Submit to the Mystery: An Exploration of Love, Hate, Ambition, and Humility
Armando Heredia’s new album, Submit to the Mystery, released under the pseudonym If We Were A Band, is a compelling collection of songs that explore the complexities of the human experience. Published on December 5, 2024, the album is available on most streaming platforms, offering listeners a raw and honest glimpse into the artist’s mind. The songs are rich in allegory and metaphor, inviting us to confront our own understandings of love, hate, ambition, and humility. This article will explore each song individually and as a collection, examining Heredia’s distinct writing style and the emotional impact of the album as a whole.
What Do You Know About It?: Unmasking Superficial Love
“What Do You Know About It?” immediately challenges our conceptions of love. Heredia employs a striking metaphor, comparing those who claim to understand love to “a chemist in an art museum,” so focused on the technicalities that they miss the essence of the art itself. The song’s imagery further emphasizes this point, juxtaposing “incandescent lights and peeling paint” with “broken down refrigerators” and “wood panelin’ in the basement,” creating a sense of decay and neglect that reflects the hollowness of love without action.
The lyrics directly address an individual who boasts about their understanding of love while simultaneously exhibiting hypocritical behavior. Heredia sarcastically praises this person’s “handyman” skills, drawing a parallel between their ability to fix physical objects and their perceived ability to mend matters of the heart. However, the broken-down Ford in the yard and the “busted knuckles” suggest a failure to apply those skills to love itself, resulting in a “engine just won’t turn”. The song ultimately questions the authenticity of this individual’s claims, highlighting the disconnect between words and actions.
Easier Than Love: The Seductive Simplicity of Hate
In contrast to the complexities of love, “Hate Is Easier Than Love” explores the alluring simplicity of hate. Heredia likens hate to a “downhill journey,” requiring minimal effort and flowing along the “path of least resistance”. It’s a “fast game” that ignites instantly, fueled by self-preservation and a disregard for the other.
The song emphasizes the challenges of love, portraying it as “reaching for the highest shelf” and a “long game” demanding patience and empathy. Love requires us to step outside ourselves, to “walk in their shoes” and see the world through another’s eyes. While hate prioritizes self, love compels us to expand our perspective and embrace a more complex and challenging path.
Little King: A Cautionary Tale of Ambition
“Little King” shifts the focus to the perils of unchecked ambition. Heredia utilizes the allegory of a king who seizes power without earning it, exposing the pitfalls of pride and the consequences of hasty decisions. The imagery of a burning castle and mocking subjects paints a vivid picture of the downfall that awaits those who prioritize power over wisdom.
The repeated line, “a fool will always snatch the crown from a man too wise to give it to him,” serves as a chilling reminder that true leadership is earned through merit and humility, not through force. The song ends with a haunting question: “But was it ever really yours?” challenging the listener to consider the true cost of ill-gotten power.
The Stars: Finding Solace in the Cosmos
Heredia turns outward in “The Stars,” inviting us to find solace and perspective in the vastness of the universe. He personifies the stars as a powerful force, a “swaggering army” and a “wild conquering band of brilliance,” emphasizing their untamed beauty and dominance.
This imagery serves as a reminder of our place in the grand scheme of things. The stars, with their ancient wisdom and untamed brilliance, dwarf our human concerns, urging us to embrace humility and awe in the face of something far greater than ourselves.
Heredia’s Writing Style and Emotional Impact
Throughout the album, Heredia’s writing style is characterized by its directness and conversational tone. He uses vivid imagery and relatable metaphors to convey complex emotions and philosophical concepts, making them accessible to a wide audience. The raw and unfiltered nature of the songs, create a sense of intimacy and authenticity.
The album’s emotional impact stems from its honest exploration of universal themes. Whether challenging superficial notions of love, exposing the allure of hate, warning against unchecked ambition, or finding solace in the cosmos, Heredia’s songs resonate deeply with the listener.
Call to Explore the Complexities of Love, Hate, Ambition and Humility
Submit to the Mystery is a testament to the power of raw emotion and unfiltered creativity. Heredia’s songs possess a compelling authenticity that resonates deeply with the listener. They are an invitation to explore the complexities of love, hate, ambition, and humility – universal themes that touch every human heart.
The album is available on Apple Music, Spotify, and most major platforms.
For more information, visit https://armandocreative.com and http://ifwewereaband.com.
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