Establishing the mood with a meditative frequency and intricate guitar and electronica soundscape, Christ and The Machines opens To Live Unaffected with poetic prowess and intentional depth, sharing the lyrics, “Today I felt lost, so I walked down the road, the traffic was loud as I sat at the edge, the concrete was cracked and I saw a path where it grows, colourful flowers led to a wood and it glowed… love is the light when I open my mind, I don’t feel rejected, love is a time, all my worries behind, I don’t feel neglected, love it can shine through the worst of our life…”
We connect with the overarching message of the song and the innovation in the production with percussive punctuations that add drama and intrigue to the sound design. The orchestral notions are sublime and add to the high emotional quotient of the piece.
In essence, To Live Unaffected is about finding hope when hope feels absent. The symbology and metaphorical depth are tangible, with the flowers growing through cracks in the pavement becoming a powerful image of resilience. We appreciate how Christ and The Machines transforms a very personal experience into something universal. We could imagine To Live Unaffected securing a sync placement in The Leftovers or This Is Us, or a scene in a film such as A Man Called Otto, where personal loss gives way to renewed connection and purpose. The emotional ebbs and flows of the track are enthralling and the song feels stadium-ready in many ways. Fans of Rag’n’Bone Man and Imagine Dragons would absolutely be able to vibe with To Live Unaffected.
For some context, Christ and The Machines is the new project of songwriter Christian Licursi, whose previous music has received support from BBC Radio 1 and BBC Introducing. Following a life-changing accident that ended his path as a live performer, Christian channelled his creativity into technology, spending years working in software, programming and AI. These experiences subsequently expanded the ways in which he could realise his songwriting. His artist moniker is genius in this regard.
We learn that To Live Unaffected was written following an exceptionally difficult period in Christian‘s life, after his brother nearly died following a medical emergency and a friend subsequently died by suicide. The project explores the space between faith, technology and human emotion, whilst the song itself remains focused on love, hope and the ability to find light within darkness.
Needless to say, we are in awe, and have added To Live Unaffected to our New Music Spotlight playlist, and our TIMELESS playlist, whilst we anticipate future releases from Christ and The Machines.