Summer Vacation by Ensh
Most of the creative process for this album for me was filled with creative joy and excitement despite the sometimes heavy themes. It’s a joyous album for me full of catharsis and an almost saccharinely sweet earnestness. I needed this album to have a plastic sheen. I wanted to package my emotions in gloss and plastic. The only way I could showcase the rawness of the honesty was through heavy processing.
Graeme Maitland patiently made this beautiful imagining of a beach house in Montenegro which was the setting of many of my summer vacations growing up. The image is layered in a glossy sheen of vibrant colours like yellows, and neon pinks/fuchsias that for me represent the gloss of nostalgia. This album was a concept where I envisioned a reimagining of my youth and the fleeting summer years of my life. I explore youth and exuberance while I lament and grieve through a changing climate and reckon with what consequences a changing environment may have on the summer vacation of our existence. Summer Vacation just became an extended metaphor for a collection of emotions captured in these processed vignettes that I share as snapshots of vulnerability and queerness.
I’m honest in a way that I can barely handle on this album. It’s really good. By far the best thing I’ve ever done. For me: it’s a masterpiece. I’ve not been able to confidently say that of my own work in the past. I’m very excited to share it, but also very sad to share it.
Tracklist
| 1. | Mladica | 2:41 |
| 2. | Miss South Carolina | 3:01 |
| 3. | Mačka Naša | 2:40 |
| 4. | Yosemite Sam | 4:32 |
| 5. | LSD Bike Ride | 3:22 |
| 6. | Terminator Too | 4:35 |
| 7. | Summer Vacay | 2:33 |
| 8. | Westbound | 3:31 |
| 9. | The Scenic Way | 3:41 |
| 10. | Jezero | 4:00 |
Credits
Artwork by: Graeme Maitland
"Mladica" Produced: Mihajlo Djorović (Summer Deaths) and Milenko Vujošević
Vocals and Lyrics: Milenko Vujošević
Guitar and bass: Kosta Jovanović
Additional recording: Srdjan Popov (Sergio Lounge)
Produced, mixed and mastered: Mihajlo Djorović (Summer Deaths)
“Miss South Carolina” Produced: Milenko Vujošević
Vocals and lyrics: Milenko Vujošević
Violin: Brandon DeGroote
Mixed and mastered: Mihajlo Djorović (Summer Deaths)
A portion of the lyrics were taken from Caitlin Upton’s infamous response during the 2007 Miss Teen USA pageant re-contexualized in melodic form as a direct response to the misogynistic backlash she faced. This song was originally written with and inspired by a sample from “A Change is Gonna Come” by Sam Cooke. Later adapted into what you hear with a referential nod in the lyrics.
“Mačka naša” Written and produced: Milenko Vujošević
Vocals and Lyrics: Milenko Vujošević
Mixed and mastered: Mihajlo Djorović (Summer Deaths)
In loving memory of my teacher and roommate: Cici the cat
“Yosemite Sam” Written and Produced Milenko Vujošević
Vocals and Lyrics: Milenko Vujošević
Additional production, vocals and guitar: Marley Rosen (Ada Vale)
Mixed and mastered: Mihajlo Djorović (Summer Deaths)
This song brought to you by LSD
“LSD bike ride” Written and produced: Milenko Vujošević
Vocals and Lyrics: Milenko Vujošević
Mixed and mastered: Mihajlo Djorović (Summer Deaths)
This song brought to you by LSD
“Terminator Too” Written and produced: Milenko Vujošević
“Theme from ‘The Terminator’” written: Brad Fiedel
Vocals and Lyrics: Milenko Vujošević
Mixed and mastered: Mihajlo Djorović (Summer Deaths)
Terminator theme used without permission. Lines of dialogue from the motion picture: Terminator 2: Judgment Day reinterpreted as lyrics used without permission.
“Summer Vacay” Written and produced: Milenko Vujošević
Additional writing and production: Marial Addario (Mother Of)
Vocals and Lyrics: Milenko Vujošević
Mixed and mastered: Mihajlo Djorović (Summer Deaths)
“Westbound” Written and produced: Milenko Vujošević
Vocals and Lyrics: Milenko Vujošević
Mixed and mastered: Mihajlo Djorović (Summer Deaths)
“The Scenic Way” Remix and production: Milenko Vujosevic
Vocals and Lyrics: Milenko Vujošević
Mixed and mastered: Mihajlo Djorović (Summer Deaths)
Samples: Sky2 - Sahara - Written by Kevin Peek
Samples curated and manipulated by Slowpitchsound (Chel Peterson)
“Jezero” Written and produced: Milenko Vujošević
Vocals and Lyrics: Milenko Vujošević
Mixed and mastered: Mihajlo Djorović (Summer Deaths)
Samples: In 2021 Nasa scientists released the first sounds ever recorded on Mars, a light gust of wind on the planet's surface. I included this sample because this song is a love letter from humanity to the Perseverance rover on Mars. It also asks us to reflect on our role in the solar system. How we persevere in the face of all kinds of adversity in the wake of the many challenges we face and on the heels of challenges we have yet to overcome.
