Former DELAIN singer Charlotte Wessels has joined forces with EPICA‘s Simone Simons for Charlotte‘s mesmerizing new single titled “Dopamine”. This track is part of Wessels‘s first traditional full-length, full-band solo album, “The Obsession”, set to be released on September 20, 2024 via Napalm Records. Promising a deeply immersive and evocative experience, the two Dutch symphonic metal legends guide listeners through the emotional landscape of SSRI-induced numbness. “The Obsession” showcases Wessels‘s most mature work to date, blending progressive and heavier soundscapes with catchy elements.
Supported by her former DELAIN bandmates, who contribute to the album’s heavier sound, Wessels is set to bring “The Obsession” to the stage this year. The journey begins with a release show on October 4, 2024 at Utrecht’s TivoliVredenburg, followed by a special guest appearance with labelmates KAMELOT and AD INFINITUM in Drachten on October 11, 2024. After these shows, Wessels will join VOLA on their “Friend Of Phantom” European tour 2024, kicking off on November 1.
Wessels comments: “Lyrically, ‘Dopamine’ deals with SSRI-induced numbness that I experienced a few years ago when I was on Sertraline, a type of antidepressant. While the medication was really helpful, there were so many side effects that I’d never heard of. This song deals with some of them, and while it feels vulnerable to expose the experience, I hope it helps in breaking down the shame and taboo around the topic.
“Simone reached out to me as I was first opening up about this in an interview, and when the first version of ‘Dopamine’ dropped on Patreon (because, of course, we’re each other’s Patreons) she texted how much she liked the song. So when we were working on the album version, it only made sense to ask if she’d sing along on the track. I am so happy she agreed and after all of the shared introspection, it was great fun to let loose wearing pink wigs in ball pits and marshmallow pools for the video recordings. Musically, out of the entire new album, ‘Dopamine’ went through the biggest transformation. What started out as an EDM demo for a collaboration with a dance duo that never happened, became an acoustic ‘Song Of The Month’ on Patreon, which then had a massive overhaul when rearranging it with Timo. The new band version is an absolute banger, and the beautiful guest vocals by Simone complete the song.”
“The Obsession” marks Wessels‘s Napalm Records debut, and while her earlier solo endeavors — full-length song compilations “Tales From Six Feet Under” (2021) and “Tales From Six Feet Under Vol. II” (2022) — already gained her a remarkable number of devotees, “The Obsession” truly takes her career to the next level.
The new album promises a cohesive exploration of fear and liberation, as well as spellbinding melancholia and dark, catchy elements meeting progressive and heavier soundscapes. The storytelling within the songs gives the multifaceted album even more depth, making “The Obsession” an exciting listening experience and Wessels‘s most mature solo offering so far.
While still writing and producing the songs in her Six Feet Under basement home studio and sharing their first incarnations with her patrons, Wessels now takes the songs from her new album, “The Obsession”, to the next level with a band of her fellow ex-DELAIN cohorts Timo Somers (guitars, additional arrangements),Otto Schimmelpenninck Van Der Oije (bass) and Joey Marin De Boer (drums) as well as Sophia Vernikov (piano/Hammond),contributing to the new heavier sound. The album also features arrangements by Vikram Shankar (SILENT SKIES, PAIN OF SALVATION),cello by Elianne Anemaat, was mixed by Guido Aalbers (MUSE, COLDPLAY, THE GATHERING) and was mastered by Andy VanDette (PORCUPINE TREE, VOLA, DREAM THEATER).
Wessels about the new album: “On the one hand, this album tells a very personal story — through its unintended theme of fear, obsessive thoughts and the escapes from them — and at the same time it represents the joy of finding the song’s true forms with everyone involved in the making of this record. That’s why I chose ‘The Obsession’ as a title. It refers to my personal challenges with OCD that inspired many of the songs — but I’ve also started referring to the band as ‘the obsession’ because there were moments in the studio with them that truly reminded me of why I’m obsessed with making music in the first place.”
Themes of fear, obsessive thoughts and escapism run rampant on the album, presenting dark and heavy on songs like “The Exorcism”, “The Crying Room” and “Ode To The West Wind” (featuring Alissa White-Gluz of ARCH ENEMY). In addition, there are songs that offer a more upbeat approach to the subject — like “Dopamine” (featuring Simone Simons of EPICA) which deals with SSRI-induced numbness, or “Praise” — which sings the gospel of needing external validation in order to feel anything. The reimagining of fan favorite “Soft Revolution” won’t leave a dry eye in the room, while “Soulstice” and “Serpentine” present an unprecedented dark sensuality. Each song itself functions like an exorcism, an attempt to cast out a little of the fear it deals with.
Wessels states about the guests: “I’m extremely grateful and proud to add Simone Simons and Alissa White-Gluz to the lineup of this album. They are creative powerhouses that I have so much love and respect for. Whenever we get to work together is an absolute treat and they really elevated the songs with their performances.”
“The Obsession” track listing:
01. Chasing Sunsets
02. Dopamine
03. The Exorcism
04. Soulstice
05. The Crying Room
06. Ode To The West Wind
07. Serpentine
08. Praise
09. All You Are
10. Vigor And Valor
11. Breathe
12. Soft Revolution (2024)