Transcendence

Album: Neon Future I (2014)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This is the opening track of Neon Future I, a concept album about a future where people have merged with technology. "Conceptually, it's based around a positive outlook towards a utopian future," Aoki explained to MTV News. "Ideas of living forever are real and nano-technology, artificial intelligence and all those concepts are happening."
  • Transcendence is the concept of rising above human knowledge to the extent where you are independent of the material universe, beyond all physical laws. This song features the voice of Ray Kurzweil. Aoki explained to Billboard magazine: "Kurzweil is the man pushing the concept of [technological] singularity. He believes that we'll reach it in our lifetime."

    "I interviewed him," he added, "took one of the voice bites from our interview and I wrote a bed of music underneath him talking about Neon Future."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Dennis DeYoung

Dennis DeYoungSongwriter Interviews

Dennis DeYoung explains why "Mr. Roboto" is the defining Styx song, and what the "gathering of angels" represents in "Come Sail Away."

Jim Adkins of Jimmy Eat World

Jim Adkins of Jimmy Eat WorldSongwriter Interviews

Jim talks about the impact of "The Middle" and uses a tree metaphor to describe his songwriting philosophy.

Charlie Benante of Anthrax

Charlie Benante of AnthraxSongwriter Interviews

The drummer for Anthrax is also a key songwriter. He explains how the group puts their songs together and tells the stories behind some of their classics.

Rob Thomas of Matchbox Twenty

Rob Thomas of Matchbox TwentySongwriter Interviews

Rob Thomas on his Social Distance Sessions, co-starring with a camel, and his friendship with Carlos Santana.

Concert Disasters

Concert DisastersFact or Fiction

Ozzy biting a dove? Alice Cooper causing mayhem with a chicken? Creed so bad they were sued? See if you can spot the real concert mishaps.

Kerry Livgren of Kansas

Kerry Livgren of KansasSongwriter Interviews

In this talk from the '80s, the Kansas frontman talks turning to God and writing "Dust In The Wind."