Named for his local light rail stop, Palms Station is the project of Hillel Tigay, who in his day job works as the music director at IKAR, a high-profile synagogue in LA, which counts among its attenders the likes of Natalie Portman, and Steven Spielberg. Tigay has taken the inspiration from the world music and cultures he encounters both there and in Los Angeles, and crafts music in his own inimitable style.
Latest single, ‘I Don’t Know The Way To Your Heart’ is both moody and contemplative, with a retro sound that signals a striking development in Tigay’s songwriting. Previously he had had a near insatiable craving for the mastery of sound; now he allows the music to instead play him.
Tigay says the song came to him near complete while he was far from his family and spiritual community, taking a time of meditation in Mexico. He was on the roof, and says it came at him like a rushing wave of energy and melody.
This all shows in the complex arrangement, with guitars and percussive instruments used to convey the sense of personal and spiritual longing.
The music video, directed by Tigay, draws visual inspiration from the film, ‘Waltz With Bashir’. We see Tigay wandering around a desolate townscape, in parallel to a lost love, the animation creating a sense of detachment for the viewer, while the purple hues of scenes are symbolic of Tigay’s contemplation. In the end, we find him lying sprawled on the beach, sending out bottles to the universe, containing cries for help with messages such as SOS on them. It’s a moving and emotional piece.
You can find out more about Palms Station and their music online on Twitter, and Instagram. Watch the video for ‘I Don’t Know The Way To Your Heart’ here.
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