De/OS’s Rise I isa stunning example of sound, emotion, and human resilience at its best. The composition is bathed in meditative energy from its first moments, inviting us into an immersive sonic space that is both intimate and vast. As the astral frequencies rise and swell, the entire piece becomes a cosmic balm, a gentle reminder to relinquish our grasp on the fleeting nature of existence; we are but moments amidst ageless waves of light. It is a sonic meditation, a piece that encourages deep-introspection that simultaneously urges an ascension and a transcendence.
At its essence, though, Rise I is highly individual. It serves as a product of Taemin Kim’s life story, artistic philosophy and career journey. De/OS is the pseudonym of this South Korean-born American experimental composer, whose work unites technology, nature and human emotion. Informed by Taemin’s own background in science and medicine and his affinity for classical composers like Bach and Beethoven, the piece’s form and intention is decidedly cerebral. The outcome is, thus, an organic yet articulated construction – a soundscape that speaks to the listener on emotional and spiritual dimensions.
Rise I draws its thematic inspiration from Maya Angelou’s Still I Rise, a poem about power, resilience, and the unconquerable spirit of humanity. This influence weaves through the track’s trajectory harnessed to convey the feeling of an unstoppable force, like steam emerging from the earth, liquid and nevertheless unavoidable. Taemin expresses this concern in sound by way of his masterful treatment of minimalism, embracing subtle textures and evolving harmonies instead of more boisterous orchestral declarations. The overall result is an auditory experience that’s at once weightless, and exceedingly grounding.”
What’s especially compelling about Rise I is its way of recording. Originally imagined as an orchestral piece, the track took a big turn after Taemin found the possibility of an organ patch on a Moog synthesizer. It was a serendipitous moment that gave him the opportunity to strip away elements of the composition, incorporating a minimalist ambient aesthetic that lends the track its ethereal touch. A choice to part with a traditional orchestral sound in favor of electronic minimalism indicates Taemin’s elasticity, willingness to experiment, and, ultimately, to allow the music to form itself from the ground up.
Those new to this sound will be captivated by the sweet phrasing of those 700Hz signals creeping in and out of the mix, the gradual shifts in intensity, the charming novel qualities of electronic sounds at different velocities. The soundscape is like some great expansively height but nothing — no half-heard suggestions of spun silk and mystery – manages to outweigh a whispered secret. The work does not; it asks for attention – it beckons – rewarding those who give themselves over fully with an almost cathartic release. This is music that does more than entertain, it heals, it soothes the very soul.
Rise I is, ultimately, a testament to Taemin Kim‘s artistic vision and to his commitment to using music as a way of preserving and facing the self. The track, in a world that is often chaotic, feels cold and will cause the listener to take a moment, breath and relearn from something greater than themselves. It’s both an invitation and a journey.
With Rise I, De/OS has forged more than a mere composition; he has woven a sonic experience that defies genre and the conventional. It is one of those timeless works, a gentle reminder of human resolve and the beauty in simplicity. Rise I is nothing less than transformative for those willing to spiritually ascend. We have added the composition to our New Music Spotlight playlist, and our TIMELESS and TRIPPY playlists!