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Sea of Voices

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"Sea of Voices"
An abstract artwork with pinks and blues.
Single by Porter Robinson
from the album Worlds
ReleasedMarch 2, 2014
Genre
Length4:58
LabelAstralwerks
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Porter Robinson
Porter Robinson singles chronology
"Easy"
(2013) 		"Sea of Voices"
(2014) 		"Sad Machine"
(2014)

"Sea of Voices" is a song recorded by American electronic music producer Porter Robinson. It was released on March 2, 2014, as the first single from his debut studio album Worlds (2014), and features uncredited vocals from Breanne Düren. After becoming dissatisfied with the electronic dance music of his prior discography, Robinson decided to alter his style to prioritize aesthetic and emotional qualities in his work. Although Robinson released the song without any leading marketing in an effort to surprise his fans, it was well-received by audiences, becoming a trending topic on Twitter and charting on the Billboard US Hot Dance/Electronic Songs. Critics highlighted the song's atmospheric production and unusual compositional structure. Robinson would later cite "Sea of Voices" as an inspiration on his later single "Unfold" (2021).

Background and composition

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Years ago, I realized that I wanted to write an album that focused on beauty above all else. [...] I kept trying to write songs that both satisfied me artistically and also could "work" in a DJ set. Nobody ever heard these songs because they sucked and made me miserable. Again and again, I found that making a track "danceable" just meant compromising and ignoring what the song really needed. [...] The fucking watershed moment in writing Worlds was when I realized that I didn't have to write songs for DJs. I realized that my need to be honest with myself and with you was greater than my need to be famous or whatever.

—Porter Robinson[1]

Porter Robinson was initially known for his electro and complextro music, such as the 2010 single "Say My Name" and the 2011 extended play Spitfire.[2][3] Across 2012, Robinson performed at major electronic dance music (EDM) festivals,[4] but gradually became dissatisfied with the genre. He reported experiencing "four or five fully-blown anxiety attacks onstage" that year, yelling "dance music is terrible" at one of his shows.[5] Following the release of his single "Language" (2012), Robinson set out to write an album he felt was "beautiful and emotional".[6]

Robinson felt that "Sea of Voices" was a song he "worked really hard on" and created several revisions for as a result.[7] Robinson stated that he avoided creating music with the intention of being featured in DJ sets, an approach he felt sabotaged the quality of his work.[1] Beginning with a trance-adjacent production, he eventually pivoted to a sound he felt was more "touching" and "pretty" after writing lyrics for the song.[7] According to him, he gravitated towards "sweeter, cuter, [and] more feminine" voices when writing Worlds (2014).[8] Though he originally used the Vocaloid voice Avanna for "Sea of Voices", Robinson eventually brought on singer Breanne Düren for the song's final version.[7][8]

Release and promotion

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"Sea of Voices" was released on March 2, 2014, as the first single in anticipation of Robinson's debut album Worlds.[8] Robinson stated that his record label Astralwerks intended to release "Shepherdess",[a] which he felt was the "most EDM thing" he had recently created, as the lead single. However, he decided to release "Sea of Voices" "out of the blue"[7] to inspire interest and conversation about his change in style instead of creating an extensive marketing campaign, which he felt would "[turn] people off".[10] A remix of the song produced by RAC was released on March 18, 2014,[11] and another remix from Galimatias appeared on the album Worlds Remixed the following year.[12]

Reception and aftermath

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"Sea of Voices"
Several reviewers appreciated the extended atmospheric section slowly building towards the chorus.[1][13][14]
Problems playing this file? See media help.

Billboard's Zel McCarthy and Elissa Stolman, writing for Vice, noted that "Sea of Voices" represents a significant divergence from Robinson's prior work.[8][14] Though the song came as a surprise to followers of his work,[15] it was well-received by audiences.[4] "Sea of Voices" was released shortly before the 86th Academy Awards, but nonetheless became a trending topic on Twitter during the event, contrary to Robinson's expectations.[4][8]

Most reviewers praised the song's atmosphere, Stolman writing that Robinson had created the "first ambient EDM track".[16] AllMusic's Andy Kellman noted that the first three minutes are "nothing but softly swelling strings, wind chimes, and Breanne Düren's distantly cooing voice",[13] and Garrett Kamps of Spin felt that Robinson had "really earned that huge build" in the context of Worlds's tracklist.[17] Mason noted a subsequent "intergalactic downbeat release" at the chorus,[1] which AXS's Lucas Villa writes "[submerges] the listener" into the track's "beauty".[18] Billboard's Megan Buerger felt that song has the emotional qualities of a "tear-jerking blockbuster",[19] and a Vice writer commented that the song was evidence Robinson had "evolved greatly as a musician".[15]

Several reviewers found the song reminiscent of the electronic band M83;[1][8][15] Vice also identified similarities with the work of Orbital,[15] and Kamps with the post-rock band Sigur Rós.[17] In his review of Worlds, Derek Staples of Consequence of Sound felt that "Sea of Voices" was "a few months too late for inclusion on the Divergent soundtrack."[20]

In April 2021, Robinson released the song "Unfold" in collaboration with Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs as a single preceding his studio album Nurture. Speaking about the composition of the song, Robinson acknowledged they had taken influences from "Sea of Voices", particularly in the sound design. As a result, the song took on a more maximalist tone, which Robinson felt was "epic" and an apt "end-of-album-moment".[21][22]

