PHARMACOSE new album, Prescription Fiction.

Alternative Rock band PHARMACOSE new album, Prescription Fiction.

On the surface, Prescription Fiction is a collection of songs that were written over the course of nearly a decade, but when put together, it tells the story of my mental health over that period. “Take a Pill” was completed first, and I remember writing the lyrics down so furiously that it was almost illegible. I’m fairly certain I was manic then, but that period of my life was so emotionally chaotic that I can’t be certain.

“Does It Matter?” and “Alternate Reality” were also written about that time. They’re frustration, anger, and sadness just spewed in all directions and at times incoherent. Those were written before I moved to Jacksonville, at which point I wasn’t doing much with my music. I was working and just trying to keep it together. Things fell apart in 2017 and I was hospitalized. I met Lu, our producer and bassist, when I was trying to get my life together.

The songs that came after are reflections of the past, that episode in particular, and how I was feeling at the time. “Checked Out,” for instance, is me using escapism to escape a lot of the shame I was feeling at the time, and “The Clearing” was written right when I was starting to feel hopeful again. I encourage whoever listens to it to look at it that way.

I’ve tried to be as emotionally honest as I can in hopes that maybe someone listens and realizes that if I can get through it, then maybe they can, too.

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Band

sounds with cutting edge flair. The project — whose name is a portmanteau of “pharmaceutical” and “comatose” — consists primarily of Wes Jones on vocals and rhythm guitar, and Lucio Rubino on bass. Frequent collaborators include Kevin Horne on lead guitar and Alberto Cruz on drums. They have previously released material under the name Digital Array.

Jones, a Memphis native, formed Pharmacose with bassist Lucio Rubino shortly after moving to Florida in 2017. Rubino is a veteran producer who has collaborated with Paramore, Grey Daze, Storyside B and The Showdown. Their creative process was chiefly inspired by Jones, a medical doctor, and his struggles with mental illness.

Drawing on such themes as reintegration to life in the wake of acute mental health episodes and the side effects of psychiatric medication, Pharmacose wields their brand of rock to let those suffering from mental illness know that they are not alone. The result is a powerful lyrical journey into the depths of existence that would appeal to fans of Queens of the Stone Age, Porcupine Tree, Starset, and The Mars Volta.

Confronting anger, shame and, ultimately, galvanising hope, Pharmacose advocates for the awareness of mental health. Through vibrant soundscapes suffused with riveting synth, the band hopes to empower people to seek help, push through, and move from isolation toward connection.