Quelle Chris and Chris Keys offer “Mirage” as an uplifting hymn in dark times

The latest single from Quelle Chris and producer Chris Keys feels like the end of a movie that might not truly be the end. It's kind of up to the listener. The song title "Mirage" refers to more than one thing: the destruction happening in the world behind the veneer of a smile, those who believe they're prepared for something that's inevitably going to happen, the feeling of history repeating itself into the future.

While the beat has an optimistic gravitas to it paired with Merrill Garbus of tUnE-yArDs singing harmonies in the background, Earl Sweatshirt and Denmark Vessey join Chris on commenting on what they're witnessing around them from the downfall of homies to the small wins of others. Big Sen closes it out with a state of the union address which sounds bleak but he also encourages artists to keep making art, which is really the truth.

Chris talked about the coincidental relevancy of the song in an email: “I couldn’t have imagined how timely the song would be when we finished it. I knew the words would ring true, but didn’t expect them to resonate at such high frequencies only half a year later. But here we are. The 'Mirage,' where what is 'known' to be and visions once reserved for the 'crazy' collide.”

Innocent Country 2 will be available on April 24.

Photo: Ahmed Arasah