'Swipe right.... I'm gone'.
Inspired by on-line dating stories and the unsettling feelings that come with it, this piano and voice ballad explores our increasingly lonely online existence, and how we yearn for real human contact. An early draft of the song was penned during a Covid lockdown, when people were forced to maintain relationships online. Sadly, this trend of maintaining friendships online continued well after lockdowns were over. Upon hearing stories from friends about how online dating was especially damaging to self esteem and mental health, the chorus (and title) came to life.
Sylektis teamed up once again with incredible vocalist Sonia Konstantinidou, to bring the character to life. She also wrote the Greek Lyrics and sung on 'Szyszki, Revisited', on Sylektis Collection 1.
Lyrics
I am frozen in the glow
Timelines and memories
Tracing where I have been.
Hearing sounds of human life
Outside my window
And no living soul to be seen
And there's no one here to witness
If I stay or if I leave
Got nowhere to go to
Nowhere to be
Why does everybody tell me
‘Take a walk in the sun'
Hashtag no filter, pretend that it's fun
Are you the right one to love?
I’m sure, I think, I know, I am enough
I wasted another day, I can’t look away
So many so-called friends
A screenful of faces
it somehow just don’t feel right
Now the days are getting colder,
Someone come over
Drink wine and talk all night
I'm here,
right here
Are you the right one to love?
I’m sure, I think, I know, I’ve had enough
I wasted another day, I can’t look away
And its wrong, so wrong
Swipe right, I’m gone
In this new and challenging direction, 'Human Machine Amazing!' is Sylektis' second single from Collection 2, featuring drummer extraordinaire Osman Konuray. The process began with a rhythmic exploration of 18, split into 6+6+6 or 7+7+4. Osman was presented with (in retrospect) a way too over-complicated mathematical musical puzzle, that he not only graciously solved, but also took to another level by adding mind-bending layers of complexity and poly-rhythms in the cymbal and snare parts, creating the single tour-de-force drum performance you can hear on this track. That's right, this is one performance, not recorded in overdubs!
To contrast this marvel of human musicianship, it became clear that all the melodic aspects of the track had to contrast the live drums.. hence everything else was composed of synthesizers and worked around the drum performance. Frederic Dumesle once again lends his expert analog synth skills to the synth bass, while Basil created the higher synth lines and computer vox parts. The poly-rhythmic coming together and separating of live drums and synths is a wry nod to the synergy and dissonance of humans and technology.. hence the title.
The vocoder computerised voices singing 'Amazing! Isn't it so... Amazing! Wasn't that so.. Amazing! Aren't you just so.." were already in the track. However by some bizarre twist of fate on the day the track was mixed, Basil heard the lines 'I just wanted to tell you, I think you're amazing. I think you're amazing too! you're so amazing!' while viewing the film Baghead (2008)*. Naturally, this serendipity could not be ignored.
Hold on for the ride.
Drums performed and recorded by Osman Konuray in Barcelona. Synth Bass parts by Frederic Dumesle recorded in Brussels. Additional synths and mix by Basil Hogios in Prague. *Sample credit: from the film Baghead (2008), written and directed by the Duplass Brothers, staring Greta Gerwig and Steve Zissis. All attempts made to get copyright clearance for the sample.
’Elegy’ is the first single from ‘Collection 2’, a last minute addition to the album created in a short intense burst of energy. It serves as a personal, heartfelt response to the profound suffering endured by innocent souls entangled in senseless conflicts that plague various corners of our world, and hopefully will connect with others who feel the same.
The orchestral sample is taken from a moving instrumental work ‘Elegy’ composed by Basil Hogios for the European Capital of Culture in Denmark, which became the backbone of the new song. Listen to the full original orchestral track below,
The beautiful, ethereal vocals are sung by Syauki Destanika from Indonesia.
The album's official release on Feb 16, a celestial alignment where the open star cluster Pleiades will spectacularly converge with the moon.
The lyrics delve into the perspective of someone more fortunate, bearing witness to the conflict from a sheltered vantage point via screens and social media commentary. In a world that demands allegiance, empathising with all humans seems to be no longer a valid position. Even a distant observer is not immune to the divisive forces that unfold, laying bare the stark reality of human behaviour.
Lyrics
Another picture
Blood and dust and rubble
It's just unthinkable
A clinging lifeless hand
A father holds her
The same age as my daughter
Who did this to you
I had a good friend
Who texted me to pieces
'How could you be so heartless
and ignore my pain'
Her reason twisted
Punctuation vicious
I posted the wrong victims
So we can never be friends again
Have we lost our minds
Will it burn our souls
Can we feel no more
Who did this to you
(Lyrics by Basil Hogios)