New York, NY (Top40 Charts) Manchester-based electro pop artist Richard Evans is back with his new single. 'Aidoru', released via Cold Star Media, is named for the Japanese word meaning "idol". The song's lyrics explore the status of a virtual pop idol designed only to please its audience as it sings of love with no understanding of what the word means.
A British-Irish electronic musician, writer and digital media artist, Evans' foray into the music scene includes time as the keyboardist in UK cult band James, with whom he also co-wrote and recorded material, and as guitarist and songwriter for St. Vitus Dancers.
"This song is one of the first written for the new album and marks a change in my writing process, being originated on just piano and vocals rather than devised within studio software. I specifically wanted a bright, hi-energy track to match the commerciality of the virtual idol concept. The lyrics reflect a creation that is designed for just one purpose - to serve its listeners," says Richard Evans.
Last year, Evans released his 'Dream of the World' EP, composed and recorded in the aftermath of a life-threatening illness. In 2022, Evans was struck with Miller Fisher Syndrome, a rare auto-immune disorder that threatened to rob him of his ability to speak, sing, and play music. Yet, against all odds, he emerged victorious, relearning everything from scratch - a testament to his unwavering determination and a celebration of his triumph over adversity.
Richard Evans' draws inspiration from real-world science, exploring biotechnology, machine intelligence and the environment. For this album, existing songs were refined and new material was written, combining the warmth of classic synths with pared-down lyrics that explore real-world subject matter.
His 2022 debut record 'Sentinel' is an electro-pop concept album that touches on micro-plastics, gene editing, stardust, technogenic disasters and human evolution, telling the story of humanity at a tipping point and a world trapped in a climate crisis. Both 'Sentinel' and 'Dream of the World' were met with critical acclaim and global airplay.
He has performed live shows at festivals around the UK and at the end of 2023, a year on from the illness, he delivered his first large-scale outdoor production with visuals projected onto the exterior of a venue during a performance. In 2024, Evans also received the Cultural Accelerator commission from Media Immersive Technology Innovation Hub to prototype a new live production featuring hologram-style projections, spatial audio and lighting effects.
Evans also wrote, directed and produced the science fiction drama 'AEON'. An author of many short stories, he also published the novel 'KOSMONAUT ZERO' (via Dead Ink), researched at Star City Cosmonaut Training Centre. He also oversaw the 'Gagarin 50' exhibition for the 50th anniversary of the first human spaceflight by Yuri Gagarin.
As of February 18, 'Aidoru' is available everywhere online, including Spotify, Apple Music and directly from the artist via Bandcamp. The full 'Quantum' album will be released on April 25 via Cold Star Media.
