Wabi Sabi Explores Emotional Limbo in Stunning New Single “In The Between”
The concept of wabi-sabi—finding beauty in imperfection—has never been more perfectly embodied than in the musical evolution of Wabi Sabi, the genre-defying ensemble that emerged from the creative vision of Damian Cartier. What began in 1999 as Damian Cartier (And His My Newt Orchestra)—a modest trio featuring piano, trombone, and drums—has metamorphosed into something far more ambitious and emotionally resonant. The band’s latest offering, “In The Between”, serves as both a sonic manifesto and an intimate exploration of love’s most precarious moments.
The journey from Damian Cartier (And His My Newt Orchestra) to Wabi Sabi reads like a beautiful accident of musical destiny. As the original trio expanded to an 11-piece powerhouse incorporating horns, bass, guitars, percussion, and multiple vocalists, the band’s identity seemed to shift with each new member—much like the fluid, ever-changing nature of their live performances. The constant misspelling of their original name became a running joke among venues and fans alike, with variations ranging from “Damon Carter and The New Orchestra” to the delightfully absurd “Damien Carter and His Minute Orchestra.” It wasn’t until Cartier witnessed Bobby Hill’s discovery of wabi-sabi philosophy in “King Of The Hill” that the band found its true calling—embracing the perfectly imperfect nature of their musical journey.
“In The Between” represents a quantum leap forward for Wabi Sabi, marking their first foray into animated music videos through an inspired collaboration with French animator Ronald Grandpey. This partnership has yielded something truly extraordinary: a visual narrative that captures the song’s central tension between hope and resignation, between what was and what might have been.
Musically, “In The Between” defies easy categorization, weaving together elements of rock, alternative, pop, funk, and New York punk attitude into a cohesive whole that feels both familiar and refreshingly original. The track opens with an immediately engaging hook before launching into a driving rhythm that never lets up. Crunchy guitars provide the backbone while sweeping horn motifs dance between harmonic vocals, creating a sonic landscape that recalls the more upbeat moments of Damien Albarn’s The Gorillaz project while maintaining its own distinct personality.
The song’s most ingenious moment comes after the bridge, where the horns and guitars engage in what can only be described as a sonic recreation of a couple’s argument. This musical confrontation comes alive through Grandpey’s animation, transforming abstract emotional turmoil into vivid visual storytelling. It’s a testament to Wabi Sabi’s understanding that sometimes the most powerful communication happens not through words, but through the interplay of instruments speaking their own urgent language.
Lyrically, “In The Between” occupies that devastating emotional space where love exists in limbo. The narrator finds themselves trapped in a relationship’s twilight zone—a place where the heart still believes in forever while the mind processes mounting evidence of inevitable change. Cartier’s lyrics paint a cinematic picture of love as performance art, complete with movie references that suggest both the artificial nature of certain relationships and the very real pain of being relegated to a supporting role in someone else’s story.
The recurring motif of cinema runs throughout the song, from the opening line’s movie reference to the chorus’s mention of “cut scenes” and the verse’s exploration of being treated “like an extra” while a partner “posing like a movie star.” This metaphorical framework brilliantly captures the performative aspect of relationships in decline, where authentic connection gives way to role-playing and pretense.
Perhaps most poignantly, the song explores the transformation of a relationship’s foundation. The narrator reflects on how their name was once part of their partner’s “foundation,” helping to create their partner’s “creations.” This generous acknowledgment of having been formative in someone’s development, coupled with the mature recognition that those gifts were given freely, adds layers of complexity to what could have been a simple breakup song.
The bridge section introduces a powerful metaphor of a heart in darkness that burns itself out trying to stop pain, only to rise from the ashes “one with the flame.” This phoenix imagery suggests not just resilience, but transformation—the idea that sometimes we must become one with our pain to transcend it.
“In The Between” succeeds because it captures something universally human: the experience of emotional suspension, of existing in that uncomfortable space between what was and what will be. Wabi Sabi has crafted a song that acknowledges the beauty in these imperfect moments, these spaces between certainty and doubt.
The band’s hope to get this video “in front of as many people as possible” feels well-founded. “In The Between” represents not just a successful collaboration between musicians and animator, but a mature artistic statement from a band that has found its voice by embracing imperfection. In a musical landscape often dominated by polish and precision, Wabi Sabi reminds us that sometimes the most beautiful art emerges from the spaces in between—between genres, between certainty and doubt, between heartbreak and hope.
For those ready to explore Wabi Sabi’s broader catalog, “In The Between” serves as an ideal entry point, showcasing a band that has learned to find perfect beauty in imperfect moments.
