Each Measure Feature: Carl De Villa

FEATURE

I love a good anthem. A proper shout-from-the-rooftop song that changes your mundane commute into an empowered music video moment. That is exactly what Aussie indie artist Carl de Villa’s latest single, Airplane, delivers with a billowing pop chorus that paints a picture of breaking through the clouds and unleashing all inhibitions.

The lyrics of this song strike at a great moment, a positive light right on the brink of a change of seasons. “No more fear of the fall / we just sail through it all. / Airplane take me there / to the skies without a care / wings of freedom everywhere / airplane take me there.” As the vocals continue to climb higher and higher, images are built picturing the receding world as we rise to the place where eagle echoes cry, and the clouds surround in their soft solace. The music swells with the narrative, combining calming synths and beats to complement de Villa’s amazing voice.

But while the music finds a satisfying release, there remains a tender thread connecting us back to earth. This isn’t just a vague story of rising above a nameless situation; it's specifically about leaving on a flight. Along with the joy of gliding above, maybe de Villa is equally referencing the need to escape or the feeling of being on the threshold of change. All the giddy feelings before a plane ride come to the surface but are put on hold as listeners enjoy the clarity of chasing the sun far above before we descend and start the next adventure.

Dramatic and touching, it’s not surprising that one of de Villa’s many performative forms is in musical theater, a skill showcased beautifully in their music. They release their voice with that expert, full-bodied belt under total control. I would love to hear this song live, let alone a full set list (hint hint). I’ll have to suffice in the meantime with Airplane’s impossibly catchy chorus running through my head.

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