40 Days In Quarantine Part I - Toto Chiavetta
The World, as we know it, has changed. A routine rethought has allowed time to create. With borders closed and friends isolated from one another, our ‘40 Days In Quarantine’ series has invited artists to connect us all together once more via the power of music, as we live out this surreal and dystopian period.
Borders Of Light’s boss, Toto Chiavetta, delivers our first installment - three tracks characterizing and capturing the varying emotions felt whilst confined by himself in Italy. It touches against the chaotic, the calm and the positive - emotions we have all been battling with over the past weeks. It shows the testament of the human mind and the strength and emotions we have all been experiencing.
Ego Maria & Toto Chiavetta - Cells Under Attack: A moment of madness
Produced during the first two weeks of his lockdown, ‘Cell Attack’ is the perfect window into Toto’s mind during a time of the unknown - and probably his most erratic. Biological bolts continually fire forwards, as thunderous chugs and revved-up screeches sporadically explode every once in a while. It’s hard and it’s terrifying as it picks up the pace, anxiously piercing our souls.
But after four minutes of intense emotion, a sense of calm follows through. A moment of madness, gone.
Pink Floyd - If (Toto Chiavetta Re-Built): A calm state of mind
A delicate rework on the original released in 1970, Toto replenishes the track for a new lease of life. A drift of stillness at the beginning indicates a more relaxed mindset, with slight creaks woven in delicately to allow more depth in-between. The soft temperament of the added beat allows the original folk-inspired guitar chords to flutter towards the centre of attention, before the original vocals hit and pique our attention: our ears fully in tune with each word mustered. Although a track which was released 50 years ago, the lyrics remain more relevant than ever - ‘the spaces between friends’ and ‘if I were to sleep, I could dream’, reminding us of the fragility of the mind when it’s left to wander and how we so lust for human company when forced to be alone. As the vocals fade gently, the beat arises with more zeal for an optimistic and spirited finish.
Suheir Hammad - What I Will (Toto Chiavetta Liaisons Dangereuses - 326 Michigan Ave Edition): A nostalgic battlecry
Polishing off the release is a penned tribute to two of Toto’s inspirations - Ron Hardy and Liaisons Dangereuses. Hardy was one of the purveyors of house music in Chicago in the 80s, and as a resident at The Music Box (address 326 Michigan Avenue) in the city, he would often play music from the equally innovative and unconventional German band.
‘What I Will’ combines elements regularly expressed by both artists with a poem spoken by Suheir Hammad placed on top. The words are a feisty piece of art - a battlecry of rebelling against what’s considered the societal norm of thinking. In the background, bright harmonic chords beam through to form the uplifting groove, as raw hi-hats daze in for a classic disco structure: an element quintessential to and continually showcased in early house music. Coming to its peak, the line ‘I will dance and resist’ are looped repeatedly - highlighting a strengthened state of mind. Nearing the end, industrial-sounding elements inspired by Liaisons Dangereuses take their place for a punchier approach.
Seamlessly blending together a sense of tact with soulful sentimentality, driven by the powerful words of Hammad, ‘What I Will’ is a vigorous reminder of our own fighting spirit, and that we are stronger than we know right now.
Leading up to the release, we discovered artist Anita Acman, who during her time in quarantine has been experimenting with videography. We were able to collaborate with her for the release, allowing us to offer visual content which we love utilising where possible for a more in-depth experience. The shots used encapsulate our 40 Days series and our creative direction perfectly: as delicate light filters through the blinds in the backdrop, Acman dances in front isolated, whilst the light brings the natural beauty of the female form into full attention.