Label: 4AD
Holly Herndon operates at the nexus of technological evolution and musical euphoria.
Holly’s third full-length album ‘PROTO’ isn’t about A.I., but much of it was created in collaboration with her own A.I. ‘baby’, Spawn.
For the album, she assembled a contemporary ensemble of vocalists, developers, guest contributors (Jenna Sutela, Jlin, Lily Anna Haynes, Martine Syms) and an inhuman intelligence housed in a DIY souped-up gaming PC to create a record that encompasses live vocal processing and timeless folk singing, and places an emphasis on alien song craft and new forms of communion.
‘PROTO’ makes reference to what Holly refers to as the protocol era, where rapidly surfacing ideological battles over the future of A.I. protocols, centralised and decentralised internet protocols, and personal and political protocols compel us to ask ourselves who are we, what are we, what do we stand for, and what are we heading towards?
You can hear traces of Spawn throughout the album, developed in partnership with long time collaborator Mathew Dryhurst and ensemble developer Jules LaPlace, and even eavesdrop on the live training ceremonies conducted in Berlin, in which hundreds of people were gathered to teach Spawn how to identify and reinterpret unfamiliar sounds in group call-and-response singing sessions; a contemporary update on the religious gathering Holly was raised amongst in her upbringing in East Tennessee.
“There’s a pervasive narrative of technology as dehumanizing,” says Holly. “We stand in contrast to that. It’s not like we want to run away; we’re very much running towards it, but on our terms. Choosing to work with an ensemble of humans is part of our protocol. I don’t want to live in a world in which humans are automated off stage. I want an A.I. to be raised to appreciate and interact with that beauty.”
Since her arrival in 2012, Holly has successfully mined the edges of electronic and Avant Garde pop and emerged with a dynamic and disruptive canon of her own, all while studying for her soon-to-be-completed PhD at Stanford University, researching machine learning and music.
Just as Holly’s previous album ‘Platform’ forewarned of the manipulative personal and political impacts of prying social media platforms long before popular acceptance, ‘PROTO’ is a euphoric and principled statement setting the shape of things to come.
Quick Shipping and Professional Packaging
Thanks to our longstanding association with UPS FedEx DHL as well as other top global carriers, we are able provide various shipping options. Our warehouse staff is extremely skilled and will package your goods in accordance to our precise and precise specifications. Before shipment, all items will be thoroughly examined and secured. Everyday, we send to thousands of clients in different countries. This is a sign of our determination to become the biggest online retailer in the world. Warehouses and distribution centres can be located throughout Europe as well as the USA.
Note: Orders that contain more than one item are assigned a processing time depending on the item.
Prior to shipping before shipping, we'll examine thoroughly the items you've ordered. Today, the majority orders will be shipped within 48 hours. Expected delivery times are between 3-7 days.
Returns
Stock is dynamic. It is not managed entirely by us since we're involved with several entities, including the factory and the storage. Stock levels can fluctuate at any time. It's possible that your order will run out of stocks once you've placed your order.
Our policy lasts 30 days. We will not replace or refund your purchase when it's been 30 days since the purchase.
For your item to be returned it must be in its original packaging, unopened and in the same condition as when you received it in. The item must be returned in its original packaging.
Related products
Records
