Marsha Swanson paints a portrait of a pickup artist in her provocative new single and noirish video No Mystery — showcasing today on Tinnitist.
A jazzy, Latin-tinged single from the London singer-songwriter’s latest album Near Life Experience, No Mystery is inspired by the provocative insights of the Neil Strauss book The Game, and explores the hollow pursuit of romantic conquests and the impact of insecure attachments:
“There he goes, dressed head to toe
The peacock spread, to turn her head
Now approaching very slow
Side-on, he finds the friend that’s close
He laughs, he grooms
He works the whole room
His eyes are full of planned surprise
He’s learned new tricks that can pass for wit…
It’s no mystery, how he got this way
In Mother’s web with Dad away
He’s not learned to relate
There he goes, his scorecard it grows
The more he knows, the emptiness shows.”
“I was inspired by the very human story about unmet needs and how the chase for validation in the short-term can end up amplifying emotional voids in the long-term,” Swanson says. “The book chronicles his journey and encounters in a secret society of pickup artists — most notably with the PUA and mentor known as Mystery. It was Neil’s realization that he felt more empty than ever at the height of his pickup success that prompted me to reach for the piano.”
The track opens with evocative piano tones that blend with rhythmic shuffles, setting the stage for an enthralling voyage ahead. Marsha’s genre-blending approach also results in unexpected shifts that keep the listener engaged, making No Mystery a standout in her musical repertoire. The single is a reflection of Marsha’s creative vision and it carefully blends elements of progressive-pop with a touch of introspective lyricism.
The song is complemented by a stylish, cinematic video by director Sam Chegini. “This video marks my first collaboration with the incredible Sam,” Swanson says. “I first came in contact with the award-winning Iranian animator and director after writing the lyrics for two music videos that he made for British keyboardist and composer Benjamin Croft. I was spellbound by his attention to lyrical detail and his imaginative use of visual metaphor and knew I had to contact him.”
Released earlier this year, Near Life Experience continues to receive widespread acclaim for its candid exploration of human emotions and relationships. Watch the video for No Mystery above, check out the album below, and find Marsha Swanson on her website, Facebook and Instagram.
