Spotlight: Brian Bulger Releases “Dissolve”

While many have taken this year to get back to normal, many have forgotten about what this pandemic has taught us. While definitely traumatic, one could argue that it has reminded us how important our home life, basic self-care and socialization needs are, both individually and collectively. Today’s spotlight goes to an artist that has truly understood that this pandemic had some grey area in our lives.

Brian Bulger

This singer-songwriter is based out of Springfield, Missouri which is actually more known for its “small city charm” than its music scene. Thus, Brian has truly broken barriers and has become well-known everywhere since. With over 36,400 monthly listeners on Spotify, it is now obvious that Brian has been making big waves both in the music scene and in his home area. His first single came out in 2016 and since, Brian has previously released 13 singles, a single EP that featured 6 songs, and a debut album. 2019 was Brian’s most notable year with releasing 4 singles and his debut album. 2020 (during the pandemic) was also a strong year for Brian when he released 4 singles. More recently in 2021, Brian has also previously released 5 singles. It is clear now that Brian will continue to write and release numerous amounts of music that leave his fans begging for more. Brian writes about the important topics, with instrumentation that features an almost acoustic country, meets pop and indie vibe. One might also notice how his music is calming, yet powerful and leaves his listeners both relaxed and empowered.

“Dissolve”

This 11-track album is Brian’s latest work and was released on November 11, 2021. The album is a harder listen to compared to his prior work as it explores Brian's personal journey of healing from trauma and leaving evangelical christianity. Through stories of purity culture, an abusive father, depression, anxiety, and disassociation, this EP brings up an important conversation that is not talked about enough. The first song is definitely a pandemic baby (You Were Born In A Pandemic) which also has the lyric that makes up the title of this album. As the lyrics encourage the listener to come back stronger and get back to where they started, the instrumentation is an acoustic guitar that has some sad lyrics. The harmonies in the middle to last half of the song, provide a mantra-like vibe that makes you want to sing along.

The second song provides a more happy-like, yet relaxed vibe with the instrumentation. This is while the lyrics as the important questions and remind the fan of their self-worth. Quick Step Manic (and the third track), has a faster beat from the first two, and even features a drum beat. This song talks about heartbreak and almost feeling hopeless. Quick Step Manic also brings up some traumatic experiences of Brian’s and lyrically could be a harder song to listen to.

Dead Battery Signal is less of a song, and more of an interlude that has some more spoken parts to the album. The vibe of this particular song might remind you of an old TV speech. The Song You Like has a more catchy beat than the prior songs mentioned, and features Guinevere Sheafer on vocals as well. This particular track makes you both want to cry and tell Brian that things will be alright. Bad In A Good Way has a more pop-like beat, and back to the motivational lyrics that more of his work has. The song is catchy and might be the most fast-paced song on the album, which is the perfect combination between moderately paced and a dancing song.

God, My reverts back to the slower paced music that more of the EP has, and is very heartbreaking in the lyrics, providing a more in-depth look at Brian’s past that one may not initially realize. Many questions are asked in this song, and is one of the more notable songs on the album, talking about religious trauma. This song in particular talks about all the different ways that Brian would like to view “God”, yet how the Christianity higher power has traumatically altered that view.

BaseBall Bat (A Story) is exactly the embodiment of this song. A story that also involves a baseball bat and a big brother that makes the listener think that the lyrics are directed at them. Brian shares some sensory elements to this story that allow you to truly picture the setting he talks through. Temple has the instrumentation that you might expect at a Christian church, while the lyrics talk about dissociation, trauma, heartbreak, and overall, is one of the heavier songs. The instrumentation builds up through the song slowly, while maintaining that calm personality Brian has with his music.

Tess slows the ending of the album down fast, with a slowly strummed electric guitar and has a slight bit of hope in the lyrics. This song is a break from the typical style that Brian writes, which may remind you of a slowed down pop-rock song. This song is a harder listen for those that may cry to music easily as the lyrics are truly heartbreaking and easy to make you think about your life.

The final song on the album, Everyone Is The Reason starts off with parts of the first song, You Were Born In A Pandemic, features a speaking part that has some truly heartbreaking lyrics, talking about the escape from religious trauma, and the same speaker from Dead Battery Signal. The speaking section also brings up how cults function. That everyone truly wants to be there, and how trapping that can feel to someone trying to escape. Thus, creating an album that is both immensely heartbreaking, sad, yet calming, hopeful, and easy to listen to in its entirety.

Overall

Brian truly has achieved his goal with this song and while mostly sticking to his refined sound, has slowly begun to experiment with it. This heartbreaking, yet hopeful album has brought up the important conversation of religious trauma that society fails to mention. Religious trauma is actually a very common situation for many ranging from the LGBTQIAA2S + umbrella, to minorities and child cult victims. The issue is that religion is so normalized in our society, that we shut down anyone who says that religion can be a very violent and abusive situation. Brian has created a masterful album that will give you both feelings of hope and hopelessness, allowing everyone to truly empathize and grow with him.

Written by: Blake Matthews (he/him)