The days are growing darker, and the nights are drawing out. My head is aching more often, and as always, I entrust the cure for the blues to the hands of chillhop. And right on time, my good friend Jannik Jivung—otherwise known as Resonant Circuits—is sharing his latest gem with the world. In collaboration with the talented Vybeshift, they have created “Sparks Of Life.” Listening to it right now, I’m finding it hard to write, because the words are simply drowning in the emotions that are overwhelming me.
The light handpan from Vybeshift, like a drop of dew at dawn, gently awakens the listener from the very first seconds. It is the chief narrator of this enchanting, remarkably pure fairy tale. Alongside it is the beat’s rhythm, so measured that it resembles a quiet, yet persistent heartbeat. It feels like an omen of a new beginning, or a call to awaken something long-forgotten deep inside. Between them, acoustic percussion accents are like subtle shadows that add texture, holding every instrument in a shared equilibrium. Just look at how it was created.
Somewhere after the first minute, a faint piano seems to emerge. The playing by Resonant Circuits doesn’t ruin the magic you’ve already felt; on the contrary, it adds volume and development. Against the backdrop of the handpan, the piano sounds quiet and warm, perhaps a little “worn” by time, but all the more sincere because of it. Their tandem is like a dialogue between a naive, fresh magic and a wise, cautious experience. The final third of the track fills up with a greater number of instruments, creating a truly rich, full canvas.
For me, the composition itself feels like a compressed yet complete life. The sharp beginning is like birth, the gaining of experience at the halfway point, and finally, a gentle but truly rich fade-out—a reminder that everything has its end. But these two and a half minutes entirely contain that elixir which gives us the inspiration to keep living, despite everything that’s happening around us. This is the true power of the work: it doesn’t wound, it heals, like an herbal balm for the soul. I believe that even in the most hardened hearts, a green sprout of kindness can grow after listening to this masterful and vibrant composition, made with love and inspiration.
P.S. For more musical magic from Resonant Circuits and Vybeshift, check out our earlier review: Finding Yourself: Musical Magic by Resonant Circuits, Tal Vaknine & Vybeshift
