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New York-based, Korean-American musician Miss Grit just released their debut album “Follow the Cyborg.” This album presents the life of a cyborg, from its slow build of consciousness, to visceral awareness and solemn fade to freedom. Inspired by their own experience as a mixed-race, non-binary artist, Miss Grit embraces a more fluid and complex understanding of self. Miss Grit was featured on Rolling Stone as "Artist You Need To Know” for February, 2023. Fusing robotic pop, electronic dance beats, and a dash of saxophone, “Follow the Cyborg” is a dynamic, dystopian masterpiece.
This album is layered, presenting a variety of sounds and tones. Three songs in particular illustrate the journey of this non-human machine. The first track “Perfect Blue” opens the eyes of this album. Beginning with a slow ambience, vocals softly follow with the words, “I’m not going back/I’ll be all, I’ve consumed/I’m what you asked/I’ll be the perfect blue.” Its build to consciousness presents the cyborg as a vessel for information and obedience. The rest of the song repeats the line, “Can take a breath now.” I love that in this track, the music really speaks to the emotions portrayed. At the halfway point, soft ambience is taken over by steady synth, electric guitar, and background vocals. Closing on a gritty, lively note, we begin following the cyborg.
After an aptly named interlude “Buffering,” the title track “Follow the Cyborg” speaks to growing awareness. Building in complexity, the song opens with the lyrics, “I’ll wake up pretending/Then I’ll wake up again/Leave my mouth wide open/Then let her say the rest.” At this point, the cyborg consciously goes through the motions as instructed, knowing someone else is in control. As the song continues, awareness presses on, “‘Cause I was born to pose/Oh, I was born with clothes/I’m a living girl/A real living girl/Your real living girl.” Despite the claustrophobic and heartbreaking feeling from these lyrics, “Follow the Cyborg” is a danceable track, acting as a turning point in the album. Peaking with bright electric guitar and synth pop beats, this track slowly fades back into a darker tone.
Closing out the album, “Syncing” takes us back to the soft ambience of “Perfect Blue,” but with a sense of liberation instead of confinement. The lyrics open with, “I wanted to hold onto you/But nothing stayed right where I left it/I’m starting to move on my own now/And I don’t want to forget how.” Reaching a new sense of self, the cyborg chooses independence. The refrain mirrors lyrics from the first track, “And so I’ll go/And I won’t be back.” This time, describing a moment of liberation. Slowly building to a high point using hopeful-sounding synth and layered vocals before tapering off again, this journey ends as a new one begins.
The beauty of this album lies not only in the storyline, lyrics, and thematic connections, but how the music speaks for these points. Miss Grit creates a flawless ebb and flow of soft builds, bright synth, gritty guitar, and powerfully evocative vocals. "Follow the Cyborg" is a stunning, futuristic music machine.
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