Musical Digest: Arty, Conrad Sewell "Kingdom"

The start of any architectural endeavor always begins with a blueprint. That blueprint may be revised, reworked or scrapped all together if it no longer suits the vision it was meant to create.

The perfect infrastructure of the perfect castle or skyscraper takes years to form...much like the next song we're about to digest.

Artem Stoliarov, better known as the progressive house(hold) name Arty and trance moniker Alpha 9, is someone I wanted to talk about for weeks now. Replaying old State of Trance episodes, Pioneer DJ TV sets, and recent virtual rave-a-thons had brought me such peace and happiness. It reminded me about what I miss most about raves and live shows.

As a proud Chicagoan, house music festivals and happenings in the city are constant. I've said it before and I'll say it again: House music echos the beat of my heart. I've grown up with it. It's been injected in me prior to my first flu shot and ever since...I've been infected.

Artem grew up in Russia and studied music until he was 14 years old. The commonality of growing up in Eastern Europe is yet another variable which intrigued me about him because it's always heart-warming to see a fellow slavic comrade make it across the pond. He turned his interests of music, electronics and gaming into a passion project of music production, which opened up avenues at being singed with two of his favorite record labels, Anjunabeats and Axtone.

At that point, Artem was unstoppable and has carved a name for himself in the electronic music scene, singing with Interscope Records and moving to Los Angeles.

Today, we're going to discuss his longest-ever curated record, "Kingdom".

During an interview with DJ Times, Arty said that "I worked on ‘Kingdom’ longer than any other record in my career, by far. I wrote it together with Conrad Sewell and Michael Jade back in 2013. I was amazed by how powerful it felt. For six years, and maybe eight different versions, every time I was trying to produce and finish this song, I could never match the euphoric feeling of Conrad’s vocals. When I was about to give up, it suddenly struck me and I made an entirely new production overnight. This is why this track will always be so special to me."

Let's dive into the first verse and step inside his castle.

Years go by, I wonder

Will she still think of me?

A crease still on the pillow

Of where she used to be

And all I did

Was stand and watch her leave

And all I did was stand my ground

And it crumbled under me

As listeners, we're invited into a bedroom where memories are slowly ceasing to exist. The place that once used to be occupied by a significant other is now bare. While starting on a rather melancholic tone, it invites us to understand the root of the heartache that occurred.

The last three lines, leading up to the hook, is what stands out to me the most because it acknowledges how pride and stubbornness can overshadow the most vital things...a relationship which unfortunately fell to pieces.

Next, the hook leads us to a pivotal light-bulb moment:

If it's in your heart

If it's in your bones

Don't let your kingdom turn a stone

What if tomorrow never comes?

If it's in your heart

If it's in your bones

Don't let your kingdom turn a stone

What if tomorrow never comes? (2x)

The chorus is outlining the significance in not taking something or someone for granted. It's an outer point-of-view perspective pleading to step back, take a second and find it in yourself to nourish your kingdom, which could be your person or your predicament.

Tomorrow is not guaranteed and that's why it's so important to not let a minute of our lifetime go to waste.

Which leads us to the second verse:

This is my surrender

My one last tear to cry

And I'll carry this forever

And I'll always remember why

And all I did

Was stand and watch her leave

And all I did was stand my ground

And it crumbled under me

The second verse is a direct result of the actions taken and the events that unfolded...leading to a crumbling of a kingdom. Because we cannot omit or take back the words we've said, we have to live with the consequences, the regret that it could have been different, and painful memory of it all falling apart.

Then it reiterates the hook two more times eclipsed by the stringing of a guitar, an up-beat progressive production and Sewell's iconic raspy vocals.

Arty brought it back to his roots. His first ever North American festival introduction was at Nocturnal Wonderland which is exactly where he decided to interject "Kingdom" at his live set of the Nocturnal Wonderland rave-a-thon April 22.

Fans worldwide, myself included, were over the moon...to drop a song that is as equally riveting to dance to, but also captivating in its message is powerful.

If this is your first time tuning in, I think it's fair to say that there is no party without Arty. Step inside his "Kingdom" below.