Blackstate shares “The Arsonist” music video

Hailing from the city of Skopje in Macedonia, Blackstate is the shadowy alter ego of Filip Tasevski-Fitz, an artist who emerged from the hardcore and punk scene. With over two decades of musical experience and a visual designer’s keen eye, Blackstate unveils a sonic output that melts experimental electronica, synth pop and hardcore punk into something entirely new.

This fusion creates a dark and thrilling sound, exploring themes of love, loss and societal values gone astray, all set against the backdrop of Blackstate’s vidid visual world. Making an entrance with his 2020 debut EP, While the World’s on Fire, Blackstate has earned a reputation as an innovative artist, winning over audiences and critics alike.

Now he brings us a single lifted from that release with the track titled “The Arsonist,” a truly extraordinary showcase of his highly original and fully immersive electronic sound that cuts a dance-focused energy with shades of pop writing. The song’s powerful and edgy sound stems from the artist’s punk past, setting up an enveloping experience in “The Arsonist.” The transition from punk to disco might seem extreme, but Blackstate fuses the raw energy and rebellious spirit of the underground into his electronic adventure with flair and panache.

Kicked off by the buzz of a pulsing bass synth driven by the clop of the beat, the intricate rattle of hi hats builds up the energy as the soundscape crafts a shaking slice of minimal instrumental dance music. Peppered with accenting snare shots and modulating synth textures, the track undergoes a stark shift halfway through where the steady energy gives way to commanding vocal leads.

Cathy pop-focused leads, delivered with subtly biting echoes of the artist’s punk roots, the track takes on a grooving synth pop sound that once again shifts to a warbling synth-driven finale. Danceable and playful, it’s a bouncy sound that sees Blackstate thread his penchant for memorable melodic writing through his experimental sonic lens.

The music video, set against the backdrop of Hotel Drim on the shores of Lake Ohrid, Macedonia, is a stunning cinematic pairing for the song. Directed by Aleksandra Kostadinovska, the video captures the the song’s liberation theme with dancers Anastasija Danchevska and Dejan Bitrovski moving with a sense of urgency. The cinematography and lighting, coupled with the setting, create an otherworldly atmosphere that perfectly reflects the mesmeric and visceral experience the music delivers.

Watch the music video for The Arsonist below

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