Ailanthus by Andrea Minucci

Ailanthus is a tree native from China, where is known as ‘tree of heaven’, due to its fast growth and because it was originally used to host silk moths. Meanwhile in the west is most commonly classified as a noxious and invasive weed, addressed to as ‘tree of hell’ because of its vigorous capability of resprout and fast spread, which makes it one of the hardest plants to eradicate. Some even refer to it as ‘stinking tree’ for the unpleasant scent of its leaves.
The plant is known for being able to thrive in the most harsh and inhospitable conditions, often is the first and only plant to reappear after a catastrophe or where human influence makes it impossible for local flora to prosper, which is why in the US is sometimes also referred to as ‘Ghetto Palm’.
This dichotomy and the plant’s own characteristics become a metaphor for my experience, the emotional, psychological and physical struggle and labour endured to fit in and carve out somewhat of a liveable space; as well as the efforts to make myself present, visible; to subvert any kind of pre-constructed centripetal characterisations and reclaim agency.
This practice of self-determination becomes a sempiternal emotional survival, and struggle to stay whole and true to myself.
Musically the album reflects this idea, melodic and fragile soundscapes coexist with harsher textures, pure noise and manipulated field recordings. Intrusive and unintelligible dialogues become a detail around which everything else makes itself present, like a consciousness that, rendered transparent, strolls through the environment and despite its acknowledgment, is still there. Noise and melodic elements are intertwined and coexist in a way that makes it difficult to establish which is the main element, thus questioning any sort of subjective perspective of the experience and making it almost irrelevant to determine what is peripheral and what isn't.

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