Establishing the mood with an alien synth, pitched down vocal ad libs reciting the title of the track and a textured soundscape with a dramatic riser that feels cosmic and cerebral, Allan Jamisen opens All I Am Is You with dimensionality and an energy that we have not yet experienced from the genre-bending artist.
Whilst his vocal delivery is primarily brooding and almost sensual, like male rock stars from the 90s, there is also a touch of Prince in there, and with the cosmic bells and alien synths, Allan Jamisen taps into a David Bowie nuance – needless to say, we are obsessed.
The gospel-adjacent harmonies and ad libs are sublime, juxtaposed with Allan’s deep vocals and processed hooks which invite us into a more dynamic reality. The instrumentation is extremely unique – extremely hypnotising, and a great fit for the high concept approach of the lyricism.
All I Am Is You seems to be about the concepts of identity and imitation, but also spiritual oneness. We are each other. Allan presents himself as someone with a hidden truth, but he frames it as something that comes at a cost.
There’s an emphasis on desire throughout the song, in part to the lyrics and his vocal timbre – this comes through in the notion of wanting to be somebody and in trying to please others. On a philosophical level, the lyrics suggest that we often define ourselves by how we are seen by others. “The lyrics were re-written entirely, inspired by Los Angeles, and themes of transference, ego, and collectivist identity reflected back to us through every form of traditional and social media,” Allan explains.
The chorus repeats the idea that “all I am is you.” This could be perceived as Allan reflecting how others act, or how they are shaped by outside expectations. It also points to a cycle where individuality is replaced by homogeneity. The phrase “just like the rest of us” reinforces that theme of blending into a collective identity.
We love the depth of the Phoenix-based composer and painter’s artistry. There are levels to his work that can always be perceived in a multitude of ways, and this is what makes his work truly stand out! We have added All I Am Is You to our New Music Spotlight playlist, and our TRIPPY playlist, whilst we continue to stream the wider discography of Allan Jamisen, including Rise Above, and Living the Dream.