RedazioneReSeT Ryan Tram’s Digital Voyage, Vol. 1 is a captivating exploration of the boundaries between the human experience and the digital realm. Seamlessly blending EDM, future bass, and synth-pop elements, this album tells a story of separation, digital identity, and emotional growth, all set against the backdrop of a vibrant and nostalgic soundscape.
The album is both a sonic journey and a personal reflection. Ryan Tram, who produced and wrote every track, has crafted a deeply immersive narrative that reflects the highs and lows of his life over the past four years. The themes of distance, grief, and the complexities of human connection are embodied through a fantastical digital world, where the protagonist, Red, navigates their emotions after being separated from a close partner. The result is an album that feels both intimate and expansive, like stepping into a colorful virtual reality where every beat pulses with raw emotion.
One of the most striking aspects of Digital Voyage, Vol. 1 is its impeccable production. The album is built around lush, textured sound design, with each track offering a unique blend of rhythm, bass, and synths. Opening track Elevate sets the tone with wide supersaw synths that create a sweeping sense of motion, while playful melodies twirl and bounce around the drop, evoking the carefree joy of entering a new world. The production is tight and polished, with each element—whether it’s a bassline, a vocal sample, or a glitchy effect—carefully crafted to support the album’s digital themes.
The basslines throughout the album are deep and immersive, often driving the rhythm forward with a sense of urgency, while the synths add layers of nostalgia and warmth. The balance between these elements creates a sound that is both futuristic and retro, evoking the digital worlds of the past while hinting at the possibilities of what’s to come. Tracks like Past The Sun and Above are prime examples of this fusion, combining upbeat melodies with intricate sound design to create moments of pure musical euphoria.
A standout moment on the album comes with Human, where Tram’s ingenuity in sound design is fully realized. The track features a vocal chain that mimics robotic yet emotional tones, a technique inspired by artists like Porter Robinson and Madeon. But it’s the experimentation with voice that truly sets this track apart—Tram uses his own beatboxing to create the entire rhythm section, an innovative approach that adds a raw, organic element to the digital landscape he’s created. This blend of human and synthetic elements reflects the core theme of Digital Voyage: the search for identity in an increasingly digitized world.
The album is not just a showcase of impressive soundscapes, but also of Tram’s ability to tell a compelling story through music. We Are What We Do captures a feeling of introspection, with a driving beat that underscores the realization that actions define our identities, while Breeze provides a moment of respite with its lighter, more ethereal atmosphere. Throughout, the album flows effortlessly from one track to the next, maintaining an emotional continuity that keeps the listener engaged.
Digital Voyage, Vol. 1 is more than just an album—it’s an experience. Tram has not only created a captivating musical journey but has also enhanced it with a visual narrative. The accompanying trailer, which he directed and shot with his sister Emily, complements the album’s themes of digital exploration, with glitchy VFX and striking visuals that immerse viewers in the same world that the music inhabits.
In conclusion, Digital Voyage, Vol. 1 is a masterfully crafted album that blends emotional depth with cutting-edge sound design. Ryan Tram has successfully created an auditory landscape that feels both intimate and expansive, exploring the complexities of human relationships in a digital age. With its lush synths, tight rhythms, and captivating storytelling, this is an album that will resonate with anyone who has ever felt the pull of the virtual world and the yearning to find connection within it. Highly recommended for fans of future bass, synth-pop, and emotionally charged electronic music.
