14 July 2023 - 0 Comments

Emerging artist Louis Rhian releases debut project Gorse Into Flowers, a spoken word infused hip-hop release centered around mental health.

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The intimate five track project takes the listener through a journey of heartbreak, hardship and heaviness to emerge on an uplifting note with Unity - a spoken word piece featuring euphonious singer Sophie Gibson - as the final track on the project.

“For myself as an artist it was really important to put out a project with a theme and a story, not just singles. That comes from my ‘why’ around music. I wanted to share my story and be completely vulnerable around what I’ve been through, so that it can hopefully help others out there who have experienced similar challenges in life.”

Gorse Into Flowers is a raw and intimate listen, with Louis Rhian sharing his experience of depression and the hurdles that he has had to overcome, in order to find more peace and acceptance within himself.

“I hope that by putting myself out there and sharing in this way, it might spark some conversations with others or give hope to someone out there who is struggling. I wanted to show you can go through dark hardships and emerge from them stronger. We have the highest suicide rates in the world here in Aotearoa, so this project was a priority for me to get out there. It’s about the kaupapa, and if I can help one person with this, then my work is done”

Louis has found community and a sense of purpose through music, relishing the learnings taken from the journey as an artist and is feeling grateful to have a means in which to express himself.

“I started addressing my mental health around five years ago, and in that time a lot has changed and I have found much more peace, purpose and direction, particularly since making music and creating video content. It was something that was always missing in my life. I’ve shed a lot of tears through songwriting, and creating music and expressing myself has given me great fulfillment and purpose. Self expression is a beautiful thang!”

Reflecting more on the project and what’s to come, Louis Rhian is excited to move on to the next project:

“This project was really a reflection of some of the times in my teens and mid-early twenties, as opposed to how I am now, so I’m excited to move on from this and start creating some fresh music that’s more of a reflection of where I am at now.”

Gorse Into Flowers, mix and mastered by Jordan Tannen, and featuring vocalists theajsound and Sophie Gibson, is now available on all major streaming platforms.

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