DESCRIPTION:
I originally made the first version of 'Arcadia' in 2003. Technically, I wanted to compose a track without samples; more electronic, more inspired by Techno, Trance and Eurodance than House. I think I also wanted to make a track that could be part of an hypothetic videogame. I always liked the soundtrack of the game 'MDK' by Tommy Tallarico and I think I also got inspired by his score. I was also inspired by the Pet Shop Boys, which I use to listen a lot in the 1990's.
There were a few problems with the first version. I thought there was a lack of depth in the sound, and one of the loop, upfront, made the whole track hard to listen.
I changed my computer system at least twice, keeping the patterns, but loosing some of the sounds used for the track. I knew I had to start all over again.
I concentrated first on the chords, adding more parts, thus more depth. A few elements, originally upfront, were put in the background. I then came up with the final product.
This is actually a very dark track based on a fictive story that I made up myself.
I was inspired by two things. The first thing is a dream I had when I was a kid. It was very much like in the TV serie 'V' from the 1980's.
Aliens were on the earth, apparently peaceful, but with a deadly agenda for the humans. Only a few people were aware of that fact. The aliens, with a human appearance, were using tricks to fool the humans, and kidnap them one by one.
Some of them had a 'children like' appearance, and targeted children in huge amusement centers, where it was much more easy to do, since all of them were hypnotized by the electronic games and the huge amount of fun there. There were toys, artificial parks, restaurants... and everything was free.
In my dream, the huge amusement center was called 'Arcadia'.
I was aware of the terrible plan of the aliens, and wanted to tell everybody, but nobody was listening to me.
The kids were running around, playing... and I knew they were all gonna die.
The dream had a big impression on me, and I still remember it to this day.
The other thing that inspired me is my own personnal experience. I used to hang out a bit in two or three video arcades in the 1980's.
I think it was one of the last time I went there: I saw a young teen playing an arcade game. He was there for quite a while. I then noticed a guy behind him, much more older, and he was giving him all the coins he needed.
Both of them watched me for a second or two. I was petrified by the vision.
So... basically, the track is about the 'hidden' agenda of the old man, or the 'hidden' agenda of the aliens in my dream. And the victim(s). The only lyrics of the track are spoken by a speech synthetizer: 'I was at ease playing the computer until he put his hand on my shoulder'. It's like the young boy died and came back into an electronic game in the arcade to warn other kids about the danger they are facing with a predator in the place.
This track will be available on my ReverbNation page in a few days. I am too busy right now. I still haven't check my emails and comments...