With his latest single ‘Fare Thee Well’, Larry Karpenko delivers heartfelt meditation on loss, memory, and the enduring imprint of love. Created in response to the passing of his close friend Sharlene, a vibrant woman whose legacy of selflessness and quiet strength lives on through those she touched, the single is both a personal tribute and a universal reflection on grief. Karpenko channels the depth of his emotions into a composition that feels tender and introspective.
What makes this track stand out is its seamless blend of sonic experimentation and lyrical vulnerability. A 20-year-old piano riff finds new life here, reimagined against a bed of shifting rhythms and ambient textures. The verses drift through subtle jazz phrasing and syncopated beats before the chorus opens up into a cathartic release, underscoring the emotional weight of farewell. The contrast between time signatures- a 3/4 beat layered over 4/4- mirrors the unsteady terrain of mourning, where logic and linearity dissolve.
Karpenko’s production approach is rich in intention. From the understated synths reminiscent of Peter Gabriel’s emotive flair to the layered outro that fades rather than ends, suggesting that the essence of love continues beyond our reach, every choice serves the song’s message. “We’re beautiful,” he sings in the bridge, an aching admission of what once was, followed by a return to the notion of peace, closure, and eventual solace.
Recorded at the intimate Kreation Records and enriched with virtual instruments from a palette of haunting timbres, ’Fare Thee Well’ feels like a eulogy in motion; poetic, deeply spiritual, and profoundly moving. The inclusion of Sharlene’s passing date on the cover adds another layer of intentionality, encouraging listeners to pause and remember not only one life, but all lives gone too soon.
Karpenko proves here that music, when created with honesty and reverence, can be a vessel for healing. ‘Fare Thee Well’ honours, and in doing so, leaves a lasting echo of light amid the darkness.
