Nothing makes music more exciting than an artist’s dedication. Nathania Rubin, aka Agora Sci-Fi, is one such example of someone who is truly committed to her art. In general, Rubin is a creative mind through and through, having worked in film, animation and as an art professor. So, it comes as no surprise that for ‘Portals’, her first musical release as a solo artist, she is going all in. Not only does she write music, designs her cover art and her music videos – for this project, her work as Agora Sci-Fi, she has created music centered around a fictional character trapped in a fictional world.
‘Portals’ invites its listeners to take a first step into this world made up by Rubin, starting off with a strong, heavy electric guitar which makes it clear right off the bat that the song is going in an indie rock direction. However, the track then fuses elements of several different genres, leaning into lo-fi and treating us to a bit of a euphoric pop feeling. The overall vibe of ‘Portals’ is reminiscent of some of NewDad’s best work, the American equivalent to their Irish sound if you will.
The runtime of four minutes allows listeners to properly immerse themselves in the world Agora Sci-Fi has created – which does have striking similarities with our own world. This project is the perfect example of protest and criticism wrapped in clever storytelling. As it’s giving us a glimpse into a dystopian world, the song conveys real feelings, dealing with subjects relatable even to those who are not trapped in a parallel universe. Because while the main character is navigating her world, she realises that she’ll still always find her way back to that one person; a sensation that will certainly sound familiar to a lot of people.
‘Portals’ is the beginning of Nathania Rubin’s work as Agora Sci-Fi, and it’s a most promising start. Later this year, we can expect to hear the next chapter of the story on her upcoming EP ‘Finding It Hard to Explain Something so Obvious’.
Written by: Melanie Falkensteiner
Edited by: Noah F.
