Fusilier shows his more vulnerable side on “Upstream”

Blake Fusilier has been renowned for knocking people off their seats with his strong beats and powerful melodies, but new single “Upstream” is a far cry from that. Having spent much of 2019 wrestling with depression and anxiety, the Brooklyn-based, Atlanta-born artist knows how to find the silver linings, especially in a period almost devoid of them.

Showing he has a softer side, “Upstream” is a careful and ponderous reflection on how to deal with depression, and it is the small details that make the difference here. Fusilier’s husky voice floats across like mist off a lake while the almost intrusive strings both anchor you down and stir your deepest emotions.

The song’s video, directed by the artist himself, is an elegant contemplation on our own difficult times. Filmed entirely on his phone and staged like a video call, we are conflicted as to what screen to be watching. As a result, the various forms of our self-examination are reflected.

Speaking on the track, Fusilier explains that, “‘Upstream’ is a song for the next day. I decided it’s okay to enjoy the taste of eggs in the morning, and to have nothing else to smile about. It’s okay to treat the streetlamp like the sun when you need light at 3am. I’ll find the light.”