Track By Tracks: DISSONA - Dreadfully Distinct (2023)

About The EP as A Whole:

Dreadfully Distinct is a series of 3 character studies. Each song focuses on a character from the Blade Runner universe and delves into a compelling situation for each one. Since every character is so unique, every song we’ve created for this EP is also unique.

Track By Track explained:

1. The Prodigal Son focuses on the inception and development of Roy Batty, the so-called antagonist from the original Blade Runner film. The track opens with a newscast highlighting the release of the Nexus 6, Eldon Tyrell’s newest and most advanced replicants to date. We hear Tyrell address his technicians and “wake” Roy up for the first time. Roy is asked by Tyrell to tell him what he sees. After replying, “I see everything,” the track shifts energy to illustrate Roy’s immediate delivery into service. The band enters with an exciting instrumental section as Roy begins his journey. A transmission is heard, once again from Tyrell, stating that, due to the dire situation at “The Gate,” Roy will be stationed there to assist in the military efforts. David enters with his first vocal line over a rugged bass groove, stating Roy’s condition and condemned situation. As the song progresses, we experience an astonishing and awe-inspiring instrumental section that paints the delicate “C beams” Roy pleasantly describes witnessing. The situation turns, however, as new energies enter his mind. Why should I obey these weaker beings? Why should I “expire” after a laughable four years of existence? It’s simply not enough for him and he takes real steps to return to Earth and confront his maker. The track ends with Roy arriving at Tyrell’s “golden halls,” Tyrell most likely already knowing his fate.

2. Renaissance is Rick Deckard’s song. The situation we’re dropped into here is his and Rachael’s sweaty, twilight escape from LA. One of the most prominent underlying layers in this track, however, is the enticing question we’re presented with in Blade Runner: Is Deckard a replicant? The song opens with a hazy, elemental SFX intro. Flashes of stampeding hooves come and go, perhaps those unicorns poor Deck sees in his dreams (nightmares?). We shift to an exotic instrumental section, brimming with tension tones and odd time signatures. The band then enters instrumentally with an intricate, guitar-driven section, in yet another odd time signature. The colors shift to a delicate, yet strong, contrasting moment, displaying Deck’s protective spirit. His “whatever-it-takes” attitude, bad idea or not. David enters with the profound question: “Do you trust me?” and the race is off. We need to get out and get out NOW. As the track builds, we hear Deck implore his own psyche more than once, stressfully. “Dream, oh dream. What does it mean? Huh? What does it mean?” As the two descend into the dark, so does the music, paving the way for a dramatic bit of flashback dialogue between Deckard and Rachael (no doubt upon them learning of her impossible pregnancy). Deckard pleads with his own mind as the “dream” turns with certainty into a nightmare. He’s collapsing into himself: “Fold into a most peculiar/unfamiliar/paper figure.” Fed up, he demands to be shown the truth: “Can’t you show me what’s real?” The call goes unanswered and he’s reduced to revisit one of his most difficult moments with Rachael. In the final moments of the song, we feel Deckard command the dream to obliteration but, more than likely, that “dream” is sticking around.

3. Skinjob is a strong contrast from Renaissance and is written about Agent K from Blade Runner 2049. The track is purely electronic but still feels completely organic and authentic. It begins with an open, sub-driven verse section, painting a vision of life on the dystopian streets of LA. The section immediately following is completely elevating, with David stating “My mind and my body are yours to command.” Agent K is a replicant, make no mistake, and he is completely bent on doing as humans wish by their will alone. The second verse picks up steam while establishing a more regulated pulse. The questions from Agent K’s recent baseline test echo in his mind as he prowls the streets for his prey. Feelings of frustration build, feelings that shouldn’t be there. The music shifts to a much weightier, much more emotional feel. K contemplates what it might be like to disobey, to act completely out of character or programming. “Maybe I wanna watch you die this time” (the “you,” of course, being his replicant targets). The song drops to a filtered, sweeping build. “BAD DOG,” the words Luv so viciously threw at K are heard as we are transported to what will be his final confrontation with her. “A tall white fountain plays and the water rises.” Half nonsense, half observation. Wiring’s going bad maybe? Hard to tell but time’s up, Luv is here and ready to prove who’s the “best.” “Finger to finger and toe to toe” they size each other up and cut each other down during the song’s final climax. We close with a more affirmative chorus, this time with a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it lyric change (Chorus 1: “Maybe I wanna watch you die this time; Chorus 2: “Maybe I’m gonna watch you die this time.”).