Instant Fantasy releases her new single ‘Emocean’
Instant Fantasy is the solo project of Ōtautahi based multidisciplinary artist and music Gemma Syme.
For nearly two decades Gemma has been shapeshifting through genre, performing in groups Trimasterbate, Holiday with Friends, 47 Diamantes, Diana Rozz, Fantasing, Femscrem and Stonehenge Aotearoa. Syme is a prolific collaborator, writing and featuring on tracks with Shocking Pinks, Glass Vaults, Dominic Hoey or Junus Orca and remixing tracks for Chelsea Jade, Indi and Introverted Dancefloor.
Following Sunreturn’s recent digital reissue of Instant Fantasy’s 2015 debut, The Wet EP, Instant Fantasy returns with Emocean, her first new song in over a decade.
STREAM INSTANT FANTASY – EMOCEAN
PRE-ORDER THE WET EP 10TH ANNIVERSARY CD
Emocean (pronounced Emotion) is built on a slow Spector styled rhythm, bathing in icy zither, fading delays and distant guitar strums. The track wears its heart on its sleeve, citing cult favourites Julee Cruise, Laraaji and The Orb as influences.
“I wanted to honour the Instant Fantasy of the past, but show development in ideas and sounds,” says Syme. “It feels very freeing.”
“I really loved writing Emocean and I just wanted to release a single because getting older and working as a teacher I wanted to just work within the capacity I had. It feels good recognising the amount of energy I have as I get older and honouring what I have time for and what I want to express as an artist.”
One standout lyric – “don’t get bitter” – comes from a deeply personal moment. “I had to give myself a pep talk. I was looking at a news article about a NZ musician who is doing very well, but is having to work hard to make a career out of music. It started to make me feel bitter about the whole system, where it’s so hard to make it as an artist without compromising. I had to give myself a kick up the ass and remember to not get bitter about it all.”
“I was also thinking a lot about my friends. Maybe not so much in the lyrics, but thinking about how I really appreciate everyone I’ve connected with in my life. Cheesy, but true.”
Emocean was produced by Matthew Gunn (Whipping Star, Doprah) who referenced the tones used on The Wet EP and added shine and lushness to the track. Syme shares “I needed help with figuring out how to start working on constructing a sound I was happy with. I got in touch with Anita Clark (Motte, Whipping Star) to see how she goes about it and she suggested I could work with Matt. He really created an amazing sonic pallet and brought in melodies and sounds that made the track shine.”
To celebrate the release of Emocean and the 10th anniversary of The Wet EP, Instant Fantasy will present three performances on June 7 at Ōtautahi’s CoCA Centre of Contemporary Art Toi Moroki. Expect fresh video work, created in collaboration with the visual artist Pentaloe, and amplified music by the 103 Soundsystem.
