“Todo iba mezclado, pero no sabía qué era, sino hasta que un amigo mencionó a Aphex Twin. Ahí fue donde realmente encontré más o menos una forma de clasificar lo que hacía. Después de eso, solo quise explorar más cosas, ritmos extraños, modos melódicos y texturas sonoras.”
José Pablo, known artistically as Rift09, is a Guatemalan musician who describes himself as "someone who occasionally makes music." His work spans a wide range of genres, including ambient, chillwave, and vaporwave, creating soundscapes that invite introspection and sensory exploration.
Throughout his career, Rift09 has produced several albums that reflect his versatility and creativity. Among his most notable works are:
"リミナルスペース" (Liminal Space): This album immerses the listener in transitory sonic spaces, exploring the intersection between the known and the unknown.
"Resonance: Part 2": Continuation of a thematic exploration that reflects his commitment to the constant evolution of his sound.
"From the Grave": Released in 2023, this album includes tracks such as "Ghost Star 死星" (featuring BOSEBY), "Banshee's Ballad バンシー" and "Eternal Nightfall 限りない" , showcasing her ability to fuse dark and atmospheric elements.
Each of these albums offers a unique listening experience, demonstrating Rift09’s ability to innovate and maintain a deep connection with their audience.
Rift09’s music is more than just a combination of sounds; it is a manifestation of his philosophy and worldview. Through his compositions, he seeks to create immersive experiences that invite reflection and personal discovery. His focus on creating atmospheres and soundscapes reflects an intention to connect with the listener on a deep level, offering an escape from everyday reality and an entry into alternative worlds constructed by sound.
Although his name may not be widely recognized in commercial circles, Rift09 has cultivated a loyal fan base who appreciate his unique approach and dedication to artistic authenticity. His influence extends beyond the borders of Guatemala, reaching listeners from various parts of the world who find his music a source of inspiration and solace. His legacy is built on innovation and the courage to explore the unknown, leaving an indelible mark on contemporary independent music.
Rift09 stands out in the vast world of ambient, chillwave and vaporwave for his ability to evoke deep emotions through hypnotic and melancholic sound textures. His sound is not limited to the conventions of these genres, but rather expands them, combining elements of glitch, noise, lo-fi and even cinematic influences. What makes his music unique is his focus on atmosphere: instead of simply creating nostalgic soundscapes, Rift09 builds entire universes where every sound seems to tell a story.
The Unique Sound Features of Rift09
1. Use of Deep Reverberations and Open Spaces Her compositions are enveloped in an ethereal aura, with reverberations that give the sensation of floating in an infinite space. This is especially noticeable in albums such as リミナルスペース (Liminal Space), where the sound creates a feeling of transition between worlds, a kind of sonic limbo.
2. Complex Sonic Textures Unlike many vaporwave and chillwave artists who rely on pop culture samples and repetitive loops, Rift09 designs his own sounds from scratch. His layers of synths, subtle glitches, and ambient pads give his music a unique depth. Tracks like Ghost Star 死星 on From the Grave showcase his ability to blend the dreamlike with the haunting.
3. A Touch of Darkness and Mystery Rift09’s music often evokes a sense of melancholy and loneliness, but not in a depressing way, but rather in an introspective way. Songs like Eternal Nightfall 限りない capture the beauty of the unknown, reminiscent of sci-fi movie soundtracks or cyberpunk video games.
4. Minimalism with Impact He doesn't need complex structures to convey a powerful message. His compositions may be minimalist in instrumentation, but each sound is placed with surgical precision, generating an immersive experience.
5. Influences and Exploration of Analog Sounds Although his music has one foot in the digital, it also explores the analog. His tape effects, subtle distortion and the texture of his recordings make each track have a warm and nostalgic character, as if they were distant memories made into sound.
In a genre where many artists are content to recycle samples from 80s pop culture, Rift09 goes further. His music is not just a tribute to the past, but a reinterpretation of time and space. His compositions not only seek to evoke nostalgia, but transport the listener to an unknown place, a universe of their own where time seems to dissolve. Rift09 is not just an ambient, vaporwave or chillwave artist; he is an architect of emotions through sound. His music is a sensorial journey where each track is a door to a new world.
