Faber / Faber Sanctum
By Cephas Azariah
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Cephas Azariah reveals the final single, double A side ‘Faber / Faber Sanctum’, from of his debut album ‘Joy Paradox’ out next month.
The highly anticipated 12-track LP showcases a deeper side to Cephas’ personal journey, with every track on the album telling a story, as he tends to resolve personal conflicts through music, each piece acts as a gentle unravelling of inner unrest.
“This project is a summary of thirty years of life, and a realisation that you can’t have good things without sacrifice” Cephas says. “Achieving success takes a certain level of suffering, and that’s the paradox of joy.” Throughout his life, Cephas has experienced this paradox first-hand. His parents moved to the UK from India when he was ten, and he grew up witnessing the challenges that came with leaving their culture behind and having to adapt to a new one. “Sometimes you have to put something down in order to pick something up,” Cephas says. “And you have to trust that you’re making the right decision.”
‘Faber / Faber Sanctum’ is revealed as two adjacent tracks that explore the concept of imposter syndrome. “It’s a nod to another art form, this time architecture” says Cephas. “Whenever I travel somewhere new, I always visit a cathedral, and ‘Faber’ is about feeling awe from seeing it on the outside, and then coming inside and feeling overwhelmed, like I’m not supposed to be there.”
Cephas articulates this sonically with keys that build in intensity, ping-ponging to recreate that feeling of overwhelm. It’s a track that generates a feeling of curiosity and energy, while the second part, ‘Faber Sanctum’ is calm, serene and full of awe. “This part represents the feeling of engaging with the beauty” Cephas says. “And then you realise it’s okay, I’m supposed to be here, and you get that sense of belonging.”
‘Faber / Faber Sanctum’ is out now on Reflections. ‘Joy Paradox’ is available to pre-order digitally and on 12” vinyl, out 21 October.
