March 2023 - TURN IT UP: Nepthisis - Love of Food and Music

Sheila Eden brings music to the forefront of her career as a singer, songwriter, and storyteller for film and television. She pours heartfelt, deep vocalization into cinema. Her latest project, Nepthisis, is described as "heavily inspired by the darkest of dreams and the most primal desires. Musically, this exploration takes on gothic nuances in exchange for a more aggressive spirit unbound by genres." We talked with Eden about music, food, and her upcoming projects.

What does music mean to you?

Music is my outlet for self-expression and my unrelenting passion. It's my language and way of communicating with the world. My family line inspires me to make music – we are musicians and storytellers, and I can feel it in my blood and every aspect of being. Creating music is my way of talking about the darkness inside myself and the world. Also, to share stories that have pained us to move on or at least be held and heard. Music is the best way to know the deepest, most hidden parts of me.

More recently, I've adored the process of filmmaking my music videos, which allows a deeper aspect of storytelling to share alongside the music.

How did you get started in your career?

I went to college and was involved in musical theater and opera training. I took a break from music until joining a progressive rock band in the desert. Years later, I moved to Albuquerque, also known as Tamalewood, and saw the opportunity to create music for film and television. As a result, for many years, I worked tirelessly to create music across musical genres, trying to 'find my place' in music licensing for media, known as sync licensing. Finally, at the turn of the pandemic, I felt it was time to creatively express my artistic voice through a new and honest musical project - developing the sound that resonated with me. I delved into the darker sounds and textures, incorporated the haunting wailing vocal tones, and weeping distorted guitars, and allowed the electronic side to take more unexpected detours. NEPTHISIS came to life.

What do you like to listen to when you cook, and what is your best dish?

During the pandemic, I started a bit of urban 'homesteading' in the form of cooking and canning. I make traditional stews with vegetables from our garden and floral jams while blasting my 1950s radio. On an early Saturday morning, tuned to the Latin music radio station, you can find me 'making magic' in the kitchen. The blurry, fuzzy radio blares its imperfect sound through the room and fills me with joy and movement as I sway, chop, season, roast, and all the other things.

Do you feel there's a correlation between food and music, and why?

I believe there are correlations between food and music. For me, food and music creation - is structured yet intuitively guided. Both are an expression of the soul and feelings. Whether you follow a recipe or proper song structure, in the end, it's your unique way of making the dish uniquely 'yours' that people remember. Whether I am making a dish of enchiladas, or a new dark cinematic song, the elements I add are heavily determined by what I intuitively feel is needed.

I share myself through my music like I do my food. If I prepare food or a song for you, you will feel the care and magic I've poured into it.

What are some of your latest projects?

Our song, "In the Shadows," has recently been used to promote the dark-themed feature film Bones and All, starring Timothee Chalamet and Taylor Russell. NEPTHISIS started releasing singles every month beginning in October 2021, leading to their first full-length album Spiral Hollow on January 21, 2022. Since then, NEPTHISIS released singles focusing on the dark cinematic anthems and distressed ballads you'd likely hear in a movie trailer.

You can learn more about Eden's latest projects and history at sheilaeden.com, hear Nepthisis' music at songwhip.com/nepthisis and follow her on social media (Facebook, Instagram, and Youtube) @Nepthisis.