Rift09's album "Xib'alb'a" is a work that immerses the listener in a sonic journey to the underworld of Mayan mythology, known as Xib'alb'a. This work stands out for its ability to evoke a mystical and enveloping atmosphere, combining elements of ambient and vaporwave to create a unique listening experience.
The album is characterized by the use of ethereal synths and sonic textures that evoke vast and mysterious spaces. Rift09 employs subtle rhythms and echo effects that mimic the feeling of being in deep caverns or ancient temples, transporting the listener on an introspective and spiritual journey.
Throughout “Xib’alb’a,” Rift09 explores themes related to the duality of life and death, spiritual journey, and connection to the ancestral. The compositions invite deep reflection, leading the listener to confront their own shadows and seek meaning in the unknown. The music flows in a way that each track feels like a stage in this mystical journey, maintaining a cohesion that enriches the listening experience.
In short, "Xib'alb'a" is a work that stands out for its ability to create an immersive atmosphere and for the depth of its themes, consolidating Rift09 as an artist who is not afraid to explore the deepest corners of the human psyche through his music.
RIFT09'S ALBUM "RESONANCE: PART 2", RELEASED ON FEBRUARY 4, 2022, DELVES INTO A DEEP EXPLORATION OF ATMOSPHERIC SOUNDS AND ARTISTIC COLLABORATIONS, OFFERING A LISTENING EXPERIENCE THAT INVITES INTROSPECTION AND REFLECTION.
1. INTERLUDE: THIS OPENING TRACK SETS THE TONE OF THE ALBUM WITH A GENTLE INTRODUCTION, USING ETHEREAL SYNTHS AND AMBIENT SOUND EFFECTS THAT CREATE AN IMMERSIVE ATMOSPHERE. ITS PURPOSE IS TO PREPARE THE LISTENER FOR THE SONIC JOURNEY AHEAD, IMMERSING THEM IN A STATE OF CALM AND EXPECTATION.
2. THRESHOLD (FEAT. SOUL ▲ CRAFT): A COLLABORATION WITH SOUL ▲ CRAFT, “THRESHOLD” FUSES IMMERSIVE SYNTHS WITH SUBTLE BEATS AND PULSATING BASSLINES. THE SONG EVOKES THE FEELING OF CROSSING A THRESHOLD INTO A NEW SONIC SPACE, WHERE TEXTURES INTERTWINE AND MELODIES FLOAT, CREATING AN ATMOSPHERE OF TRANSITION AND DISCOVERY.
3. REFLEJO (FEAT. EMPRESSインターナショナル): FEATURING EMPRESSイン ターナショナル, “REFLEJO” FEATURES A BLEND OF SOUNDS THAT REFLECT DUALITY AND INTROSPECTION. LAYERS OF SYNTHS CREATE A SENSE OF DEPTH, WHILE SOFT PERCUSSION MAINTAINS A STEADY BEAT. THE COLLABORATION BRINGS AN ADDITIONAL DIMENSION TO THE THEME OF INTERNAL REFLECTION, INVITING THE LISTENER TO EXPLORE THEIR OWN BEING.
4. REFRACTION: THE ALBUM'S FINAL TRACK, "REFRACTION," IS CHARACTERIZED BY DELICATE MELODIES AND A SMOOTHLY FLOWING STRUCTURE. THE USE OF SUSPENDED CHORDS AND HARMONIC PROGRESSIONS CREATES A SENSE OF RESOLUTION AND CLOSURE, WHILE AMBIENT TEXTURES MAINTAIN THE INTROSPECTIVE ATMOSPHERE. THE FEDERICO GARCÍA LORCA QUOTE, "NOW HER MELODY SLEEPS WITH THE ECHOES. DEFINITIVE AND PURE. WITH THE LAST ECHOES!", ENCAPSULATES THE ESSENCE OF THE SONG, SUGGESTING A SERENE AND REFLECTIVE CONCLUSION.
