by Elizabeth Fernandez
Hidden within a cacophony of pop elements and heavy distortion, Johan Ess follows the path of the seeker into disturbing unknown territories. In his latest release, Govern Yourself Accordingly (2007 Nophi Records), the pandrogynous New Media artist takes an unusual approach to the standard song structure, digital or otherwise.
His style is at times chaotic, but with a melodic interplay that differentiates itself from everyday electronic music. Drifting up and down the musical spectrum, each song slips between genre bending and embracing on an album that would feel at home in a robot’s ipod.
Johan’s music ranges from extremely danceable to grim and menacing, while his ever-present twangy vocals add a distinctly human element. In songs like “Thief,” his voice becomes soothing, even mellow, a surprising exercise in folk music, yet he can just as easily snarl. His lyrics retain a jaded humor as they touch on political subversion and the esoteric.
The stand-out hit and obvious single on the album is “Perfect World,” a dark electro-pop journey into dystopia. With lyrics designed to amuse and subvert, the song starts out playful and smile-inducing, with a toe-tapping melody that gets stuck in your head for days. Towards the end, the song collapses into melancholy, with a heavy voice chanting “I am dead” as the upbeat melody melts into a deep pool of melodrama.
Several tracks on the album, deal directly with societal issues, especially “The Number 23.” He samples George W. Bush repeating the words democracy and terrorism until they become one: democraterror. Bush’s voice blends into numbing noise, interspersed with Johan’s alternately screeching and whispering vocals.
“I want to expose the logical fallacy of our establishment and get at the root of the problems that we face,” he explained. “Western culture has developed a neurotic disease, an insatiable lust for control that is hampering our ability to evolve as a species.”
He considers himself a mystic, using numerology to choose specific tempos in his music. It adds to the eclectic sound. It is obvious that Johan has a fundamental understanding of traditional music compositions, but he uses numerology and technology to create unique soundscapes that follow their own rules.
In person, Johan is soft-spoken and quiet, a thin, mild mannered man at ease with silence. However, on stage he is transformed. His energetic performances are a stark contrast to the average laptop musician. According to Johan,“I transport myself mentally into a mutant state, by which I can fearlessly unleash myself against the negating powers.”
Frequently wearing feminine apparel and makeup to protest the complacency of gender roles, Johan sings, plays and mixes all at the same time. He is at ease in his costumes, creating an alternate persona that only exists when he is hidden behind masks and lipstick.
“My personality is split by polar opposites,” he said. “I am a thinker, while also yearning to have a visceral dialect with the universe. Those two forces seem to form a synthesis, a third identity of radical proportions.”
Tortured by a ceaseless stream of words, Elizabeth has no choice but to write. She has worked as a freelance writer for websites like MiamiArtZine.com, edited history and technology books, and written countless science fiction stories. She is currently working as a full time editor and writing her first novel, The Bright Life.
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