“What’s up its another day, another phase, another stage, I’m making my play, what more can I say, I’m moving through space in place I can’t stay… but hey, I’m ready today to meet my maker, so come and take me away…” shares Allan Jamisen with a brooding and philosophical spoken word intro, accompanied by a bass-driven trip-hop soundscape as he opens This Is Not an Act.
Now, we have been following the career growth of Allan Jamisen for quite a few months and the artist never fails to deliver thought-provoking and progressive artistry. We appreciate the conscious depth and connected nature of what This Is Not an Act stands for poetically. Being unafraid of death and connecting with the astral realm is a powerful mindset to share, and for this, we are grateful.
As for the sound design, the switch-up into an astral jazz-hybrid with saxophone and flute accents is genius – euphoric in a way to reflect the journey of ascension. The layered vocals and delivery overall remind us of iconic 90s artists like Faithless and Massive Attack.
There is also a cinematic allure that manifests, and there is no doubt that This Is Not an Act would be great for a movie like a sequel or remake of Trainspotting. The artist confesses, “This Is Not an Act explores twin themes of authenticity and mortality.” He explains, ‘The lyrics represent the reflection of an inner dialogue of a person communicating with their higher self, trying to grow beyond their limitations and past mistakes.” We learn that the narrative also embraces a spiritual perspective, describing a connection with deceased loved ones and an acceptance of life’s finite nature.
This Is Not an Act was created with Copenhagen-based producer Joachim Michaelis, marking his first official collaborative release with Allan Jamisen. After recording vocals and additional instrumentation in Phoenix, the project was refined in Los Angeles with producer and engineer John X Volaitis (The Rolling Stones, Tracy Chapman, Bonnie Raitt, and Whitesnake).
Needless to say, we are in awe of the cinematic vibes and conscious pursuit of knowledge expansion. We have added This Is Not an Act to our New Music Spotlight playlist, and our TIMELESS and TRIPPY playlists, whilst we continue to stream the wider discography of Allan Jamisen, including The Coalition, and Gotta Do.