WATCH: Tilian Makes Electro-Pop His Own On “Anthem”
WATCH: Tilian Makes Electro-Pop His Own On “Anthem”
The Dance Gavin Dance co-vocalist is straying from his roots and creating rapture out of it.
Words By: Bre Offenberger
Tilian, most well-known as the co-vocalist of post-hardcore royalty Dance Gavin Dance, has released a video for his latest single, “Anthem,” as part of his alternative pop solo effort. The track shimmers with trippy synths and Tilian‘s softened but ever-recognizable pipes, as the video takes viewers on a colorful journey through his quantum leap to inspiration.
The track opens with synths cascading everywhere you look, almost moving in rhythm with the rise and fall of your chest. They’re suddenly pushed to the side with the entrance of drums that preview like they’re going to blow the roof of the place but then relax as Tilian sturdy vocals arrive, asking poison to drive away the roadblocks forever. He finally feels a spark of creativity and plans to hold on to it for as long as he can — since, as every artist can attest, they tend to come few and far between. We can only thank Tilian for turning his affliction into a gorgeous tracks with harmonies that are to die for.
The video opens with Tilian inspecting a serum, aka the metaphorical poison, before downing it. He sets it down, and it mysteriously fills again with a teal-colored liquid. It zooms out to Tilian, sporting a dapper suit, walking away from a row of serum bottles, and they light up in different colors in rhythm with the heavenly synths. Tilian is found alone on a platform begging for the poison he just consumed to take the obstacles away. He stumbles upon a mini telescope and looks through it to find a group of blindfolded dancers in shallow waters. He joins them before taking another look in the telescope to see a vision of himself, with the bottles looming. The teal substance disappears at the end, as Tilian discovers he has found the inspiration he needs and can move forward.
Of the track, Tilian shares: “‘Anthem’ is the release of energy that follows a sacred epiphany. In that moment you are so mentally and physically in tune it becomes effortless to discern truth from vanity, substance from pretense, value from worthlessness. It’s the perfect alignment of perception and anatomy where imaginative ammunition flows through you in a waterfall of clarity. Precious, blissful and untouchable, it’s that rarest hour of passion every writer dreams about.”
“Anthem” is Tilian‘s second single since his critically acclaimed album The Skeptic, which found its way in one of the top five spots on three of Billboard‘s charts, including No. 1 on Alternative New Artist. He recently appeared on the thrilling single “Falling out of Rhythm” with Travis Barker and Marigolds+Monsters. There’s even more expected out of the year for Tilian, so stay tuned for even more infectious tracks like “Anthem.”
