‘Shiver’ by Kael Alden | New Album, ‘Saturated Highs’
Exclusive video premiere of ‘Shiver’ by Kael Alden, taken from his latest album, ‘Saturated Highs’.
As a child who grew up in a small Colorado town in the 80s, Kael Alden loves to reminisce about road trips through the rockies, blasting motown and classic rock on the AM radio. Or staying up late, spinning whichever records his parents left on the turntable until the sun came up. One theme runs throughout all of his favorite memories; music.
That child has gone on to have great success as a TV/film composer since, and also with his indie band Faded Paper Figures. He now turns the lens inward as he embarks on his most personal and artistically sound work to date. His debut album, ‘Saturated Highs’ was released August 19th 2022, incorporating elements of synthwave, soul, RnB, and psychedelia to form something entirely his own.
Focus track and video ‘Shiver’ is arguably the quintessential track on the record, defining the ebbs and flows that make Alden’s sound what it is. Fluent is one word that comes to mind when describing his talents, but there’s more depth than just that. The visuals – which are the final part of the puzzle for Kael to stand up against the greats in the electronic world in terms of quality such as James Blake, Kaytranada, or even Nick Hakim – are self-directed and produced, and a perfect example of why Kael Alden should be a name known all over the world.
Kael says on the process: “Sometimes you just really don’t wanna do something, but you know it’s good for you. I began writing my debut album right smack during Covid and a tidal wave of instability in my own life. During that time my wife and I went to therapy (something that, as it turns out, is really great and I highly recommend it to all couples, even thriving healthy ones). Initially, the thought of intentionally seeking imperfections in myself and my relationships, looking for scabs to pick at, was daunting. A very uncomfortable and vulnerable position. But eventually you do get used to it… hell, you may even enjoy it.”
Kael’s voracious appetite to learn and write in pop, hip hop, classical, jazz, and rock styles eventually landed him a job composing music for TV commercials and film at a music-house called Robot Repair.
In 2008 Kael composed a 30 second piece of music for a Lexus commercial that, at the time, was so intriguingly innovative that it drove thousands of viewers to take to the internet and track Kael down, flooding his email inbox with inquiries demanding that he release a full-length version.
Faded Paper Figures (abbreviated FPF) have released five full-length albums and two EPs since 2008, all with impressive accolades.
Kael Alden Facebook / Instagram / Bandcamp / YouTube
