“Decay,” out September 26th, began in a country home in the western Catskills, where Mike Cyril sat at the piano on a quiet hilltop, letting notes ring through the empty house. With the sustain pedal pressed to the floor, his voice echoed against bare walls in a pattern that felt familiar, recalling the looping structure of Bach’s Prelude in C. The chorus, repeating the word “Decay” without preamble, summoned images of deterioration and impermanence.
Cyril was reflecting on how beauty inevitably fades and how brilliance eventually dulls. Yet within impermanence he found meaning: a quiet celebration of spirit, sensual memory, and the ability to feel deeply even through sedation. The song became an attempt to capture that tension, preserving the intimacy and isolation of that period while reaching outward to whisper something true to the world.
After consulting with producer Jarrett Wetherell, Cyril brought the piece to EastSide Sound in Manhattan, where engineer Marc Urselli recorded the piano and drums. He wrote the string arrangement himself and collaborated with violinist Margot, who recorded violin and cello in her Vermont studio. The original vocal take from the Catskills remained, carrying an irreplaceable feeling.
Following a move to Italy, Cyril added final touches, including a newly recorded electric bass performed by Marco Galiero. Though simple in form, the song carries profound emotional weight.
The music video for “Decay” emerged after a chance meeting in Lucca, Italy, with director and photographer Duncan Elliott. Struck by the song, Elliott proposed a visual companion. Cyril envisioned an elderly couple waltzing alone in a grand, empty ballroom, their joy serving as a quiet act of defiance against the limits of aging bodies. He imagined something dignified, graceful, and haunting.
Casting proved difficult until an email arrived from Barry, an older gentleman who suggested that he and his husband could play the couple. At first Cyril worried they might appear too youthful or stylish, but after seeing their photos and reading about them, he and Elliott recognized the authenticity of their connection—a love no actor could replicate.
Filmed over a weekend in the elegant Atelier Ricci in Lucca, the video captures the enduring grace at the heart of the song. From its first inspiration in the Catskills to its final shoot in Italy, “Decay” has lived many lives. It stands as a meditation on joy in spite of deterioration and as an intimate reminder that beauty lingers long after the last note fades.
About the Artist
Narrating a backroom conversation between avant-garde and pop, with an honest baritone and distinct lyricism, Mike Cyril pits maddening beauty against genre. Ranging from minimal to extravagant, imbued with brooding intensity and flourishing emotions, his music is inherently cinematic.
Originally from Philadelphia, Cyril’s artistic path led him to New York City, where he collaborated with producer Jarrett Wetherell to craft his debut EP, Goodbye My Maze. Featuring contributions from Marlon Saunders (Lauryn Hill, Nine Inch Nails), Benjamin Lazar Davis (Okkervil River, Cuddle Magic), and violinist Manami Mizumoto, the EP unfolds like a soundtrack, weaving noir-tinged ballads with sweeping orchestral arrangements.
His forthcoming LP, Radiant Sorrow, was recorded between New York and Italy, working with producers Jarrett Wetherell and Leo Di Lenge respectively, and features an eclectic mix of instruments and styles. Throughout the recording process, he collaborated with an eclectic cast of musicians, including pianist Sara Goldstone (Boygenius, Kimbra), drummer Piero Perelli (Glen Hansard, Vinicio Capossela), and violinist Margot. Beyond songwriting, Cyril has composed for film, including the award-winning Greetings From Arizona.
With a career spanning multiple creative disciplines—from experimental hip-hop to industrial pop and film and fashion collaborations—Cyril remains committed to pushing artistic boundaries. His upcoming album Radiant Sorrow is set for release in June 2025, followed by an extensive tour in the US and Europe.
