In the case of Inner Tongue, they simply continue on as before: writing lyrics, harmonies and melodies, working on perfect beats, all the time unsure how, when – or indeed whether – the individual components will ever be combined. Fortunately, on this occasion we can skip straight to a happy ending: in May 2015, Inner Tongue releases his debut EP, Tz, Ka.
Bright and dreamy, though often undercut by the presence of a dark, almost physical bass, the soundscape of Inner Tongue’s songs is always harmonious, but nonetheless flirts constantly with discord. His lyrics, too, offer a tremendously reflective intensity, that fragile voice delivering them through a meditative pulse of restrained, intelligent beats. Classifying such hypnotic, understated pop isn’t easy, but the result is a small miracle, and the lust for life unleashed by the successful realisation of Inner Tongue’s creativity penetrates his restraint with a tranquil but substantial force. As the video for ‘Fallen Empire’ illustrates so beautifully, he’s not afraid to make his own rules. Whether the joy is in the game or the victory, however, is anybody’s guess.