Artist: Direct Divide

EP: Own Your Ocean

Powerfully embracing and overcoming the intense despair that is often the agonizing result of maintaining complex relationships isn’t an easy process for many people. Mustering the internal strength to accept where your connection has led you, and doing whatever it takes to overcome the pain it has caused, can be an even more difficult journey, as it makes you accept whether or not you have truly achieved your goals and dreams.

That struggle to remain resilient during even the most challenging times of adversity is rivetingly chronicled in ‘Own Your Ocean,’ the upcoming EP from symphonic rock band Direct Divide, which is set to be released on July 24. The group, which hails from Monterey, California, creatively utilizes its signature strings to create captivating violin intensified rock songs. The music enthrallingly inspires listeners to realize that they can overcome their anguish in their efforts to appreciate their virtues.

The first song on the alternative rock band’s new EP, which distinctively and continuously highlights women’s point-of-views of refusing to be held down by stereotypes in relationships, is ‘Kick It.’ The track, which begins with an epic and enticing violin-infused instrumental solo, immediately emphasizes the voice of singer Razz. The vocalist, who also plays the strings for the group, enticingly sings about finding, and relying on, your own inner strength. Throughout the song, which has a sound that’s intriguingly reminiscent of Evanescence, she insists that no matter what other people’s intentions are, she’s determined to overcome any obstacles that stand in her way, and won’t let anyone break her spirit.

‘Own Your Ocean’s enticing and motivational inaugural song is followed by the at-times more light-hearted entry, ‘Renegade.’ The track’s instrumentals, including Kevin Proctor’s guitar, synth and keyboards and Valdemar Huguet’s drums, are more jovial than the ones on its predecessor. But Razz’s powerful lyrics encourage listeners to always defend themselves against other people, even if they don’t have any faith or assurance in themselves. The song also tells listeners that as they go after what they want, and later reflect on, and embrace, those choices, and not to be a renegade about their thoughts and ideas.

Direct Divide’s third track on their upcoming EP, ‘Tide Is Rising,’ features a more subdued and emotional guitar and keyboard backup, as Razz smartly warns that all actions cause a ripple effect. In another piece that’s driven by influences from Evanescence’s lyrics and instrumentals, Direct Divide’s singer warns that life can unpredictably pull people, even those with close bonds, in different directions, and they don’t always have control over their choices. Since life and relationships are continuously full of surprises, and the singer has somber emotions over giving up that control of her destiny, the song uncovers her vulnerabilities of heading into the world again with her soul completely exposed.

The rock band’s next entry on ‘Own Your Ocean’ is ‘We Are Legion,’ during which Razz once again emphasizes that she, like all women, shouldn’t be afraid to work together to stand up for their rights. As the singer also encourages people to defend themselves, and fight back against stereotypes, her more up-beat violin playing also serves as a motivational reminder to listeners to not to allow anyone control their rights and lives.

The final track on ‘Own Your Ocean’ is the reflective and powerful ‘1000 Years.’ As people become more intuitive of the pain their significant other is suffering, as they continuously strive to make their relationship work, they also have to reflect on their years of memories and broken dreams. As they then realize that their love for the other person will never fade, they also have to embrace the shortcomings in their lives with each other. Proctor’s keyboards and Huguet’s drums also grippingly fuel the pain of trying to keep the passion in the deteriorating relationship alive. ‘1000 Years’ is a grippingly memorable and meaningful end track to the EP, as it insightfully reflects on where live has led people. It also smartly highlights their determination to overcome their pain and struggles, particularly in their relationships, as they try to move on.

‘Own Your Ocean’ is the latest dynamic and intelligent release from the riveting symphonic-alternative rock band, Direct Divide. Taking influence from such acclaimed and popular bands as Evanescence, Florence and the Machine and 30 Seconds to Mars, Razz, Proctor and Huguet naturally crafted a unique sound that inspiringly encourages listeners to not be afraid to utilize their own ideas and interests to capture what they want in their lives. Learning to cope with, and overcome, the pain they have long suffered in their relationships, particularly as they pursue their goals, is a key relatable theme in the band’s powerful and gripping EP that’s unprecedented in the rock world.

Watch the official music video for ‘1000 Years’ below.For more information on the symphonic-alternative rock band, visit its official website, as well as its Soundcloud, Bandcamp, Facebook and Twitter pages.

Direct Divide's Own Your Ocean EP Review

Written by: Karen Benardello

By Karen Benardello

As a graduate of LIU Post with a B.F.A in Journalism, Print and Electronic, Karen Benardello serves as ShockYa's Senior Movies & Television Editor. Her duties include interviewing filmmakers and musicians, and scribing movie, television and music reviews and news articles. As a New York City-area based journalist, she's a member of the guilds, New York Film Critics Online and the Women Film Critics Circle.

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