The NYC-based crossover group Warp Trio have released a new video for “Captivity.”
Warp Trio is a group of classical musicians embracing new territory genre-wise and have created a new record exploring dance, pop, and punk genres.
“Captivity” is the first Chapter from the recently released, “Warp Trio’s Pandemic Disco Fantasy”, a 6-track video concept-album. Written, recorded, and filmed in the Winter of 2020, this project that serves as a creative outlet for the ensemble members to channel their anxieties, frustrations, and ideas in a new medium whilst unable to perform on the road. The video sees the Warp Trio transported to the fantastical “Pandemic Disco” Fever dream where the album takes place, and they are greeted by a string orchestra (played by NYC String Quartet, “The Rhythm Method”), an other-worldly pink haired dancing “tour guide” (played by Emily Haughton) and of course, stylized versions of themselves driving home the campy theme of the “Pandemic Disco”. – Josh Henderson, Warp Trio
After many hours of home recording, “Zoom-Jams”, and a few All-Night film shoots, Warp Trio’s Pandemic Disco Fantasy was born. Clocking in at a little over half an hour, P.D.F. is a six-track video concept album that musically posits the Warp Trio alongside several guest vocalists (Likwuid, Mirah, Raina Sokolov-Gonzalez, Daniel Henri Emond, and Claire Wellin) as soloists with an orchestra. Each track is accompanied by a video chapter that tells the fantastical stylized story of the narrative. Visually, the movement talents of Emily Houghton, Sophia Qin’s psychedelic animations, and the filmmaking prowess of Andrew Wells Ryder bring the music to life.
Against the campy imaginary backdrop of a “Pandemic Disco”, the record explores some of the very real and serious issues that have been brewing for years, but have come to light within the current climate; police brutality, racial and class equity, mental health, and media distrust, among others, with the overarching theme being a message that even though things are rough, we can (hopefully) all pull through and emerge stronger on the other side.
The record sets out to take the listener on a journey; from the Daft Punk influenced intro track, “Captivity” to the final piece, “Release”, a folk inspired tune that uses the same melody, P.D.F. is a wild ride that comes from over a year of wanting to go out to a dance club, of dreaming of hearing a live chamber orchestra, of having the urge to sing without abandon at a trashy karaoke bar, and of hoping to turn on the news without dreading it. It is unapologetically indulgent, over the top, chock full of guilty pleasures, and simultaneously reminiscent of the good times while looking ahead to the better times and brighter days.
“Warp Trio’s Pandemic Disco Fantasy” is available for pre-order and out August 20th on people | places | records [CD and Digital Platforms].