“CIRCLE OF DOUBT” By Rosetta West

“Circle of Doubt” is a spellbinding, chilling, and gradually deepening blue rock ballad that haunts and plunges the listener into painful inquiries, anxiety, and restlessness. Rosetta West is the name of an underground Illinois band known for its genre-defying music. Described as mystic and heavy, the tune surfaces with echoes of weary struggles and desperate hope. Encapsulating the band's spirit, the single is available on Spotify, YouTube, Bandcamp, and Apple Music, proving that Rosetta West will always exist outside of the binge-listening culture of the mainstream.

Right after the first riff, the listener is already under the spell of a swampy, entrancing blues guitar line in “Circle of Doubt” that is repetitive but intricate on an emotional level. It doesn’t feel like a song but rather a summoning ritual that brings forth the restless ghosts of someone who has fought battles and emerged, only to wonder if it was worth it. The guitar work of Joseph Demagore is both intensely evocative and deceptively simple, complementing raw yet delicate vocals. His delivery has a certain lived quality to it that means he doesn’t need to raise his voice to be heard, and a single line can cut deep. His lyricism hints at not just personal torment, but for the strange comfort that comes from sitting with unknowing.

The almost invisible depth added by Jason X on bass and keyboards is ethereal in his handling of the instruments, yet softening the already sculpted track. His spectral touches, from bubbling analog warmth to soft and clouded keyboard fills, accentuate the many hues of the track’s sinister depths. These lesser hearable motifs are subdued in a way that beautifully hovers above a harsh, blusey canvas without overpowering it, musically elevating the song but contradicting its lyrical motif of descent. Jason X transforms Demagore, who serves as the primary narrator here, into an enchanting storyteller to fill the narrative gaps. This duo emits an astonishing sonic tapestry that juxtaposes emptiness and a profound yearning.

Demagore, Jason X, and the ever elusive Nathan Q. Scratch share percussion. As the elusive Nathan Q. Scratch, who does not allow himself to be photographed, adds an air of intrigue that perfectly embodies the band’s aesthetic. The band's drumming is consistent and restrained, evoking more of a heartbeat than thunder, which solidifies a sense of trance. Rather than galloping toward a resolution, the song spirals inward, mirroring the concept of a “circle of doubt” both musically and thematically. Rather paradoxically, it is the unknowing that provides comforting strangeness, drawing listener after listener in repeatedly.

Rosetta West has made music how they want as far back as I can remember and at times, quite literally, using nonconventional instruments. It’s blues, it’s folk, it’s world music, it doesn't matter what Transcendent is to them. What matters is that they’ve crafted an identity like no other. In 2024, they released their album, Labyrinth, which deepens production style and vision. The song “Circle of Doubt” builds on this narrative. The energy of the song is both timeless and desperate, as if a foreboding prophecy carried through the ages. This isn’t festival fuel or ordinary radio sounds; rather, it’s a reflection of humanity’s more complex experiences, inviting listeners to embark on an emotional pilgrimage into the depths of the soul.

For those new to Rosetta West, “Circle of Doubt” serves as a fascinating entry point. As a long-time fan, it still feels rich with meaning no matter how many times it is listened to, as new layers are bound to be gained through a more in-depth analysis. The band’s presence on Spotify, YouTube, and Bandcamp makes their spiritual blues accessible to everyone, but taking a glance at their deep catalog shows how much they’ve been silently sculpting their universe. If you are looking for music that dares you to confront your inner struggles while simultaneously offering a sense of solace, Rosetta West does not disappoint.

Written by Manuel