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Cyberpunk films suggest that in the not-so-distant future, AI will dominate humans through subtle reality simulation, exchanging digitally stored POV memories, or complete cloning. As we inch closer to—and sometimes exceed—the cinematic prophecies of the past, those ominous themes remain constant. It’s not difficult to fathom why. However, the synth-punk innovators MSPAINT reject the notion of leather-clad assassins or red-pill ideology as salvation. Since their formation in 2019, the Mississippi-based band has created electrifying, anthem-style music focused on harnessing positivity to counter the world’s adversities. Their sincerity is neither blind optimism nor egotism; instead, it is open-hearted and community-driven. Their latest EP, No Separation, elevates their digital punk sound, delivering a passionate rallying cry that resonates with our own off-screen dystopia.
No matter how explosive the bass or avant-garde the synths on Post-American, their debut album from 2023, MSPAINT were destined to amplify their sound further in the next release. After three tours of Europe last year—a dream they never thought they’d realize—the four-piece returned to the humid atmosphere of their hometown, Hattiesburg, Mississippi, both drained and invigorated. No Separation emerges as if MSPAINT ascended from the mainframe, hair electrified and fingertips scorched, powered by sheer determination. The production enhances the band’s sound with metallic textures provided by Julian Cashwan Pratt and Harlan Steed of Show Me the Body, emphasizing MSPAINT’s flirtation with industrial influences. “Wildfire” pulses with Randy Riley’s dynamic bass and Quinn Mackey’s powerful drumming, creating a rhythm section that seems tailor-made for a chase scene in Strange Days set in a gritty ’90s nightclub. Nick Panella stands out on the EP, experimenting with synths that evoke Arabic maqam melodies (“Surveillance”), generating pixelated chords that cascade into fuzz (“Drift”), and crafting nostalgic dream worlds (“Angel”); Cyberpunk 2077 creators would likely wish they had tapped MSPAINT for the game’s soundtrack.
MSPAINT champions the importance of community, built alongside fellow bands—such as Militarie Gun and Soul Glo, whose vocalists feature on Post-American—and various passionate punks encountered on the road. This support empowers vocalist Deedee to share unwavering optimism, even in a world intent on extinguishing joy, whether it’s decrying profit motives that serve the malevolent, acknowledging our complicity in flawed systems, or asserting one’s power as a worker. “If this world is unraveling, why not fall together?” Deedee suggests; amid the swirling hi-hats and synth layers, the perspective from above is breathtaking. Throughout No Separation, Deedee proclaims revolutionary sentiments worthy of a sci-fi movie poster: “We were not born to conform,” “It’s not your world. It’s been purchased,” “Are you not weary of waiting for nothing to rescue you?” If MSPAINT previously embedded mindfulness into their music, this EP establishes civil disobedience as the foundation for collective awakening.
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