David Lynch influenced creatives well beyond the realm of cinema. An authentic artist in every aspect, the American filmmaker emerged as a leading modern surrealist, bringing intricate ideas into ordinary homes. Whether through Twin Peaks, Blue Velvet, Dune, or Mulholland Drive, his unique mark—hence the somewhat overused term ‘Lynchian’—has interwoven itself into contemporary arts.
Confucius MC and Bastien Keb are just two of the numerous admirers of Lynch’s artistry who feel a sense of loss following the news of his death. The duo has long appreciated his cinematic works and have attempted to incorporate some of the director’s techniques into their own music.
Their new album, ‘Songs For Lost Travellers,’ makes this intention clear. The record possesses a profoundly haunting, atmospheric quality, as the duo strives to explore subconscious thoughts—a process reminiscent of David Lynch’s own practice of transcendental meditation and dream exploration.
Set to release on February 7th through Shabaka Hutchings’ Native Rebel Recordings label, Confucius MC and Bastien Keb have crafted this special tribute to David Lynch and his lasting impact.
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**CONFUCIUS MC**
“If your consciousness is the size of a golf ball, your understanding when reading a book will be limited to that size…”
– David Lynch
It may sound odd, but one of my earliest childhood memories is from when I was around five or six years old, hearing the mesmerizing soundtrack of Angelo Badalamenti for Twin Peaks drifting from my sister’s room. There was an unspoken confusion whenever it was discussed, as though a certain aura surrounded its mere mention.
This left a lasting impression on me, and I always believed I would one day explore it, but my initial introduction to David Lynch’s work was watching The Elephant Man. I was captivated by its sensitivity. While narrating John Merrick’s story, it also delved into the darker aspects of human behavior and society's psyche, showcasing that life can simultaneously hold wonder and be dark and cruel (like in Mulholland Drive).
Around the age of 12 or 13, I discovered that Twin Peaks was being re-aired on the sci-fi channel. What drew me in was its willingness to confront the unspoken and the bizarre aspects of life without shying away from their presence. Twin Peaks conveyed a sense of justified suspicion toward the hidden world surrounding us, indicating that such suspicion could lead to unexpected places.
When I began collaborating with Bastien, I sensed he was a David Lynch fan; his music carried a dreamlike quality that resonated with the subconscious realm. Upon receiving the instrumental for ‘It Would Speak,’ I was immediately transported to the world of Twin Peaks—the Douglas firs, the ambiguous shadows attempting to connect with us from another realm. The song pays tribute to both David Lynch and the Twin Peaks universe, and I genuinely hope it resonates with fans of the series.
I belong to the last generation that experienced a childhood without the Internet, and one of the aspects that fascinates me about the significant technological advancements over the past 30 years is that no one can still explain what happens during dreams or where we go. This mystery underscores the importance of David Lynch’s contributions to art, as he contemplated the very things we struggle to understand (as seen in Lost Highway).
As society ventured into the unknown after 2000, David Lynch’s work has served as a companion and guide throughout my life. The more I experienced, the more self-aware I became, drawing deeper understanding from the poetry present in Lynch’s filmmaking. The legacy of David Lynch’s work and philosophy serves as a lasting reminder that to make better sense of the world around us, we must strengthen our connection to the world within us.
**BASTIEN KEB**
It’s quite evident, given his standing for surreal, dreamlike visuals, but that’s what has always attracted me to his work.
There’s a comfort in watching a film that hypnotizes you, placing you in a liminal space between dreaming and waking. I’ve always gravitated towards such films, and the trance-like state Lynch induces in me aligns with the moments at the beginning of writing a song when it starts to come together. You lose awareness of your actions, yet you feel at your most relaxed.
Often, films struggle to maintain my attention, but I’ve always been completely absorbed by David Lynch’s works.
He somehow managed to become a mainstream figure within popular culture, marking my first steps into surreal cinema, and for that, I will always be grateful. Without him, I wouldn’t have sought out Tarkovsky, Jodorowsky, and Chris Marker. I appreciate the humor he infuses into his work; it’s essential in art, lest one becomes overly pretentious. The famous incident where the projectionist accidentally played the film reels out of order at a premiere, and Lynch’s nonchalance about it, illustrates his freedom as an artist—anyone else would have
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David Lynch appeared to influence creatives well beyond the realm of cinema. A genuine artist in every way, the American director has established himself as one of the leading figures in modern art.