PLANETS
Planets is Stratøs’ self-composed, self-produced, self-engineered debut LP. This project is the result of the composer's extensive experiments conducted during his pre-career phase, formulated uniquely by synthesizing core themes and elements from a wide range of musical styles such as jazz, hip hop, electronic, and classical music.
The idea of giving musical form to the planets of our solar system is famously credited to early 20th century composer Gustav Holst for his seven-movement suite The Planets. In an attempt to recognize this lineage while simultaneously establishing his own artistic voice, Stratøs pays homage to Holst on one track from the album. The producer's own "Mars" takes the iconic melody from Holst's "Mars, The Bringer of War," and casts it in a new light colored by the sounds and textures of the death metal genre.
“Venus” was featured in the Museum of Modern Art’s 2024 “MoMA Mixtape Series” accompanying Agnes Pelton’s 1926 Oil on Canvas The Fountains, reviewed and curated by Naeem Douglas.
PROJECT INFORMATION:
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• Stratøs: composition, engineering, woodwinds, EWI, vocals, production, mixing
• Julia Moffa: vocals, lyrics, (track 06, track 09)
Santino Jones: vocals, lyrics (track 04)
Yakiv Tvietinskyi: trumpet, trombone (track 04, track 05)
Walter Cano: horn, euphonium (track 05)
David Binney: alto saxophone (track 05)
Alekos Syropoulos: alto saxophone (track 08)
Kyle James: alto saxophone (track 08)
Andrew Rathbun: tenor saxophone (track 08)
Patrick Arthur: guitar (track 05, track 07)
Alex Mansour: piano, cello (track 02, track 03, track 10)
John Hébert: upright bass (track 07)
Daniel Durst: bass guitar, upright bass (track 05, track 09, track 10)
Josiah Denooyer: drums (track 07)
Daniel Gayden: cajon (track 07)
Abel Tabares: drums (track 05)
Madison George: drums (track 09)
Christian McGhee: drums (track 10)
• Samuel Peters: engineering (vocals, track 04), mastering (all tracks)
Maria Galvan Cobo: album artwork
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• Earth (feat. Santino Jones):
(Verse 1)
It’s like they sleepin’ on they dreams
And only waking up to screens
Fiends for green sheets by any means
With them dead faces that place ‘em into teams
While they racin’ in machines In the skies, the streets, and overseas
Puffin dye into the breeze Colorin’ the wind, it’s difficult to breathe
I don’t understand these beings
And how they trip over colors in they skin
Afraid to paint a picture where the colors all blend
Never realizin’ that they brothers in the end
And some got all the land
While some of ‘em are crammed in a van 10 deep with they fam I don’t understand
How the rich ones go to sleep like, man
(Chorus)
I rode in from the skies
Ridin’ in disguise
I learned about they lives Learned about they tribes It made me wanna cry
How so many of ‘em die
So I went up to this human
Said “If you wanna survive Then you better go live, say
We better switch up right-” (Now!)
(Verse 2)
Now after some time with ‘em
I’m impressed at how blessed they are by rhythm
I’d trust their Artists way before I trust they politicians
Too focused on they speeches so they never listen
And the most got good intentions But they caught up in they own reflections
It’s funny how they build so many prisons
Just showin’ what’s been going on within’ ‘em
And purest ones are the children If I was them I’d let the kids be my motivation
They ain’t ask to be born into this chaos Tell me how that makes sense? Man
They got the power if they want
Discovered music and be fusin good frequencies
Gotta switch from lettin’ fear be their biggest God/guide
Transition it to love that’s how it seems to me
(Chorus)
I rode in from the skies
Ridin’ in disguise
I learned about they lives Learned about they tribes It made me wanna cry
How so many of ‘em die
So I went up to this human
Said “If you wanna survive
Then you better go live, say We better switch up right-”
(Now!)
• Jupiter:
2x
Soaring through the stars
We're flying high, so high
Jupiter and Mars
An interstellar cosmic joyride
4x
Soaring through the stars
We're flying so high
2x
Jupiter and Mars
An interstellar cosmic joyride
• Neptune (feat. Julia Moffa)
(Verse 1)
Dreams are nightmare’s pantomime
Is it wrong to wish for the time
When I still dreamt of merry things?
A diamond lives forever
(Verse 2)
Intwined in twinkling trance
Bonds untied to please circumstance
Would you please tell me how it felt?
Did it hurt to watch me melt?
(Chorus)
Sinking drifting tumbling down all leads to a broken crown (yes).
Unraveling at your seams
See us, see them...
See you, see me...
See when?
Planets | Independent (2021)
