Art that inspires inner reflection: that's the mission of Sonarpilot, the alter ego of producer and digital designer Michael Moppert. Through Moppert's genre-bending electronic soundscapes and imaginative visual voyages by fractal artist Roger Mader, audiences are transported into The Mirage Project, a world of audio-visual contemplations on contemporary issues like artificial intelligence, cosmology, the multiverse, alien life, and more. The dynamic duo is back at it again for The Mirage Project, Season 2, with London-based DJ Jonny Miller joining the creative mix. "Mirage VI: Kronos" is the next chapter, promising a mind-bending journey into cosmic timekeeping and a fusion of captivating sound and visuals that defy convention.
This latest dubstep masterpiece transports your senses through mesmerizing beats and takes you on a visually mind-bending journey with its music video. From the moment the video begins, it's clear this isn't your typical dubstep experience, which is second nature to Sonar Pilot.
Imagine the intricate inner workings of a clock or watch, and that's how the "Kronos" music video starts, with gears turning in perfect synchronization. But then, things turn surreal as a second set of gears in vibrant, unexpected colors materializes on the screen. From there, it's a kaleidoscopic trip of visual wonderment as these gears morph, bend, and melt into forms you wouldn't believe possible.
The video's weirdness factor only escalates as the gears shape-shift into different sizes, hues, and patterns, becoming fractal versions of their initial selves. It's an artistic representation of time's malleable nature and impossible to look away.
Sonar Pilot's description of the video perfectly encapsulates its essence: "This enigmatic device creates time, sculpting and flexing its very nature, molding its velocity, orchestrating its myriad of layers." As viewers, we're drawn close to the source of this temporal transformation, yet the essence of time remains tantalizingly elusive, slipping through our grasp like sand through our fingers.
"Kronos" and its mesmerizing video will put you in a trance, making it a must-watch for both dubstep enthusiasts and lovers of cutting-edge visual artistry. It's a surreal journey that pushes the boundaries of music and visuals, leaving you craving more of Sonar Pilot's unique sonic and visual experiences.
Welcome to BuzzMusic, Sonarpilot. We love the music video for "Kronos." It's a mesmerizing visual experience that has us in a trance. Can you tell us about the concept and inspiration behind the video's unique and ever-changing imagery?
Thank you for the kind comment! "Kronos" delves into the concept of time: its ever-fluctuating nature, how it seems to race, slow, and transform. While we all have a general understanding of time, it remains challenging to precisely define and slip through our grasp like grains of sand. So, for this project, I aimed to capture the essence of time, the fluidity, the intricate layers, and the mechanical elements, all intertwined with time's enigmatic nature. To achieve this, we developed a series of fractal animations that resembled components of an immense machine, replete with cogwheels and dynamic parts that contort and shift in color. These elements seamlessly blend into one another, each layer flowing in a perpetual cosmic dance. The video's music is a splendid remix of one of my tracks from season one of The Mirage Project. New York-based techno-dub maestro Brendon Moeller skillfully reworks it; it mirrors time's fluidity beautifully.
The color palette in the video is vibrant and constantly shifting. What role does color play in conveying the emotions and narrative of the song?
Great question! Claude Monet once said, "Color is my day-long obsession, joy, and torment," a quote I deeply resonate with. Color, in many ways, bears a resemblance to time. While we all have an innate understanding of color, it proves challenging to articulate. Like, how does one describe the color "red"? We can draw comparisons - a tomato is red - but conveying the essence of red to someone without sight would be impossible.
Nonetheless, we all harbor profound emotional connections to color day to day. But in reality, the world lacks inherent colors; it merely consists of varying electromagnetic waves. It is our brains that truly fashion colors - how we see them - and consequently, we remain uncertain about the world's true appearance. What we perceive is a grand illusion that we all share, but it's unclear if we truly see the same things: we both comprehend what "red" signifies to us individually, but does my red align with yours? Color is in a perpetual flux, elusive and challenging to define, yet it remains one of the most potent sensations we encounter - much like time itself.
The Mirage Project is known for its thought-provoking content. How does this video contribute to the more prominent themes and conversations explored in the project?
Contemplating time constitutes one of the fundamental facets of the human experience. We cast our thoughts forward, riddled with anticipations or enthusiasm. Our recollections of the past resurface, carrying a tapestry of emotions. Ultimately, we confront the awareness that our time on this Earth is finite. These intricacies define our humanity.
Delving into the realm of time equates to exploring our very essence as humans - That's precisely what The Mirage Project is ultimately about.
Your music often explores complex and contemporary themes. How does the visual aspect of the music video complement and enhance the message conveyed in the song?
The combination of the soundtrack and visuals yields a potent experience - a voyage to a realm often veiled in strangeness yet interwoven with familiar themes that hold significance. In this union, the whole surpasses the sum of its components. I have been working as a musician for many years; that's where I come from, and therefore, I hold a deep commitment to crafting a soundtrack that stands as a standalone, enjoyable creation. It should accompany you like your movie score during travels or a stroll along the beach. Simultaneously, it must harmonize seamlessly with the visuals, embracing a cinematic quality. The ultimate aim is to ensure that both the visuals and soundtrack mutually optimally enhance each other.
What else is in store with The Mirage Project, Season 2? Can you give us a sneak peek into what viewers can expect from future episodes of this audio-visual journey?
We have two more Mirages planned for Season 2 in 2023. For 2024, we're discussing some exciting remix collaborations with electronic artists worldwide 2024. We've had great experiences with doing collaborations in the past on our Sonarpilot Audio label. And, of course, we're exploring new ideas for Season 3 of The Mirage Project to create even more unique and abstract worlds. We're a lot more active on social media as our audience has grown with us. On the technical front, we're considering using Artificial Intelligence to help us craft new elements for our future worlds. We'd love to have you along for the journey!