Itef - damnatio memoriae (prologue I)
Channel: itef music
Date: 2021-12-15

Official video by Itef performing 'prologue I': “why are we so obsessed in being someone else?” and "damnatio memoriae" – off his third album, conspicuous consumption. 
Listen to the album here: https://album.link/s/5Q2iQzHmeV6dMnfBDbx76F

‘Prologue I’ opens with an electrifying synth pop spoken word introduction that examines the need to camouflage who we truly are in order to appease the people we love.

Ultimately, this tragic chamaleonic practice makes us loose the essense of who we truly are. Through the introductory voice note, we realise the extent of how damaging this practice can be, as humans will deprive themselves of their truth in order to fit in to what society deems as acceptable.

This iconoclastic introduction acts as an appropriate pathway for ‘damnation memoriae’. The seamless transition from synthpop to a more introspective melodic pace is reminiscent of Itef’s own personal journey through his own psyche, almost like a modern day journey undertaken by Dante.

The stylistical switch enables Itef to conjure a more dream like atmosphere to vividly re-examine the loss of a significant relationship. In fact, the thematic theme of being a chameleon living a lie; uttered during the introductory spoken word; actually foreshadows why the relationship ended in damnation memoriae.

Ultimately, some people end up choosing to live a lie in order to meet societal expectations. Unfortunately, Itef is collateral damage from this repressive behaviour and is left at the mercy of his memory.

The outcome of damnatio memoriae creates a bitterweet result for Itef:

One the one hand, he is finally free from this chameleonic entity. On the other hand, witnessing the person you love choose a lie over love leaves a sour taste that is unavoidably going to continue haunting Itef. In the face of such despair, the dream like atmosphere throughout the song almost acts as a supressor to soften the emotional blow by incorporating surreal textures to deal with reality

A surreal aesthetic persists in this dreamy track that represents a safe place only Itef and a past lover can access in his memory palace. Although the prospect of reconciliation is unlikely and remains a painful reality, their love still resides in the deepest areas of Itef’s psyche, unaccessible to the rest of the world but deeply meaningful to him.

Discover more Itef on Spotify: http://smarturl.it/Itef


Music video by Itef performing damnatio memoriae (prologue I) (c) 2021 Itef Music