Previously shrouded in mystery, Virtual Self is Porter Robinson’s newest side project that was announced with the sudden release of a single, “EON BREAK” a couple of months ago. With no prior explanation, other than cryptic tweets and videos, Virtual Self was welcomed with open arms and eager ears — and for good reason
Robinson, a self-taught producer who started producing at 12 years old, has gained one of the biggest followings in the EDM world. Now 25 years old, Robinson made a name for himself as one of the youngest leading players in electronic music. Those who know of Robinson are familiar with his unique, upbeat electronic sound. However, Robinson’s new alias, Virtual Self, is quite different from what his fans are used to. Virtual Self is an experiment for Porter, a chance for him to dive into the genre of neotrance, whereas his fans are used to his dream pop and electro house.
The five songs in this self-titled debut EP, released on Nov. 29, all flow beautifully together as if they are a soundtrack to a fast-paced video game. Inspired by the sounds of early 2000s trance, you can most closely compare the music from this EP to the music in Dance Dance Revolution or an older arcade fighting game. A contrast between light and dark, this EP almost sounds like a battle between the forces of good and evil.
With the first few notes of the piano intro on the leading track of the EP, “Particle Arts,” you can get an idea of the journey this EP will put you on. This first track, just like all the others on the release, has so many different elements throughout that it will keep you fully intrigued as you listen to it over and over again.
A hybrid between storyteller and musician, Robinson has the tendency to create pieces that tell a whole story, with songs echoing back major themes throughout. Robinson’s previous release “Worlds” spoke to a post-apocalyptic future that could be seen from the eyes of a child, while “Virtual Self” combines a more mature sound with the setting of a virtually-driven future.
While some of the melodies off the EP speak back to Robinson’s previous releases, this EP is a stark contrast tohis previous works. Moving away from the calmness of the “Worlds” LP and into the slight chaos that is “Virtual Self,” Robinson is truly experimenting with a whole new style that will hopefully inspire other EDM producers to do the same.