CONCEPT OF "RESONANCE"
“RESONANCE” REFERS TO THE AMPLIFICATION OF VIBRATIONS WHEN AN EXTERNAL FREQUENCY MATCHES THE NATURAL FREQUENCY OF A SYSTEM. IN THE CONTEXT OF THE ALBUM, THIS CONCEPT IS INTERPRETED AS SEEKING A DEEP CONNECTION WITH THE LISTENER’S EMOTIONAL AND SPIRITUAL FREQUENCIES, CREATING AN EXPERIENCE THAT RESONATES ON A PERSONAL LEVEL. THE COVER ART, DESIGNED BY GHST _NOTE, VISUALLY COMPLEMENTS THE ALBUM’S THEME, REFLECTING ITS FOCUS ON RESONANCE AND CONNECTION. CONCLUSION
“RESONANCE: PART 2” IS A WORK THAT INVITES THE LISTENER INTO AN INTROSPECTIVE EXPERIENCE, USING IMMERSIVE SOUND AND ARTISTIC COLLABORATIONS TO EXPLORE THE CONNECTION BETWEEN MUSIC AND HUMAN EMOTIONS. RIFT09 DEMONSTRATES THEIR ABILITY TO CREATE SOUNDSCAPES THAT ARE NOT ONLY HEARD, BUT DEEPLY FELT, OFFERING AN AUDITORY JOURNEY THAT STAYS WITH THE LISTENER LONG AFTER THE MUSIC HAS CEASED.
T H E V O I D V O L 1
W H I S P E R I N
RIFT09'S ALBUM "WHISPERS IN THE VOID VOL. 1", RELEASED ON DECEMBER 19, 2024, IS A DEEP EXPLORATION INTO THE REALM OF EXPERIMENTAL ELECTRONIC MUSIC. THIS WORK IS DISTINGUISHED BY ITS FOCUS ON CREATING IMMERSIVE ATMOSPHERES AND SOUND EXPERIMENTATION, OFFERING THE LISTENER A UNIQUE LISTENING EXPERIENCE.
RIFT09 EMPLOYS A WIDE RANGE OF ELECTRONIC TECHNIQUES TO CONSTRUCT SOUNDSCAPES THAT RANGE FROM AMBIENT TO EXPERIMENTAL. THE USE OF SYNTHESIZERS, MODULATION EFFECTS AND DIGITAL SOUND MANIPULATION CREATES RICH, IMMERSIVE TEXTURES. EACH TRACK ON THE ALBUM FEATURES A FLUID STRUCTURE, ESCHEWING THE CONVENTIONS OF TRADITIONAL COMPOSITIONS AND ALLOWING SOUNDS TO EVOLVE ORGANICALLY. THIS APPROACH RESULTS IN AN INTROSPECTIVE ATMOSPHERE THAT INVITES THE LISTENER TO DEEP REFLECTION.
WITH THIS ALBUM WE SEE ONCE AGAIN THE VERSATILITY OF RIFT, WE CAN HIGHLIGHT AND ALMOST AFFIRM THAT THIS ALBUM TOTALLY DEFINES ITS SOUND, TECTONICS AND AESTHETICS THAT GO BEYOND THE ORDINARY, TAKING US TO TOTALLY UNIQUE SPACES WITH EACH TRACK THAT IS PERFECTLY SELECTED TO FIT WITH THE FOLLOWING CLEAR EXAMPLE OF THIS WE HAVE
1. "FLOATING STARS": THIS COMPOSITION USES ETHEREAL SYNTHESIZERS AND SOFT RHYTHMS TO CREATE AN ATMOSPHERE OF WEIGHTLESSNESS, EVOKING THE SENSATION OF FLOATING IN THE COSMOS.
2. "REVERIES DISSOLVING, FIZZING INTO NOTHINGNESS": THE TRACK IS CHARACTERIZED BY THE GRADUAL DECOMPOSITION OF MELODIES AND TEXTURES, SYMBOLIZING THE DISSOLUTION OF THOUGHTS AND DREAMS INTO NOTHINGNESS.
3. "L O S T 悪い ": A MIX OF DISSONANT SOUNDS AND ORIENTAL HARMONIES THAT REFLECT THE FEELING OF LOSS AND CONFUSION, INVITING THE LISTENER TO DEEP INTROSPECTION.
“WHISPERS IN THE VOID VOL. 1” PRESENTS ITSELF AS A WORK THAT CHALLENGES MUSICAL CONVENTIONS, OFFERING A LISTENING EXPERIENCE THAT INVITES THE LISTENER TO EXPLORE INNOVATIVE SOUNDSCAPES AND REFLECT ON DEEP THEMES. RIFT09’S ABILITY TO FUSE ELEMENTS OF EXPERIMENTAL ELECTRONIC MUSIC WITH A NARRATIVE IMPLIED BY THE TRACK TITLES ESTABLISHES THIS ALBUM AS A SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTION TO THE GENRE.
