An anime-inspired, alt-pop tune that explores the duality of self perception, New York-based, Korean-American musician Margaret Sohn aka Miss Grit has shared their latest single, ‘Lain (phone clone)’. Taken from their upcoming debut album, Follow The Cyborg, which is set for release on 24th February via Mute Records, Sohn’s latest offering is another altruistic mix of cinematic electronics, ultra clear vocals and glitchy beats.
“I feel like the divide between my inner and outer self can grow so big sometimes that it feels like I’m being eclipsed by this big cringey monster,” Sohn explains about the conflicting states that informed their new track. “I wanted to write this to mock the monster and remind myself I’m not powerless against it.” Taking cues from the anime Serial Experiments Lain (Yasuyuki Ueda) – which centers around a girl whose online self attempts to drag her physical self away from reality – ‘Lain (phone clone)’ is Sohn’s musical interpretation of this push-and-pull scenario.
As a mixed-race, non-binary artist, Sohn has always used their art in order to explore, connect with, and understand their own identity further. Their self-released 2021 EP, Impostor, addressed a “life-long journey through racial impostor syndrome,” whilst their Talk Talk EP tackled the complexities of relationships.
Intrigued by the duality of android life, Sohn’s upcoming full length record was heavily inspired by films such as Her, Ex Machina, and Ghost in the Shell, as well as essays by Jia Tolentino (from Trick Mirror: Reflections on Self-Delusion) and Donna Horroway’s A Cyborg Manifesto. They continue to find new ways of dismantling these concepts on their latest offering ‘Lain (phone clone), adding more evocative and stimulating electronic soundscapes to their impressive repertoire.
Watch the video for ‘Lain (phone clone)’ below.
Pre-order Follow The Cyborg the debut album from Miss Grit here
Follow Miss Grit on bandcamp, Spotify, Instagram & Facebook
Photo Credit: Hoseon Sohn
Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut
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