"Fleeting Struggle" is the first in a series of singles from Samer Fanek's upcoming album, Forever Elsewhere, and what a promising preview it is! I have reviewed Samer's four previous albums and a couple of singles, and all have been outstanding! A self-taught pianist/composer/keyboard player, Samer composed, produced, performed and recorded "Fleeting Struggle" (and all of his music) in his home studio in Daly City, CA - very impressive because the sound quality of the recording is amazing! Samer had this to say about "Fleeting Struggle":

"It’s about those brief and intense moments of emotional turmoil that are so powerful, yet pass quickly. It feels like grappling with an inner conflict that’s so vivid but also temporary, acknowledging the passing nature of struggle and the promise of resolution."

And about how his music has evolved:

"Musically, over the years, I have noticed my gradual shift towards composing and performing more dynamic and rhythmic piano-based instrumentals that blend rock elements with my usual synthesizers and orchestral textures. I find that I express myself more naturally this way, and as a bonus, they are a lot of fun for the audience when performed live. I am not quite sure where this one lands genre-wise, but perhaps it is a step toward carving out a new space or expanding an existing one for this kind of music."

The piano takes the lead for most of this powerful piece, backed primarily with orchestral strings, drums and percussion, and electric guitar. Born and raised in Jordan, Samer's music often reflects his Middle Eastern heritage, adding a distinctive flavor to it. That sound is apparent in this piece although it doesn't dominate it. I can't wait to hear the rest of the album!

"Fleeting Struggle" is available to stream on Spotify and other platforms including Pandora, and can be streamed or downloaded from Amazon and Apple Music/iTunes. Very highly recommended!