"OZYMANDIAS" BY RIFT09, RELEASED APRIL 25, 2024. "OZYMANDIAS" REFERENCES PERCY BYSSHE SHELLEY'S POEM OF THE SAME NAME, WHICH REFLECTS ON THE TRANSIENCE OF POWER AND THE INEVITABLE DECLINE OF CIVILIZATIONS. THIS REFERENCE SUGGESTS THAT THE ALBUM EXPLORES THEMES OF EPHEMERALITY, LEGACY, AND THE IMPRINT OF TIME.
1. 忘れられたもの (FORGOTTEN THINGS): THIS TRACK PROBABLY INTRODUCES THE LISTENER TO A MELANCHOLIC ATMOSPHERE, USING SOFT AND ETHEREAL SOUNDS THAT EVOKE THE FEELING OF FADED MEMORIES.
2. 時間の砂 (SAND OF TIME): THIS SONG MAY EMPLOY SLOW, REPETITIVE RHYTHMS, MIMICKING THE CONSTANT FLOW OF TIME AND THE FEELING OF MOMENTS SLIPPING THROUGH YOUR FINGERS.
3. 過去の帝国 (PAST EMPIRE): THIS TRACK COULD INCORPORATE GRANDIOSE YET CRUMBLING SONIC ELEMENTS, REFLECTING THE LOST MAJESTY OF CIVILIZATIONS THAT ONCE RULED THE WORLD.
4. 伝説は死ぬ (LEGENDS DIE): THIS SONG IS LIKELY TO HAVE A SOMBER TONE, USING MINOR CHORDS AND MELODIC PROGRESSIONS THAT CONVEY THE IDEA THAT EVEN THE GREATEST STORIES COME TO AN END.
5. 塵は塵に (DUST TO DUST): THIS TRACK COULD FEATURE GRAINY SOUNDS AND ROUGH TEXTURES, SYMBOLIZING DECAY AND RETURNING TO THE EARTH.
6. あったもの (WHAT WAS): THE FINAL SONG COULD OFFER AN INTROSPECTIVE REFLECTION, WITH SOFT MELODIES THAT INVITE CONTEMPLATION ON WHAT WAS AND IS NO LONGER.
SOUND & PRODUCTION: RIFT09, KNOWN FOR HIS “VAPORTRAP” STYLE, FUSES ELEMENTS OF VAPORWAVE AND TRAP TO CREATE UNIQUE SOUNDSCAPES. THE USE OF ATMOSPHERIC SYNTHS, SLOWED-DOWN TRAP BEATS, AND DISTORTED VOCAL SAMPLES CHARACTERIZES HIS APPROACH. THIS COMBINATION PRODUCES A SENSE OF NOSTALGIA AND REFLECTION, IN LINE WITH THE ALBUM’S THEME.
CONCLUSION: RIFT09’S “OZYMANDIAS” IS AN AURAL EXPLORATION OF THE TRANSIENCE OF EXISTENCE AND THE INEVITABLE DECAY OF CIVILIZATIONS. ACROSS ITS SIX TRACKS, THE ALBUM TAKES THE LISTENER ON AN INTROSPECTIVE JOURNEY, USING A MIX OF ETHEREAL SOUNDS AND IMMERSIVE BEATS TO EVOKE FEELINGS OF MELANCHOLY AND REFLECTION.
1. What motivated you to choose the name Rift09 for your project? Does it have any special meaning?
Well, the truth is I'm really bad at naming things, so I was thinking a lot and couldn't find the right one, but then I found a YouTube channel with the word and it was like something that connected with me. Now, I included the number because I realized that in the vaporwave scene it's very common to include other symbols, whether from other languages or numbers, so I chose 09 because it's a lucky number for me, because it's my birthday.
2. How were your first steps in experimental music?
Well, the truth is that at first my interest was more in academic music, I listened and became obsessed with everything I heard, but there was a composer who really caught my attention, Philip Glass, and that's when I began to delve more and more into experimental music and the electronic aspect.
