If
- If (9:20)
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Extra
If - Visual
Lyrics
If
あなたには遠くまで見えるようになる 巡るその日が過ぎていたなら 彼らなら簡単に代えを探すだろう さっきは何を言おうとしていたの とぼけた振りだけ目につくこと知るような どうかしてる 巡るその日は今もそのまま 繰り返し現れて同意を求める さっきは何を言おうとしていたの 遥か前から問い続けているような どうかしてる
Intro
“If”, released on July 7, 2022, is a single by otom that blends folk elements with an experimental edge. This 10-minute track is structured with a vocal section in the first half and an instrumental section in the latter. Its key features include acoustic-guitar arpeggios and electric-guitar tones mixed with sustained sounds created by a freeze effect. Starting with a simple, vocal-driven first half and moving into a buildup of layered guitars that form a wall of sound, the track stands as one of otom’s more ambitious works.
The lyrics draw on themes of modern “surrendered freedom” and illusion, inspired heavily by The Grand Inquisitor episode from “The Brothers Karamazov”, otom’s favorite novel. Questioning the present day, the song expresses a journey toward a world that may lead to either harmony or chaos.
The production began around late 2021, based on two earlier demo ideas—one vocal and one instrumental—originally noted between 2011 and 2014.
Note
If was composed with the intention of balancing experimental and pop elements. Full production began shortly after finishing the April 2022 release “Dream Away / There is Still Time”. The first half of the track dates back to around 2011, starting from a simple arpeggio idea and evolving through multiple versions with added vocals and Max processing during the mid-2010s. In late 2021, otom combined this long-developed material with a guitar-layer section from around 2014, forming the final structure. The core of the track is an acoustic-guitar arpeggio recorded with otom’s Gibson L-00, played together with an ELECTRO-HARMONIX FREEZE to create sustained tones that blend with distinctive electric-guitar layers and vocals. Recording and editing progressed from around January 2022.
The lyrics incorporate wordplay and are inspired, as mentioned above, by The Grand Inquisitor. The idea came from noticing how the 16th-century model of people unconsciously surrendering their freedom to authority mirrors today’s internet society—where everyone is constantly looking into their smartphone screens, losing their sense of freedom. Reflecting on whether the end of such an era brings harmony or chaos, the second half expresses this through layers of harmony, noise, and rising tension. The jacket artwork combines El Greco’s Portrait of a Cardinal with the shattered screen of an iPhone 3G that otom once dropped while visiting Hashima (Gunkanjima), creating a design that seems to look into past and present forms of surrendered freedom.
Outro
Although otom tries each time not to spend too long on a project, this single ended up taking considerable time once again. With an album in development and more singles planned, otom hopes to move forward a bit more smoothly from here. It is a work that avoids fitting neatly into any one genre while staying true to otom’s own style. Please enjoy it.
“If” is available on major streaming platforms such as Spotify and Apple Music, and high-quality versions can be purchased on Bandcamp.
