WATCH: ToBy Takes A Swim In Dreamy New Music Video For “Cascades”
WATCH: ToBy Takes A Swim In Dreamy New Music Video For “Cascades”
Words By: Amanda Marano
Rapper/actor/writer ToBy is back with a hazy new video for “Cascades”. This is the latest visual off of his recent EP, The Outside, which was released July 10 via Magnetic Moon. The dreamy video follows the tranquil but melancholy theme of the EP.
“Cascades” brings the refreshing, peaceful feeling that perfectly complements his vocals – with the lyrics reflecting ToBy’s personal experiences. “Cascades” tells a story of a relationship where despite the love, there’s a looming feeling of distance and lack of presence despite proximity. With a gloomy guitar flowing alongside his vocals, the sound and lyrics convey the numbness that comes from going through the motions. Even though the love will always be there, the relationship has run its course. ToBy manages to tell these stories in his soft, relaxing voice – allowing the lyrics to flow just as swiftly as a waterfall.
The video falls in perfect harmony with the sound and message of the track, and the serene numbness that comes from producer oebeats‘s instrumentals. With bold color palettes and enthralling edits and formatting, the scenes flip back and forth between bold portrait shots of him singing and colorful shots of him swimming in a glistening pool.
With ruminative lyrics and a reposeful, somber mood, the EP takes the peacefulness of nature with the complexity of modern rap and adds elements of indie lo-fi – reminiscent of producer/DJ, Nujabes and booming trap sounds of contemporaries like Travis Scott and Metro Boomin. Speaking on the album, ToBy explained, “The outside is the center and all of my stories and creative impulses are catalyzed by its presence,” inspired by specific locations like, “The rooftop overlooking Port Au Prince, Haiti at my grandma’s house, the deep lush forests and lakes that span the countryside, the lake outside my parents’ house, the beaches that tug at the heartstrings tethering me to my native country.”
The EP ranges in themes and topics, covering everything from Egyptian gods, mortality, betrayal, obsession, clout, wealth, numbness, heartbreak, and self-discovery. He touches on honest, even intimate moments that we ourselves may struggle to put into words, and yet he manages to not only write relevant lyrics but create a sound that perfectly emulates these feelings.
ToBy’s multifaceted artistry and sincerity, combined with his invigorating new sound, creates a complex and successful musician all around. “It achieves unity through specificity in the hope that my life and my interests resonate with the next artistic soul or creative pundit trapped inside the every-man; yearning to escape, yearning to taste life’s cool breath, yearning to finally go outside.”