3. What led you to venture into genres such as ambient and vaporwave?
At first I didn't know how to classify what I was doing, because I was mixing influences from everywhere. Hip-hop and trap rhythms, harmonic movement or arrangements from academic music, basic jazz chords, inclusion of ambient sound elements and textures. It all came together, but I didn't know what it was, until a friend mentioned Aphex Twin. That's when I really found more or less a way to classify what I was doing. After that, I just wanted to explore more things, strange rhythms, melodic modes and sound textures.
4. How did you discover your interest in music and art?
Well before I started making music and studying music I had a group of friends in school and one of them got a copy of FL studio and we were planning to do something like all the big EDM producers that were popular at the time (2012-2014 more or less). After realizing that it was a bit more complicated we decided to leave it and I rediscovered my passion for music in 2019, since I felt comforted in the arts when I felt that the other aspects of my life weren't going the way I wanted. I joined my school's beginner symphonic band and that's how I decided that this is what I wanted to do.
5. What is your creative process like when working on a new piece of music?
Well, I usually start when one of two things happens. I have a visual piece that inspires me or a concept I want to work with. Then, once I have what I want to communicate with the music, I open my laptop and start experimenting with the timbres that I feel convey what I want to express. That's where the whole creative process begins.
6. What tools or programs do you use to produce your music?
I currently mainly use FL studio and do most of it through the program with plug-ins, but I have recorded a couple of instruments, specifically on the Xib'alb'a album, where I got together with a close friend and he played bass for the songs on the album.
7. Do you draw inspiration from your personal experiences or specific themes when composing?
It depends, there are many of my albums that only represent a mood or a concept and there are others where I put myself in the place of the protagonist and tell a story, metaphorically, with the music.
8. What role do emotions play in your compositions?
I think they take over completely. For example, there are albums where I'm very introspective and that's why I decide to give them a lot of atmosphere, I usually use less percussion or not so common percussion, because I want to give more space to the soundscape. There are others where I just take a genre like reggaeton and put my own spin on it. There are times where I want to question who I am and there are times where I just want to play around and have a good time.
9. How would you describe your musical style to someone who hasn't heard it before?
I think it always changes and depends on the project, but I would say that philosophically it is a very personal style, a reflection of everything I feel, how I perceive the world and how I move in it. In a literal way it is more like ambient grunge. Abrasive synths, rumbling percussion, repetitive melodies, but at the same time delicate and enveloping textures.
10. How has your music evolved from your first releases until now?
I think that with my first releases I was trying to go more outside the box, which led me to experiment with uncommon time signatures, non-standard harmonies, effects, and audio manipulation in different ways. Over time I've been concentrating on more popular stuff, like hip-hop or currently reggaeton, because that's what I've been listening to the most. Although I like that with the latest releases I've had a clearer and more refined sound compared to the first releases, where I didn't know anything about mixing or mastering.
11. What inspires you more: cityscapes, fantasy stories, or something completely different?
I don't think there's just one thing that inspires me. I always have something in my head, it can be something profound or something unimportant, but more than one thing is always in my mind. What I do for inspiration is to come up with a concept for the album and then find a way to describe what I have in my head.
12. What relationship do you find between your music and your interests in visual art and voice acting?
There is a pretty strong connection, as I have always liked visual art, despite not being that good at creating something substantial, I have always tried to get a little involved in the visual art world. I would say that sometimes it is easier to start working on music having some idea or a piece of design done. Honestly I had never considered the voice acting part that much, but I recognize that it is a very underrated branch of art, especially when combined with animation. This can elevate everything, although I have no involvement in something of this kind, I recognize that I would like to try it at some point or another.
15. Would you like to explore voice acting as an additional element in your music?
I would say yes. Maybe not for singing, because I don't feel like I have a nice voice for that, but maybe for doing little skits or interludes or something like that. I feel like it would be something interesting to try.
16. How important is narrative in your music and in the concepts you explore?
I think that's the most important thing, I feel that without a narrative, no matter how complicated, my music is directionless. In fact I prefer to work only when I have a narrative that I would like to develop. As for themes, there are many, but most of them reflect my introspective side. Most of my albums deal with themes like my depression, isolation, desire, but inability to connect with others, as well as my anxieties and fears. And sometimes it doesn't do so literally.
