Meet Man Made Time: Hillary Grace (singer-songwriter-producer) and Albert James Babanian (syth, songwriter, engineer-producer).
Natives of L.A., Grace and Babanian blend retro rock influences from the ’80s and ’90s into stylish synth pop. After constantly running into each other while growing up, and because of similar musical inclinations, they met for jam sessions in the parking lot of a coffee shop. Acknowledging their obvious musical chemistry, they headed for the studio.
By June 2015, the duo had dropped their debut EP, Time Stands Still, and performed at Hotel Café, House of Blues, Couture and Bardot, followed by Pete’s Candy Store in NYC, The Teregram Ballroom in L.A., and Arizona’s Mesa Music Festival.
Their latest music video, “Insanity,” is about confronting inner demons, anxiety, and addiction by letting go and remaining true to yourself rather than struggling against what you cannot defeat through sheer will.
“Insanity” opens with an elegant, delicate guitar and Grace’s affluent voice. As the textured colors of the synth emerge, and the bassline enters with thrumming force, the tune assumes ominous harmonic intensity. Grace’s tones convey a turbulence of emotion that refuses to subside.
The lyrics exude a psychic aura of inevitable self-destruction.
“Drinkin’ on a feelin’ it’s not fair / Screaming to yourself pulling out your hair / You thought it would be different this time / But insanity it creeps on your mind.”
The video, directed by Margos Margossian, accentuates eerie tension by means of a single camera, panning back and forth between passenger and driver. Only when the passenger comprehends she can’t control the sudden convulsion of events, does she find emancipation.
Elegant and exquisitely gorgeous, “Insanity” projects a particular quality of scintillance, susceptibility, and urgency.
Randy Radic is a Left Coast author and writer. Author of numerous true crime books written under the pen-name of John Lee Brook. Former music contributor at Huff Post.
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