In a world drowning in digital static, how much of our human identity do we retain? Australian artist Clayton Wakefield, a.k.a Reset 89, asks this pertinent question on his sophomore album ‘Influence’. Across this ten-track album, Reset creates a clever paradox by using electronica-infused sounds to highlight human authenticity and protest against technological fatigue. To understand ‘Influence’, one must follow its journey – from breaking free of the noise to reconnect with ourselves.
Struggle For Authenticity
This journey opens with a confrontation. The opening tracks capture the cacophony of a cyber world constantly trying to shape us, starting with The Influencer. Its gritty, abrasive instrumentals and mocking, repetitive vocals (crying out “look at me!”/”why won’t you follow me?”) expose the pervasive, hollow nature of online validation and the fear that our thoughts are mere digital echoes. This skepticism deepens in Conspiracy Guy, where warped synths and distorted guitars mirror modern misinformation as the lyrics bluntly ask “what is real, it’s all pretend”. The mood then shifts to a scathing critique on the synth wave inspired Fame Addiction, using addictive syncopated rhythms and snarling vocal delivery to target our obsession with fame. The first half of the record reaches its boiling point with RTFM (also a popular slang). Its gravelly vocal delivery with the frantic basslines serve as a biting commentary on instant gratification, cementing the record’s call for authenticity.
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Post-Digital Fatigue
In the second half of ‘Influence’, the production moves toward spacious, cinematic textures reflecting the fatigue of virtual stimulation. Dissolving marks a pivotal shift in the album where the frantic pace yields to something more immersive. Its hypnotic, looping guitar riffs capture a “dissolving” of the self where the boundaries of identity begin to blur. This leads to the indie-electronica Say Nothing where the shimmering synths and steady, propulsive beat offer the relief of stepping away. Tired pairs disembodied vocals with punchy bassline work to signal a breakthrough from the exhausting cycle of algorithmic traps, finally gaining perspective. This culminates in Broken Memory, where glitchy, stuttering synths evoke the sound of reclaiming pieces of the self lost to the digital void.
Breaking Through Static
In the final act, the human voice finds its footing within the online landscape. Preston pulls the listeners into an ambient, hazy headspace where chiming guitars and muffled vocals creates a sense of quiet reflection – as if the narrator has stepped out of the static and is back to a lived environment. This makes way for the finale Obstacle Of Truth, which is defined by thumping, persistent beats, whispered vocals and sweeping synths. It is a sonic revelation: our real selves only emerge once the cyber world has been silenced.
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Reset 89 has created a record that is a striking reflection and critique of the life we’re living in this day and age. On ‘Influence’, he doesn’t just ask us to listen; he asks us to disconnect from the digital noise to finally reconnect with our inner world.
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