Charts

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Chart (2014) Peak
position
US Hot Dance/Electronic Songs (Billboard)[23] 40

Release history

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Version Region Date Format(s) Label
Original Worldwide March 3, 2014
Astralwerks
RAC Remix March 18, 2014
Galimatias Remix[b] September 18, 2015

Notes

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  1. ^ "Shepherdess" does not appear on Worlds but on the B-side of the "Lionhearted" 7-inch single, which was included in the album's limited edition box set.[9] See Worlds (Porter Robinson album) § Track listing.
  2. ^ Released on the album Worlds Remixed (2015).[12]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e Mason, Kerri (March 2, 2014). "Porter Robinson drops dreamy, non-EDM single 'Sea of Voices'". Billboard. Archived from the original on February 15, 2024. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
  2. ^ Moen, Matt (August 24, 2021). "Let Porter Robinson Nurture you". Paper. Archived from the original on November 23, 2021. Retrieved April 23, 2024.
  3. ^ Ochoa, John (January 22, 2019). "10 moments that defined Porter Robinson". DJ Mag. Archived from the original on November 8, 2021. Retrieved September 25, 2023.
  4. ^ a b c Brown, Harley (June 30, 2014). "'I expected a backlash': Porter Robinson talks 'virtual' music, denouncing EDM, and online games". Billboard. Archived from the original on February 14, 2024. Retrieved February 14, 2024.
  5. ^ Cooper, Duncan (July 31, 2014). "Porter Robinson conquered EDM, and now he wants more". The Fader. Archived from the original on June 2, 2016. Retrieved September 25, 2023.
  6. ^ Porter Robinson interview: 'EDM is entertainment, it's not art'. NME. June 5, 2014. Event occurs at 0:51. Archived from the original on February 13, 2024. Retrieved February 13, 2024 – via YouTube.
  7. ^ a b c d Pizzo, Mike "DJ" (October 5, 2015). "Porter Robinson reflects on Worlds, one year later". Cuepoint. Archived from the original on August 3, 2017. Retrieved September 13, 2016.
  8. ^ a b c d e f McCarthy, Zel (March 28, 2014). "Porter Robinson's tired of 'electro bangers', will switch things up on Worlds debut album". Billboard. Archived from the original on April 25, 2024. Retrieved April 24, 2024.
  9. ^ "Porter Robinson Worlds box set + remix EP = Happy Machine". Vice. July 16, 2014. Archived from the original on November 6, 2023. Retrieved February 15, 2024.
  10. ^ Greene, Scott (October 31, 2014). "Your EDM exclusive interview: Porter Robinson on Worlds". Your EDM. Archived from the original on September 1, 2016. Retrieved September 13, 2016.
  11. ^ Steffenson, Leah (March 18, 2018). "Porter Robinson – Sea of Voices (RAC Remix)". Dancing Astronaut. Archived from the original on September 27, 2022. Retrieved May 15, 2024.
  12. ^ a b Baltin, Steve (September 5, 2015). "Porter Robinson on Worlds Remixed, EDM 'stigma' and why a Taylor Swift collab is 'not on my list'". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 29, 2024. Retrieved May 15, 2024.
  13. ^ a b Kellman, Andy. "Worlds – Porter Robinson". AllMusic. Archived from the original on August 11, 2014. Retrieved December 21, 2015.
  14. ^ a b Stolman, Elissa (August 5, 2014). "Worlds". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on August 19, 2014. Retrieved August 17, 2014.
  15. ^ a b c d "Porter Robinson changes it up with his new single 'Sea of Voices'". Vice. March 5, 2014. Archived from the original on April 19, 2024. Retrieved April 18, 2024.
  16. ^ Stolman, Elissa (August 5, 2014). "Beat by beat review: Porter Robinson – Worlds". Vice. Archived from the original on February 12, 2024. Retrieved April 18, 2024.
  17. ^ a b Kamps, Garrett (August 14, 2014). "Porter Robinson invents shoegaze-EDM on dazzling Worlds". Spin. Archived from the original on August 18, 2014. Retrieved August 17, 2014.
  18. ^ Villa, Lucas (August 13, 2014). "Album review: Porter Robinson's virtual reality comes alive on Worlds". AXS. Archived from the original on August 16, 2014. Retrieved August 14, 2014.
  19. ^ Buerger, Megan (August 6, 2014). "Album review: electronic producer Porter Robinson's dramatic Worlds is ideal headphone music". Billboard. Archived from the original on February 15, 2024. Retrieved February 17, 2024.
  20. ^ Staples, Derek (August 12, 2014). "Porter Robinson – Worlds". Consequence. Archived from the original on August 15, 2014. Retrieved December 21, 2015.
  21. ^ Meadow, Matthew (April 22, 2021). "Porter Robinson releases one last single, with TEED, before album release tomorrow". Your EDM. Archived from the original on July 31, 2023. Retrieved September 2, 2023.
  22. ^ "Nurture by Porter Robinson on Apple Music". Apple Music. Archived from the original on January 27, 2021. Retrieved May 15, 2021.
  23. ^ "Porter Robinson Chart History (Hot Dance/Electronic Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved April 24, 2024.
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