Track by Track is a recurring feature series in which artists guide readers through every song on their latest release. Today, Anjimile takes us through their latest record, The King.
Today (Friday, September 8th), Anjimile returns with The King, the follow-up to their 2020 effort Giver Taker. Taking a darker, more frustrated approach to his alternative folk, The King tackles issues of oppression, systemic violence, and forms of injustice on both a personal and societal scale.
The King showcases an angrier, less hopeful side of Anjimile. The eponymous opener establishes as much immediately, with ominous choir vocals and arpeggios that come across like a warning. The song establishes a clear mission statement, one that Anjimile continues to deliver for the rest of the album.
He explains, “While the punishment of eternal hellfire has been weaponized against me as a queer and trans person (and many other queer and trans folks growing up in religious households), I wanted to turn that trope on its head and be the one invoking some fucking hellfire on my behalf, for once.”
While the record’s 10 songs speak to universal issues, much of the inspiration came from highly personal experiences. From enduring rejection for their trans identity to penning a track about a close friend, the songs of The King remain grounded in lived experience.
“I just found myself hurting. And I couldn’t imagine writing music from a place of healing, because I wasn’t feeling healed,” he says of the track “Anybody.” “I felt like shit, and I knew that writing this song was one of many steps I needed to take towards recognizing, allowing, and coming to terms with my fear and grief.”
Listen to Anjimile’s The King below, followed by their Track by Track breakdown of the project. You can also grab tickets to his upcoming tour dates here.
