Eyesore The Minotaur confront idleness in ‘Gloves Up!’
Words: Astrid Spragg
★★★★☆
Swansea musician Guy Challenger’s latest solo project, Eyesore The Minotaur, debuted its first single, ‘Gloves Up’ on the 1st of March. In a serene, passionate number about opportunities lost and missed, it is a call to action for anyone taking a backseat in life, that opportunities missed are not lost forever.
It calls on people to “take part and fight back”. This sentiment is not a new one for Challenger, whose commitment to the DIY-approach to music-making has been apparent throughout this project and previous ones, where he concentrates on creating opportunities rather than sitting idly and waiting for them to present themselves. The track does not conform to the basic chorus- verse style, and instead moves deliberately from a restrained start, slowly gaining as the song progresses, into an impassioned and intense final verse.
Produced by Challenger, the ‘Gloves Up’ music video also holds onto the same sentiment, following a stop-motion, animated Minotaur, the emblem of the single, as he goes about his day beginning with a rehearsed, routine start to the day, but with a retrospective focus on a missing character, shown in a painting, emblazoned with a red heart, where the two look upon each other fondly, a stark reminder of the things, people and family we give up in everyday life to achieve success. It then becomes apparent that he is a boxer, winning a knockout, but gaining a black eye in the process, a metaphor for the things we must sacrifice to make it forward. The video ends with the echoes of the ringing bell, echoing his win, a reminder of the future and the successes, as well as the sacrifices that are yet to come.
The song and the music video both share the same message - strength and power can only come from sacrifice; there are better days ahead, but they will not come without endeavour, hard work, grit and determination.
In his construction of the single, upon reaching the first demo, Challenger forfeited the original guitar parts, developing and working on them further and keeping only the lyrics from the original draft, perhaps inspired by his own words, until the recently released ‘Gloves Up’ was finalised.
Challenger’s influences, such as Biffy Clyro, The Subway and Death Cab for Cutie, are apparent in this single, despite the rule-bending meaning it has an entirely original layout and unique sound.
As the days grow warmer and spring creeps into view, many look to change up their slow and uninspiring playlists, in favour of more uplifting and inspiring songs, and this track does exactly that, fitting neatly in any playlist, the single is sure to invigorate them with a passionate call to action; it’s never too late to change if you make the right decisions, and things can change for the better.