that come with growing up. The now 20-year old artist first introduced himself to the music scene in 2018 with his raw ballad “Boy With the Winfields and Wild Heart.”
With lyrics of deep emotional intellect, flowerkid looks within to explore the personal issues of mental health, toxic masculinity and gender dysphoria. Recorded over three years, each track takes you through a snapshot of a memory from his youth. Yet the painful emotions of struggling to find oneself are undoubtedly relatable. On his hopes for the listening experience of EVERYONE HAS A BREAKING POINT, Sant says,
“I want us to lose ourselves hand in hand on this ethereal and spiritual musical journey I created for us. Please listen and watch as my internal and external struggles flourish into bloom. I can’t wait for you to hear this excerpt of my heart and soul.”
The first track of the EP is “it’s happening again” ft. KUCKA. The vibrating keys of the piano quickly turn into a synthesizing rush, evoking the sense of losing control. This is a standout track as flowerkid sets up this overwhelming feeling that has now bubbled to the surface, no longer willing to be suppressed. In the official video, flowerkid wreaths and struggles as the internal pain turns physically overwhelming.
“Miss andry” and “vodka orange juice” were both released as singles. Each transporting back to moments of being bullied and the contempt for toxic masculinity. “Vodka Orange Juice” is a heavy ballad that pairs a piano melody of an innocent lullaby with light cracking vocals. You can read more about the track here.
“Miss andry” holds a soft punk ambiance as it delves into the complex layers of hatred for men. Part of the hatred stems from jealousy as flowerkid belts, “ Oh, I never hated you/ I don’t even hate them/I just hate myself.” He rips open the layers revealing the raw vulnerability of not feeling like enough or “real.” It’s deeply emotive and honest. The video shows flowerkid illuminated by a backdrop of red as he sits in the fighting ring alone and beaten up. Visually expressing the internal wounds inflicted on oneself, sparked by the judgement of the outside world.
The track “why bother” continues to paint the picture of pain and loneliness. The harmonic melodies of the piano and guitar establish a state of reminiscent nostalgia. The lyrics “Why do I even bother” drag out as the contemplation of whether or not to move on has come to its head. The overall effect is one of slow melancholy.
Sant ends EVERYONE HAS A BREAKING POINT with the track, “i met the devil at 4 years old.” After someone attempts to sway him to the faith of religion, he raps the repeated profound verse, “Would have focused on religion a long time ago/But for me God was a no show.” Experiencing trauma from a young age makes it difficult to have faith. While the track has a cynical flavor, there is also a sense of faith and hope in ones own strength as another repeated lyric is, “I had to do it all on my own.” The visualizer has the same symbolic profoundness as it cycles through images of a flower blooming and wilting, interspersed with pictures of Sant as a child.
The deep introspection of the EP taps into the most fragile of insecurities and yet the softness holds incredible strength. The loneliness is comforting as flowerkid openly shares his own traumatic struggles in the hopes that those listening feel a little less alone with their own. The innocence of youth has wilted away, but the next chapter with the resilience of adulthood is just starting to bloom. Flowerkid’s EP EVERYONE HAS A BREAKING POINT is now available on all streaming platforms. Join him on this cathartic journey and keep a sharp eye out for what he does next as his raw talent is just starting to bloom.
