A new direction or a detour?
Finding Emptiness is a gritty alt-rock song with strong introspective qualities. It's specific enough to point you in the right direction, but there are a dozen forks in the road, and the song becomes a choose-your-own-adventure emotionally. In fact, each time I listen, I have the chance to trigger a different emotional response.
The song was a lot of fun to write. It started with the bassline about six months ago when I was waiting in a lobby for a game of CS2 to pop. I discovered the bassline recording in November, which sparked an idea for a song. I wrote the lyrics in one pass and was so inspired that I stayed up late, finishing the composition, recording, and editing of 90% of the song on that first day (Thanksgiving evening, 2025). I then asked for feedback from friends on Facebook and incorporated some of the ideas to complete the song.
I played all the instruments, sang all the vocals, wrote the lyrics, recorded, produced, mixed, and mastered this song. I wasn't crazy about my guitar solo at first, but it has grown on me, and now I can't imagine the song without it. Special thanks to my brother for suggesting that inclusion.
The album cover is a photo I took last year at the top of Arthur's Seat in Edinburgh, Scotland. I had just hiked to the top (my second time doing so), and the weather revealed a double rainbow. I flipped the photo upside down, which I think is a nice nod to the song's meaning. Since everything has gone AI, I decided to keep the album artwork non-AI to reflect the fact that my music is also non-AI. I may use the technology daily for everything else, but I want my art to remain my own.
Andrew N. Aebersold
Radianation