Violentene find the beating electronic heart at the center of the Human Drama in their moody, mysterious and majestic new EP — showcasing today on Tinnitist.
The latest release from the Ottawa synthwave duo of multi-instrumentalist Roland M and singer-lyricist Mvrijo finds them pushing their well established lush atmospherics and vocal melodies to new heights. Hitting the sweet spot between synth-pop and post-punk, these five tracks are impeccably crafted from richly layered synthesizers, guitars and beatboxes straight from the ’80s — topped with dreamy melodies and ethereal vocals that lift you to the stratosphere. Simultaneously nostalgic, contemporary and futuristic, Human Drama is the perfect antidote to the madness of a modern world in chaos. And the perfect soundtrack for trying to decipher the full meaning of life’s chaos — the human drama of being fully alive.
Not surprisingly, Human Drama was an intense labour of love for the duo. Many of the songs had their genesis as soundscapes, with inspiration being pulled from the classic ’80s synths in Roland’s collection. Musical passages were captured and crafted quickly in moments of laser-focused intensity and clarity, then passed onto Mvrijo — who ruminated over them until a solid structure appeared, while taking care to keep the initial vibe and emotion of the songs intact and pure.
In comparison to the pair’s 2021 EP Otherworld, Human Drama digs deeper and aim higher, with songs that are more fully realized and emotionally satisfying than ever before. Break The Silence started the singles/video rolling in November 2022, leading up to the release of Thin Lines in September 2023, then pulling everything together for the full EP, which also features the tracks Eyes of The World, Never Fade and Destiny Unknown.
Human Drama was recorded at Digital Zen Studio in Ottawa. It was produced and mixed by Roland Marckwort and Mvrijo, and mastered by Bryan Lowe at Joao Carvalho Mastering. Stephen Seto provided art direction and design.
Listen to Human Drama below, watch the videos for Thin Lines and Break The Silence above, and join Violentene on their website, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok.
