In his latest instrumental offering, ‘Fleeting Struggle’, Samer Fanek crafts a vivid emotional arc with nothing more than keys, strings, and a quietly thunderous sense of purpose. The Jordanian-born, Bay Area-based composer continues to refine his signature blend of piano-led storytelling and sweeping cinematic arrangements.
‘Fleeting Struggle’ opens with a piano motif that flickers like candlelight- tentative, expressive, and unguarded. Rather than dwell in melancholy, the track steadily grows in scope. There are layered percussive bursts, swelling orchestration, and subtle touches of rock-inflected drama that give it a fantastic melodramatic edge. The composition evokes conflict, and moves through it, with each crescendo marking a turn toward clarity.
You can hear echoes of Fanek’s diverse influences throughout- the emotive sweep of film scores, the dynamic punch of symphonic rock, and the melodic sensibilities of classical piano. Yet what makes ‘Fleeting Struggle’ feel truly distinct is its structure: it doesn’t settle into a predictable climax or resolution, but instead drifts away, as if the turmoil has passed before we had the chance to fully name it.
It’s a clever musical depiction of what Fanek set out to capture- those intense inner battles that hit hard and vanish just as quickly. It’s a soundtrack for reflection and reckoning with life’s quieter storms.
For longtime fans of Fanek’s work- or newcomers discovering him for the first time- ‘Fleeting Struggle’ is a reminder of the expressive power instrumental music holds when it’s grounded in sincerity and shaped with craft.