Christopher Normann Lets the Rain Wash Over Him In New Single “The Rain”
Photo courtesy of Jonathan Courchesne // @hockeyjon_
After two years, Berklee College of Music student and singer-songwriter Christopher Normann is making a triumphant return with his new single, “The Rain.” He released his second album, berries, in June of 2020 and is more than ready to share his new work with the world. “I’m so excited to be a creator and just do it,” says Normann, hinting at his current attitude towards making music.
Normann grew up in Portola Valley, California, beginning his relationship with music at the age of eleven. From there he proceeded to play bass in a band with his friends and eventually moved into EDM production, shifting his attention to music production. At first, he had no intentions of singing or writing songs, but inspirations from discovering Rex Orange County unlocked a passion within him that has led him to where he is now.
He didn’t feel enthralled with the idea of attending Berklee after his first tour of the school. When it came down to choosing between Berklee and The New School in NYC, he decided to head to Boston so that he could be in an environment where he would be surrounded by musicians. He wanted to be at a school where he could meet others that had gone through multiple musical phases, just as he did leading up to his time in college.
“I had this morning where the sun was just peeking through for the first time in February…it was me just trying to let go of the pressure,” Normann says, reflecting on the beginning of the process of bringing his new single to fruition. With the anxiety he had been facing at the time, the creation of this track was a perfect opportunity to heal himself emotionally and come to terms with what he was feeling.
“I just had this image of Boston or wherever I’m living as a city at the bottom of a gutter and the rain collecting and washing through the streets, and that being the people that walk by, like the rain passing you… and when I feel really anxious, I feel like people are watching me on the street.”
The song begins with the sound of rain hitting the ground with a force, along with an electronic wave of synth that matches the intensity of the rain. Norman’s droning vocalizations of “aaahs” come in and are paired with a shimmering, vocal led piano part that matches the intonation of the vocalizations. Beneath the beginning’s glowing sound, a techno-build creeps in the background, eventually leading to the unsuspecting EDM-esque drop. Going back to his roots, Norman adds in a section of booming, computer-generated sound that appears as though it is an entirely new song. This section comes to a sudden stop and opens up the opportunity for the lyrics to come in.
When it comes to songwriting, Normann credits Will Toledo of Car Seat Headrest as one of his biggest inspirations. He specifically calls on his own repetition of the line “The rain is watching you,” hoping it emulates the effects of “Famous Prophets (Minds).” Toledo’s use of metaphors to convey emotional situations is also something that Normann is floored by and wants to incorporate into his music. The lyrics on this track hit the nail on the head when describing the emotions that are suggested with this song, such as anxiety and sadness. “I forgot to mute myself / everybody on the phone call heard me cry '' is a line that makes listeners feel less alone in their fears of vulnerability with their emotions. He’s also portraying this intense feeling through a simple fear of not being muted that many people have been dealing with throughout the pandemic.
Photo courtesty of Jonathan Courchesne // @hockeyjon_
“The rain is watching you is sort of a metaphor that embodies anxiety,” says Normann, discussing where the awe-inspiring lyric came from and what it means to him. Most listeners will agree with Normann when he says the end is his favorite section of the song. It’s a magical culmination of cascading musical elements. Normanns vocals enter and kick off the repetition of the captivating lyrics that say what the end of the song perfectly communicates, “the rain is washing you / the rain is watching you.” Beautiful, descending harmonies follow the entrance of his vocals, emphasizing the image of rain coming down and washing everything away.
After working on his first album by himself, he turned a new leaf and decided to let people into this new project. Through his time at Berklee, he has developed an appreciation for the supportive community of musicians and an array of opportunities to collaborate with the talent of his other peers. Berklee students Alden McWayne and Matt Sligar supply their drumming and saxophone skills to the track. Sasha Caouette wrote her own harmonies for the song, taking full control over her graceful addition to the end of the track. Angela Partyka also added her vocal expertise to the harmonies. Nick Mincher and Jonathan Courchesne contributed their artistic talents by providing cover art and promotional photos for the record. Normann, who now has a deep appreciation for collaborating with other creatives for his work, says “it kind of separates the art for me and it makes it more of a living thing, and I think that is something I wanted to work on.”
One of the key features of “The Rain” is that it sonically represents the transition through multiple stages. Normann says this song format is what he has aimed for with his upcoming album, as he was insistent on veering away from following the traditional verse-chorus pattern. He also feels as though a glimpse of his past comes through this project, elements like the electronic drop acting as an ode to his cumulative music journey. Like the writing process of the single, he feels that many of the songs written for the album were born out of a stream of consciousness. “The album is going to feel like it’s ever changing with a lot of textures, a lot of imagery, and a lot of narrative,” says Normann.