17. What new genres or concepts would you like to explore in the future?
Well, the truth is I'd like to explore something like the harsh noise wall, I don't know, I've always been interested in trying something like that, but I still haven't been able to figure out how I can develop a project like that. Also, I'd like to experiment with random compositions and improvisations with modular synthesizers, like VCV Rack.
18. What is your long-term vision for the Rift09 project?
I would like to continue making music, I would like to play abroad, maybe in places like Japan, England and the United States. I would like to collaborate with people within the scene and put out merch, as well as more physical copies of my albums.
19. Would you like to collaborate with other artists or producers? If so, with whom?
Sure, I have collaborated with producers before, but I would like to continue doing so. And as for who, I think my answer would be too general, as there are too many people I would like to work with, such as Sinners Club, DevSeb, Eulalie, Mabisyo, Maykretch, among others…
20. What advice would you give to those who are starting out in experimental music?
Don't try to emulate other people's styles. While it's good to have inspirations, you shouldn't try to copy so faithfully what someone else is doing. Having your own voice, I think, is the best thing you can do.
21. What message or legacy do you hope to leave through your music and your art collections?
I would like people to know who I am and I would like to give them a mental image of the layers my mind has. I would like people to feel a little of the emotions I felt when I was working on these projects.
22. What story or idea is behind your album "Mirages"?
Well, the idea came to me thanks to the job I had. I worked in party planning, so the month of December was quite busy because of the parties. For this reason, there were times when we finished the events in the early hours of the morning and early in the morning we had to continue with the next day's events. For this reason, it seemed that the same insomnia made my imagination get out of control, that's why I named it Mirages, because of those vivid thoughts that I couldn't explain except as images. In a certain way, Mirages is also a continuation, in one way or another, of the themes explored in the previous project, Nightwatchers.
23. How did the idea of creating "Whispers in the Void Vol. 1" come about?
This idea of mixing various songs from previous projects is something I've wanted to do for a while, I just didn't have the necessary mixing equipment at my disposal. Now that I have it I can do mixes and I want to continue doing mixes and I want to do sets for live events and online events.
24. What does the song "古代 - Bonus Track" mean to you, and how does it fit into your artistic vision?
In order to answer this question I would have to give some context first. The album Ozymandias, in general, is about how things end, even what was good, everything is forgotten over time. Of course, this was inspired by the poem of the same name and the main theme is how I felt at a certain point when I felt like no one was listening to my music, that I was trying for nothing and that I felt like everything I did didn’t matter anymore. And this last track is like a retrospective. The title, if I remember correctly, was something like “antiquity” in reference to the past. Even though everything ended, when it was in its prime, it was a good thing.
25. Which album or song of yours do you consider the most special and why?
I think that all the albums and EPs I have made have had a special place for me, some more than others, so choosing just one is a bit difficult, although if I had to choose the project that I liked the most in terms of the final result it would be 中からの嘘, perhaps because of the theme, the visual aesthetics or the sound result itself, I feel that this album has been one of the best I have made.
In the vast universe of independent music, artists emerge who, with humility and authenticity, share fragments of their inner world. Rift09 is one such creator who, from Guatemala, offers his listeners a window into his thoughts and emotions. On his Bandcamp profile, he describes himself as someone who "sometimes makes music," suggesting a spontaneous and natural connection with his art.
Throughout their discography, Rift09 has explored diverse sounds and themes. Albums such as "サイファー (換字式暗号)" and "Treepunk" reflect their ability to fuse influences and create unique soundscapes. This musical diversity invites reflection on identity and the passage of time, elements that seem to be central to their work.
Listening to his music, one cannot help but wonder: what personal stories and experiences are hidden behind each note and beat? The absence of detailed information about his biography adds an air of mystery, allowing each listener to build their own interpretation and connection with the music.
In a world where information overload often takes us away from the essential, Rift09 reminds us of the beauty of simplicity and authenticity. His music is a testament to the fact that sometimes words aren’t necessary; feelings and experiences can be conveyed through the melodies and harmonies he creates.
In the end, reflecting on the figure of Rift09 is to recognize that, behind every artist, there is a personal universe waiting to be discovered. And perhaps, in that discovery, we will find fragments of ourselves.