Valerie Matula

Unprecedented Tunes

Unprecedented Tunes is a webcomic that narrates my mental journey through the pandemic and the songs I grew attached to in the process. Each song used paints the emotional tone of its respective chapter, reflecting how I used them to cope with those feelings at the time. Music is an integral part of my expression, so I created a visual language to show how I experience music. By capturing the expressiveness of the lyrics and transcribing the atmospheric quality of a song, I turn the music of my heart into the muse of my art. Songs have their own narratives, but the more you listen to them, the more they blend with your own meanings. Parts of the songs are collaged into my own narrative, remixing it into something new. For me, music is a powerful force. It’s like an addiction, but it’s also like therapy. Throughout the past year, I found myself turning to music as a way to compensate for the lack of genuine human contact. We may be lonely now, but we are not alone in our sentiments. I share these songs in the hope that they may surpass our physical distance and help bridge the emotional gap between us.