The work of Exzenya is based on the plane which is hardly ever exploited by modern artists, shifting the psychological trauma to the sphere of a complete sonic experience in its entirety. It is not just a song of unhealthy relationships but a carefully designed thesis on the theme of captivity rewiring the human brain based on the concept of Stockholm Syndrome, the trauma theory, and the staggering truth of forcible dominion.
The song begins with haunting reinterpretation of folk tradition, with the voice of Exzenya falling down into the unbelievably unusual lower register which instantly creates the mood of isolation and fear. Not a single trace of artificial redress or concession is observable in her power to maintain those resonant depths; and this proves that not only is her art under perfect technical control, but it is fearless artistic bravado. The vocals alternate between low, depressed tones and high, desperate ones, as the burden of submission and the desperate struggle to escape that burden symbolise cruelty of captivity.
Sparsity and cinematic instrumentation add a claustrophobic effect and keep the clarity at an exceptionally high level. The production decisions are purposeful and not refined, where tonal grit is used as an expression of itself, enhancing emotional realness. It turns out to be the best asset of the track itself, being the rawness and reflecting the disintegrated condition of a person whose identity is torn to pieces in a systematic manner.
The peculiarity of the story of the captivity is its psychological accuracy. Exzenya examines the workings of control--the dependency created by isolation, the normalisation of abuse and the escaping ends up becoming a source of terror in itself.
Her art has lived wisdom and academic knowledge; it makes no easy answers or solutions. Captivity is one of the most eloquent evidences of the power of music to be a witness- a haunting, unsparing, examination of what happens when the reality of an individual is overwritten against their own wishes, and the only way to survive is to be completely devoid of oneself.
