What I listen to when anxiety is taking over (part 1)
Oh my artistic queens, my angels of darkness.
artms' concept and lore relies on the members being hauntingly beautiful virtual creatures alienating humans into their world. In a context of uncertainty, social isolation, emotional closing off, dependence on technology, excruciating loneliness and the devastating need for escapism in late-stage capitalism, some days artms sounds just like what it feels like to be alive. In short, artms is cyberalienation if it slayed.
However, it does not feel like you're being alienated, if that makes sense. It consciously creates a little bubble where both the group and the listener roleplay flame and moth, the listener slowly lowering their guard and getting lost in their sound, in their little universe of soft cybersigilism aesthetics and infectious instrumentals.
artms' discography is pretty eclectic, as far as the pop register is concerned, from ethereal synthpop to dark industrial-sounding artpop, from city pop to classical crossover. You never know what the next single could sound like. However, album coherence and storybuilding makes listening to their pieces on repeat quite calming, in comparison. Depending on whether I want to accept how anxious I feel or to alleviate the pain in my head, I can go either way.
