Dark Stain by Marc Filmer - July 1st, 2025

Marc Filmer, composer of solo piano music, presents Dark Stain, a heartfelt and deeply personal collection of original pieces that explores the delicate balance between hope and despair. Inspired by a raw, vulnerable moment, this album unfolds as my testament to the emotional landscape of anxiety, deep sorrow, and the cherished past. Each note echoes with my hidden worries, quiet desolation, and the gentle pull of memory. I hope listeners will find solace and resonance in this evocative and emotionally charged album, a moving musical journey through a moment that felt like 'a dark stain on everyone.'

I invite you to listen to Dark Stain on your preferred music streaming platform. You can also find my other works wherever you stream music. Thank you for listening.

Take Me Away begins the journey of Dark Stain with a solemn, melancholic longing. This piece is the sound of pure escape, a desperate "flight" from a scenario too traumatic to face. Its dreamlike and somber tones weave a tapestry of denial, haunted by the quiet grief of shattered childhood dreams, inviting the listener into the album's profoundly introspective world.

Pain and Suffering is a heart-wrenching piece that navigates the depths of universal sorrow. Beginning with delicate, high-register melodies, the music gradually descends into the piano's powerful, low bass, creating a neo-classical soundscape of loss and heartache. Its haunting darkness speaks to the entirety of human pain—physical, psychological, spiritual, emotional—a poignant reminder of shared experiences. This track embodies the album's core concept: the inherent need to experience pain, an inescapable truth that feels like a dark stain on humanity itself.

The urgent pulse of Before We Merged paints a vivid picture of anxiety being relieved through togetherness. This track embodies the joy of love and the unique ability to share pain, making life's most testing events navigable. It's a testament to facing overwhelming challenges as one, with the melody reflecting the cathartic release of speaking your deepest fears to a loved one, turning individual distress into a shared burden that can be overcome.

Passing Ships explores the bittersweet ache of loneliness and the longing for connection. Named after the poignant idiom, this piece captures the rhythm of friends perpetually missing each other, constantly just out of sync. Musically, its alternating melodies, moving in opposing directions, emphasize the paradox of close proximity alongside frustrating separation. This track reflects those moments in life when, amidst a dark space, the universe seems to conspire to keep you from the warmth of friendship, amplifying the urgency of a much-needed reunion.

Rivers Maybe offers a welcome moment of relief within Dark Stain, flowing with a mellow warmth. Its meandering arpeggios evoke the gentle, winding quality of a river, guiding the listener through a distant memory that feels almost dreamlike. This piece represents the lifting of darkness as connections are rekindled, signifying hope appearing on the horizon after the warmth of friendship has been found.

Vanished marks a significant shift on the album, embodying the blissful feeling when all suffering has ceased to exist. Its slow, gentle melody, mostly in the upper keys, radiates a calming positivity, occasionally grounded by subtle bass notes. This piece represents a full release from the burden of pain, providing a sonic sanctuary that evokes the serene and private beauty of a Japanese Garden, full of hidden life and tranquil seclusion.

Feel Safe plunges back into the album's depths of anxiety and uncertainty. This piece opens with a palpable nervous energy and an urgent rhythmic pulse, mirroring the adrenaline-fueled rush of assuming the worst. Yet, its driving melody pushes towards a less ominous resolution, building towards a hopeful climax that suggests fears might be unfounded, and things could, indeed, turn out okay in the end. It's a testament to the human longing for security when darkness falls once more.

A deep sense of calm washes over the album with Clouds and Sand, a piece designed for pure mental releaxation. Its meditative and positive melody invites you to let go of everything, allowing peace and harmony to absorb you. This track perfectly fits the narrative as a much-needed mental mini-vacation, a journey to that happy place where the mind finds respite, akin to the endless, untouched beauty of a quiet, cloud-draped coastline.

Nowever offers a tranquil meditation on the power of the present moment. Its title, a blend of "now" and "forever" while echoing "now or never," perfectly encapsulates its theme. This softly played piece features a dreamy, slow rhythm and a calming, lullaby-like tone. It acts as a musical anchor, gently suggesting that by fully embracing "now," one can effectively cope with any challenge life presents, finding solace in managing what's directly before us, one day at a time.

The essence of immediate support, "in a heartbeat," resonates throughout this nostalgic and tender piece. In A Heartbeat evokes a heartfelt, almost spiritual joy, weaving together light, elevated tones from the piano's upper end with robust, grounding notes from the lower register. This musical dialogue conveys the reassuring power of knowing a loved one is there for you in a crisis, even if circumstances keep you apart. It's a reflection on those deep relationships where, despite physical distance, memories flash by, reinforcing a bond that offers comfort and strength.

The quiet depth of Pregnant Pause explores those moments when unspoken understandings hold immense weight. A warm, full sound and meditative focus define this piece, reflecting the telepathic transfer of energy that comes from being truly comfortable with someone. Within the album's narrative, it represents a moment of hopeful suspense—a deep breath held in anticipation of (hopefully) good news, and the delicate quiet that precedes a pivotal turning point, all bathed in the light of a beautiful, sunny day.

Life Happens captures the bright, ever-unfolding story of human experience. With a cheery melody and a strong, free-moving rhythmic pulse, this piece reflects how much goes on beneath the surface of others' lives—even close friends and family—beyond the snapshots we glimpse. It's a vibrant reminder of life's unexpected turns, the relentless march of time, and the vital importance of truly living, making memories, and making the effort to get together more often with those around us.

With an uplifting and heartfelt melody that embodies empowerment, Entropy delves into the philosophical state of finding peace within life's inherent uncertainty. This track reflects on the human experience of growth and decline, a shared destiny that unites us all. It's a sonic meditation on the past, present, and future, culminating in the acceptance of what cannot be changed, and encouraging us to live fully rather than be consumed by anxieties about an unwritten future.

Thank you for exploring the story behind Dark Stain. I invite you to experience the full album, and all my solo piano compositions, on your preferred music streaming platform. Your listen means the world to me.