On her latest album, Momento Mori, Dutch-American singer-songwriter Chellcy Reitsma dives deeply into themes of mortality, reflection, and the transient nature of life. This record, which serves as the first part of an ambitious double concept project, pushes listeners to confront the inevitability of death, with the aim of inspiring a life lived without fear or regret. An accomplished artist who seamlessly merges blues, alt-rock, rockabilly, and Americana, Reitsma continues to explore new artistic territories with Momento Mori, which builds on her legacy of creating evocative, retro-inspired music that vibrates with earthy melancholy.
The album title, Momento Mori, derives from the Latin phrase meaning “remember you must die.” This ancient concept, often symbolized by skulls or fading flowers in art, is a reminder of the impermanence of life. Chellcy’s exploration of this idea goes beyond a mere acceptance of mortality; it is a call to reflect on personal failures, mistakes, and the inevitability of misfortunes. Through Momento Mori, Reitsma encourages listeners not only to acknowledge mortality but to be empowered by it, urging them to live boldly in the present.
The release of Momento Mori marks the first part of a dual project, with the second part, titled Carpe Diem (or “seize the day”), planned for release in 2025. This pairing suggests a journey from confronting mortality to embracing life with newfound vigor. Together, these albums will offer a holistic view of what it means to fully acknowledge and respect life’s transience while celebrating its beauty and potential.
Known for her ability to blend genres, Reitsma’s music combines blues, alt-rock, rockabilly, and Americana into a distinctively vintage sound. Her work is infused with a film noir sensibility, crafting a rich, moody landscape that complements the introspective themes of Momento Mori. Her compositions range from melancholy lullabies to rebellious feminist anthems, each song carefully designed to evoke a complex array of emotions. The album’s tracks, such as “Dark Times,” “The Darkness,” and “Boat to Nod,” showcase this diverse range, each offering a unique sonic experience while contributing to the overall narrative of the album.
Chellcy’s musical style draws listeners into a warm, vintage world that feels both nostalgic and relevant. Her voice carries a strength tempered with vulnerability, as she explores both personal and universal themes. Her sonic explorations on Momento Mori create a feeling of timelessness, as if her music exists outside the limitations of any single era, reflecting the eternal nature of her themes.
Chellcy’s career in the arts began with a focus on dance and choreography. However, after injuries forced her to leave dance behind, she turned to music, a transition that has since defined her creative path. Since her first musical release in 2016, Reitsma has fully embraced her role as a singer-songwriter, visual artist, and poet. Her works span multiple artistic disciplines, including seven singles, a four-track EP, and a collection of music and poem videos.
Reitsma’s previous project, Desolate Days, was a multimedia endeavor combining her music and visual art, featuring a stop-motion animation lyric video made with charcoal and digital art. This blending of mediums illustrates her commitment to creating multi-layered works that engage audiences on several levels. Her music, infused with her experiences and creative background, feels deeply personal and authentic, a trait that continues to define her work in Momento Mori.
For Chellcy Reitsma, music is a vehicle for authenticity and empowerment. She describes her mission as creating art that is “authentic, honest, deeply personal, inspirational, and empowering.” She aims to address societal norms and challenge artistic boundaries, using her work as a means of expression for thoughts and emotions that often go unspoken. This mission resonates throughout Momento Mori, where each song speaks to complex themes of existence, encouraging listeners to think more deeply about their own lives and choices.
As a feminist artist, Reitsma also uses her music to champion women’s voices and experiences. In a music landscape that often overlooks nuanced portrayals of women’s strength and resilience, Reitsma’s voice rings out with a clarity and defiance that feels vital. Her work not only provides a unique perspective within the blues and Americana genres but also contributes to a growing movement of women artists reshaping these traditionally male-dominated spaces.
Momento Mori offers a collection of tracks, each exploring a different facet of its central theme.
- “Dark Times” is a haunting exploration of the shadows that linger in all lives. The song’s stripped-down instrumentation and introspective lyrics create an intimate atmosphere that allows listeners to sit with their own experiences of hardship and resilience.
- “The Darkness” delves into the fear and inevitability of mortality. Here, Reitsma’s voice conveys both the gravity of the subject and a tender embrace of life’s fragility.
- “Fleshbot Prison – Extended” stands out as an intense reflection on personal confinement and self-realization, presenting a darker edge within the album’s thematic progression.
- “Boat to Nod” transports listeners to an imagined place, using both lyrical storytelling and the richness of Reitsma’s musical arrangements to create a journey that feels symbolic of leaving behind old fears and limitations.
Each track within Momento Mori carries with it a deep sense of purpose and reflection, making the album not only a listening experience but a philosophical exploration.
With Carpe Diem slated for release in 2025, Reitsma’s journey from mortality to vitality will come full circle. Where Momento Mori reflects on death and the inevitable end that awaits us all, Carpe Diem will serve as a call to action, encouraging listeners to live fully and embrace life’s opportunities. Together, these two albums will form a powerful diptych that spans life’s greatest existential questions.
Chellcy Reitsma’s Momento Mori stands as a testament to the power of music to engage with complex ideas and emotions. Through her rich blend of blues, alt-rock, rockabilly, and Americana, she has crafted an album that transcends traditional genre constraints, creating a work that is both deeply personal and universally resonant. This album invites listeners not just to remember mortality but to find meaning and empowerment in that knowledge, using it as a foundation for a life lived with intention and passion.
In Momento Mori, Reitsma reminds us that art is a way of connecting with the human experience, a reminder of the beauty in both life’s darkness and light. For those willing to journey into this profound exploration of existence, Momento Mori offers a unique experience—a reflection on what it means to truly live in the face of mortality.
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