Eroica II Christian Nihilism

Description

"Genius is an African who dreams of snow." - Vladimir NabokovAmerican musician, painter, filmmaker, and graphic designer Chino Amobi returns with his second album, Eroica II: Christian Nihilism, released on October 31st. Paradiso, his critically acclaimed 2017 debut, immersed listeners in the stifling, volatile soundscapes of the Global South: dissonant rhythms, dense noise, and militant textures evoking postcolonial heat, displacement, and resistance. With Eroica II, he ventures into colder territories, adopting a more minimalist and introspective sonic palette, shaped by folk drones, icy ambiance, spectral trap, and the hushed echoes of sacred musical traditions. If Paradiso depicted a world aflame and in flux, Eroica II is its haunted aftermath: a dive into memory, exile, and transcendence. Less about confrontation and more about awakening, it explores silence, emptiness, and spiritual upheaval with an austere, contemplative force."In a world on the brink of despair, where the echoes of nihilism seem to stifle any glimmer of hope, here is an album that dares to confront the void. This musical journey is a profound meditation on the very essence of Christianity in the face of such overwhelming darkness. It is an honest and vulnerable exploration of my own path as a Christian, grappling with the unsettling shadows lurking within sacred texts, alongside the radiant and enduring light."From the depths of "ex nihilo" – from nothingness – emerges a narrative of spiritual development, tracing a path from the quiet introspection of Virginia to the vast expanses of Texas, and beyond. This is not merely a geographical journey, but an inner odyssey, a testament to the continuous process of individuation. Drawing inspiration from the profound reflections of Russian authors, the evocative power of their musicians, and the austere beauty of their cinema, interwoven with the rich tapestry of Orthodoxy, this album explores the unsettling truths and transcendent beauty of faith when all hope seems lost. It testifies to the search for an anchor and spiritual growth, even in the face of life's most challenging questions. Christian nihilism is founded on the idea that while joy and contentment in God are ideal, they may never be experienced on this side of eternity. It is embracing chaos while trusting that God will work all things for our good, even if that good is not always visible. ---- Chino Amobi ---.Born in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, to Nigerian parents and raised in Virginia, Chino Amobi was introduced to artistic and musical creation early on, nourished by frequent trips to Nigeria to visit family. He first tried his hand at rapping alongside his brother (now known as Chichi The Eternal), before breaking through in the early 2010s under the moniker Diamond Black Hearted Boy, releasing raw and conceptual web music rooted in futurism and emotional dissonance. His influences range from Nas, Radiohead, and video game music to painters like Hieronymus Bosch. Amobi earned a BFA with honors from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2009 and, in 2015, co-founded the influential label and artistic collective NON Worldwide with Angel-Ho and Nkisi. Dedicated to artists of the African diaspora, NON quickly gained international recognition for its politically radical ethos and impactful sonic aesthetic. In 2016, the label released Amobi's "Airport Music for Black Folk," and later that year, the Red Bull Music Academy showcased NON at the New Museum in New York.Amobi's work has extended to fashion and film, notably including a commissioned musical composition for a Kenzo short film and a visual accompaniment for "Paradiso" directed by Rick Farin of Actual Objects in 2018. In addition to his musical and graphic practice, Amobi is an accomplished visual artist, whose paintings are represented by Meredith Rosen Gallery (New York), Robby Fitzpatrick Gallery (Paris), and Von Ammon Co. (Washington, D.C.). In 2023, he released two new musical works: the biting and politically engaged EP "French Extremism" and the mesmerizing single "Labyrinth," expanding his sonic vocabulary while setting the stage for this upcoming chapter.A work of spiritual upheaval, haunted minimalism, and transcendent intent, "Eroica II: Christian Nihilism" marks a turning point in Amobi's multidisciplinary and evolving practice.