MIDAEV — 2025 - Return My Joy — (Single)
Ruslan Midaev continues to release vibrant gothic singles, but it seems there's a theme brewing that suggests he might soon drop an album. I haven't been counting (…autumn is the season for counting), but it feels like the already released tracks could make up half an album.
However, the artist might choose to include previously unheard works in the full-length release. After all, even the music for this track, "Return My Joy", was written ten years ago. So, there's a good chance the creator of such soulful and emotionally powerful music has a few more treasures tucked away.
Ruslan is an excellent melodist, a fact he demonstrates right from the start of the track. And it’s not just melancholic, "sorrowful" melody—there's a true gothic essence here that evokes the roots of Gothic Rock and Gothic Metal. It’s also clear that, as a composer and arranger, he doesn’t take the easy route. In addition to the main vocal line, there’s a secondary, "cinematic" narrative line—let’s say, a harsher one—while the primary line is reinforced with "shadowy" vocal supports.
The artist doesn’t aim to fill every inch of space with music and vocals (thankfully), but what we hear is a multilayered lyrical piece imbued with an "autumnal" mood. However, by the finale, the musical idea becomes more complex, revealing melodic undertones that add genuine drama to the composition. Midway through the track, a solo guitar emerges, vibrating with the performer’s mood like a windblown echo.
After nearly every Midaev single, you're left with the feeling: "Hey, what’s next?"
P.S. I think Ruslan’s own comment is the most important here:"The track ‘Return My Joy’ is about how important it is not to lose hope, even when it feels like everything around you is falling apart."