Hungry Ghosts
Periods of standardisation have always been challenged by movements that refuse to conform. In art, politics and music alike, progress rarely comes from perfecting the formula but from breaking it. That is why we should keep looking back at jazz. Not as a nostalgic exercise, but as a reminder that freedom, improvisation and curiosity remain essential creative values. Jazz is less a genre than a way of thinking, and at a time when algorithms increasingly reward familiarity over risk, its spirit feels more relevant than ever. Dan Webb’s “Hungry Ghosts” is built on exactly that philosophy. Inspired by Webb’s move from Melbourne to Singapore and the symbolism of the Hungry Ghost Festival, the instrumental explores the strange emotional territory between leaving one life behind and beginning another without relying on words to carry its meaning. Instead, the narrative unfolds through musicians willing to trust instinct over convention. Featuring collaborators whose work spans Radiohead, Thundercat and Snarky Puppy, the single never feels like a showcase of impressive names but like a conversation between creative minds that understand the value of exploration. Webb remains firmly at the centre, composing, arranging, producing and performing with the confidence of someone interested in asking questions rather than providing easy answers. That same outlook extends beyond the music through Webb Warp, his self-developed audiovisual platform that generates reactive visuals without AI, reinforcing an artistic practice built on invention rather than convenience. “Hungry Ghosts” is a timely reminder that originality is rarely born from following the prevailing current. More often it emerges from those prepared to wander into unfamiliar territory, carrying forward the restless spirit that has made jazz one of the most enduring sources of inspiration across modern culture.