Struggle is a natural part of the creative process for many artists. For Shikhee, the one-woman army behind industrial act Android Lust, struggle became downright essential to the production of the fourth Android Lust album, The Human Animal. Not by choice, of course: Nearly a decade after debuting as the first one-woman industrial act, the Bangladeshi-born New Yorker found herself burnt out from balancing a music career with what some might call “real life.”
The process of making 2006’s Devour, Rise and Take Flight ws “a very trying period,” says Shikhee. “I was coming home from my job around 9 or 10, and then mixing till 2 or 3, only to get back up and get to work at 9 again. I was barely sleeping and losing weight.” Problems with her record label compounded her frustration; the heavy touring season that followed, prolonged it.
When the album cycle finally wrapped, Shikhee returned home to face some familiar fears. “It’s always a bit scary. I start to doubt myself, reacquaint myself with my studio . . . and wonder if I can still do it,” she says. “It took until late 2007 to get back to writing.”
The Human Animal is undeniable proof that she can, indeed, still “do it.” After two albums on preeminent electronic-music label Projekt Records, Shikhee released Animal in August 2010 on her own Synthellec Music. In production for more than two years, this is the work of an artist reinvigorated by the creative process, adding a new set of colors to her signature sonic palette. “It just happened one day after we came back from our tour,” Shikhee recalls. “Songs just started flooding.”
The flood was triggered in part by Shikhee’s decision to work with her live band in the studio for the first time. “In the past I played all the guitars and some bass [in addition to electronic instruments], but now I had access to these really talented musicians and I wanted to bring that touch in the studio. So I wrote parts for them, parts that were beyond my playing ability.”
The mix of live instruments and processed sounds isn’t new for an Android Lust recording—2003’s breakthrough The Dividing featured live drums, string and wind instrument—but never have those sounds figured so prominently as they do on The Human Animal. The slippery undertones of “A New Heaven” are revealed to be an upright bass; pockets of classical guitar propel “Into the Sun”; the overdriven guitars on “Saint Over” surge forth with the spark of vintage Nine Inch Nails. It’s the most organic-sounding Android Lust record while losing none of the unrelenting sonic edge of prior releases.
It’s not just the live instrumentation that brings the album uncharacteristic warmth. Shikhee took to the streets of New York City with a portable recorder, collecting noises that would be used to form rhythms and ambiance throughout the record. The sounds of a screeching subway, a crowded restaurant, geese, pigeons, and a Barnes & Noble escalator all found their way into the mix.
And Shikhee has never sounded better, her whisper-to-a-scream vocals on a par with Polly Jean Harvey (“It’s On You”) and Ruby’s Leslie Rankine (“God in the Hole”).
For an artist whose overarching aesthetic has sought to blur the line between human and machine, Shikhee here sets her sights on the battle between the physical and the spiritual. Much of The Human Animal is about tapping into the deeper well of universal energy within to find true meaning, freeing oneself (the human) from the imprisonment of ego (the animal). “A New Heaven” sums up the central query: “Are we the ones we are seeking under this sun?”
But despite the sometimes reflective tone this is not music for meditation. The Human Animal’s 10 songs, plus a Jerome Dillon remix of “God in the Hole” to close the disc, pulse and pound, posing both an invitation and a challenge to the listener. Welcome to the age of enlightenment for Android Lust.
