ESMER PRESENTS: ACHILLES HEEL
ESMER’S THIRD EP - SHOWCASES SELF-REFLECTION AND HIS GROWING COMFORT WITH VULNERABILITY.
Achilles Heel is a project filled from start to finish with introspective power ballads and an intimate look into Esmer’s growth as both an artist and individual. This EP is an embodiment of his reflection on life, self, and relationships, and more-over, a willingness to be vulnerable with not only his audience but himself.
Achilles Heel Cover Art
“Shoutout to Nancy, who created the artwork. I asked her to include nuances and motifs from every song in there- so that the audience can be visually pleased while listening!”
The EP features 5 guitar-laden tracks with an emphasis on storytelling through his lyricism and melodies. Starting strong with “Wanted More” and ending with the single & EP title song “Achilles Heel”, each track giving listeners a deeper look into his journey.
Esmer Recording - IG
“This EP was a labor of love, and so many people helped me mold this new sound. To name a few: Izzy, Cam, Khi, Mike, Adam, Darien, Claire, Ben, Joe, and Luca. I wanna thank everyone who inspired and helped produce the project.”
“My sleep schedule was f*cked up for days while we were mixing and mastering, so there was a huge sacrifice in time and energy. The goal was to try to create something completely out of my comfort zone and through wise collaboration and open-heartedness, we were able to do so.”
2024 - IG
Softwear (the recently opened vintage store covered here) was a familiar and safe environment for friends, family, and newcomers to his musical journey to enjoy Achilles Heel for what it was - a baring of his soul.
The party itself offered a warm welcome with live DJ sets accompanying your shopping experience and the intimacy of a shared meal (dim sum & karaage from Menya Gumi) courtesy of Esmer himself. It was clear that this party meant more than an opportunity to share his art, he made sure that if you were in attendance, you were well taken care of.
Photos courtesy of @JunglexJulia
The night allowed attendees to experience the ebb & flow of emotion as the EP wound down and a back-to-back set between @Moneyycattt and @D-Twista commenced.
The community support Esmer has garnered was a pivotal part of the experience - with an impromptu skate sesh outside, the warmth of the night overflowed into the street, and even passersby peaked in to see what was happening on the corner of Chapel and State.
“I was very grateful to see those who pulled up to support the EP. Having an event to facilitate something so precious and sacred to me felt really foreign in the moment. At the end of the night, it was so fulfilling to have had people connect with the songs and answer questions I’d never thought of. Hearing people listen to ‘Wanted More’ or ‘2nd Street’ for the first time was dope. I felt like I was hearing it for the first time too.”
Video by @JunglexJulia
Seeing his loved ones smile and sway along with him was quite possibly - one of my favorite experiences yet. Gratitude filled the room, and his father even took the time to personally thank his friends for attending.
“Achilles Heel completes the EP trilogy, so what’s coming next is going to be a giant step.”
Esmer - IG
