Anxiety is a hell of a drug. Probably the most intriguing theme you heard in a long time, served with a strong dose of psychedelia. Thank you HILOTRONS. You made our day. Honestly.
HILOTRONS’ new single, “Theme From Lonely Cinema,” is the “theme song” for a trilogy of records called Lonely Cinema.
Read our interview with the Canadian artist below!
Describe your sound in three words please!
Sweep Wide Frequencies
You have been working on a trilogy of records called ‘Lonely Cinema’. Firstly, we’d like to know how you decided on the title and then if you could tell us a bit more about the three albums, their points of connection and divergence.
Lonely Cinema is about the lack of experience using the full range of natural human sensory modalities, while being denied the full range of subtle cues and meanings that operate on a subconscious level. It’s a story about a future world in which we have our lives reduced down to a little piece of real estate rented or owned together with the curated and controlled virtual spaces that the system provides.
Most people make a distinction between real life and life online, and you also refer to a ‘disconnection from reality while watching the world through a screen’. We would like to disagree a bit here to argue that the internet and social media represent- at least- segments of real life and that this whole time where we work, communicate, entertain ourselves through the screen have shown a different kind of reality, but reality nonetheless. We were wondering then, how the pandemic has impacted your lifestyle and what would you keep as we slowly move away from it?
I was speaking about my own disconnection from reality (related to brain trauma and other personal things), while living in isolation and having my only connection, to family, friends and lovers, through a screen. You’re right: the internet represents real life. But that doesn’t mean we’re not cut off from real life by this situation. Being able to interact with a “representation” of life isn’t the same as interacting with “what is represented”, I.e. life itself. Regarding the pandemic, it has destroyed so many people’s lives and has killed people I (we all!) know, that I don’t feel right about making plans for the future or dwelling in the past or talking about the impact on my own life. So, on a personal note, I guess I like to take every day one step at a time because I find all this very sad and scary and I worry about my mom 24/7. Ugh.
You have been making music since 2001! Would it be correct to assume that some of these represent different phases of your life? If so, which song would you say characterises you the most?
I strive to make every song characterize me the most.
And since you have been in the music game for such a long time, it’s only natural to ask you: what is the greatest challenge you have faced as an artist? And what do you consider your biggest success to date?
For me, the only challenge has been dealing with the abundance of narcissism, bullying, unkindness, selfishness and really weird borderline psycho behaviour coming at you from all directions in the music industry. Aside from that, it’s been a blast! I love music and the people I make it with. I can’t remember what my biggest success was but I do know my biggest success these days is remembering to shower!
You run an outdoor cinema in a very old church. Is this a way to connect with the community or is it something you do with friends only? What kind of films do you show?
The cinema is outdoors and it is only 35mm! No digital. We have this gorgeous platter system 35mm projector that we roll out and project on one of the church walls where we built a big frame and we scored a couple of huge movie screens from some cinemas that closed down during the pandemic (sad to say!). The audience sits next to the old graveyard (our backyard) and we mostly show horror movies and weird things we can get in the archives or from private collectors. It’s for the community here in the Pontiac and friends and whoever, really. It’s free. It’s also currently closed until people can gather again.
What was your favourite album of the previous year?
Mr. Bungle’s The Raging Wrath Of The Easter Bunny Demo
Tell us something about you that not many people know!
I help my partner grow food. We are growing a lot of food this year!! Good times
Thank you HILOTRONS!
Listen to our Spotify playlist “Dark Chocolate” feat. HILOTRONS
Secret Eclectic 