- by John Brodeur
It's On You
Android Lust Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's on you
Did I steal your land
It's on you
Was I talking down
It's on you
Did I hide did I run
Oh glory
Did you see my rage
Oh glory
Do you believe in anger
Oh glory
It's the only thing that matters
We're forever apart
But the blame's on you
So I broke your heart
But the blame's on you
I know I am in denial
But the blame's on you
I see just fine through Texan blinders
I will do as I please
Oh glory
Rewrite history
Oh glory
Shout and stomp my feet
Oh glory
Show me no wound I swear I will scream
Am I causing you harm
It's on you
I've got my rich boy charm
It's on you
I'll stay or walk as I want
It's on you
damn you It's my way or no way
We're forever apart
But the blame's on you
So I broke your heart
But the blame's on you
I know I am in denial
But the blame's on you
I never cared enough to work it out
The lyrics of Android Lust's song "It's on You" suggest a sense of blame and defiance in a relationship. The opening lines - "Did I burn your hand/It's on you/Did I steal your land/It's on you" - imply a refusal to take responsibility for one's actions, as if to suggest that the other person should have known better. The repeated phrase "It's on you" further emphasizes this stubbornness.
The following lines - "Was I talking down/It's on you/Did I hide did I run" - suggest a pattern of behavior that is defensive and dismissive, as if the singer is trying to deflect blame at every turn. The chorus - "Do you believe in anger/ Oh glory/It's the only thing that matters" - suggests that the singer values anger as a means of control and expression, regardless of its destructive consequences.
The lines "We're forever apart/But the blame's on you/So I broke your heart/But the blame's on you" suggest a relationship that has already ended, but that the singer is still unwilling to accept responsibility for. The repeated refrain "I know I am in denial/But the blame's on you" further highlights the singer's reluctance to take ownership of their actions. The overall theme of the song seems to be a struggle for power and control, even at the cost of losing a relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
Did I burn your hand
If I caused you any physical pain or injury, you should hold me accountable for it.
Did I steal your land
If I have infringed upon your property rights or territorial sovereignty, it is your right to seek restitution from me.
Was I talking down
If I unintentionally made you feel inferior or disrespected you, I apologize. However, I cannot control your reaction to my words.
Did I hide did I run
If my actions have caused you to feel betrayed or abandoned, you should recognize that I am not in control of your emotions, and you should confront me directly.
Did you hear my speech
I am proud of my views and beliefs, and I want to share them with others, even if they cause controversy or conflict.
Did you see my rage
Sometimes, I get angry and show my frustration, but that is a natural human emotion, and I do not believe it is wrong to express it.
Do you believe in anger
I believe that anger is a powerful motivator for change and progress, and I will not shy away from using it to achieve my goals.
We're forever apart
Even though we are no longer together, I still hold you responsible for the mistakes in our past relationship.
But the blame's on you
Regardless of my role in the breakdown of our relationship, I refuse to accept any responsibility for it and place all the blame on you.
I know I am in denial
Deep down, I may recognize that I am responsible for some of the problems in our relationship, but I am unwilling to face my flaws and accept my share of the blame.
I see just fine through Texan blinders
I am proud of my Texan heritage and identity, and I believe that it shapes my perspective and actions in a positive way, even if others may not understand it.
I will do as I please
I am fiercely independent and will not let anyone else dictate my decisions or actions.
Rewrite history
I believe that my version of events is the true one and will not hesitate to distort or misrepresent the facts to suit my narrative.
Shout and stomp my feet
When I feel passionately about something, I will raise my voice and make my presence known, even if it means causing a scene.
Show me no wound I swear I will scream
If someone has hurt me or betrayed me, I demand that they acknowledge and apologize for their wrongdoing, or I will react with aggression and hostility.
Am I causing you harm
If my behavior is causing you emotional or psychological distress, it is your responsibility to speak up and let me know how you feel.
I've got my rich boy charm
I recognize that my wealth and status give me certain advantages and privileges, and I am not ashamed to use them to my advantage.
I'll stay or walk as I want
I am not beholden to anyone else's desires or needs and will do what I think is best for myself, even if it means leaving someone behind.
damn you It's my way or no way
I will not compromise or listen to other people's perspectives if they conflict with my own, and anyone who tries to force me to do so will face my wrath.
I never cared enough to work it out
Despite any previous claims to the contrary, I admit that I did not value our relationship enough to put in the effort required to resolve our issues and make it work.
Contributed by London N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.