Founded by Arnold and Donikian in 2000, Hypnogaja originated as an electronic studio project with early collaborator, keyboardist Sean "Dr." Brooks. As a live show began to develop, members and collaborators were added to the fold, including Grammy award nominated guitarist/producer Jean-Yves "Jeeve" Ducornet. Hypnogaja's sound evolved into new dimensions with the incorporation of rock influences into the group's initial electronic foundation. The band tours consistently and has performed shows to audiences throughout the U.S. and Canada, and has opened for bands such as Shinedown, Saliva, 311, Cold and many others.
Grammy nominated songwriter Wendy Waldman helmed production duties for Hypnogaja's live acoustic album, Acoustic Sunset: Live At The Longhouse. The band previously collaborated with Waldman on two songs - "Killing Time" and "Outside, Looking In" - from the album "Post-Hypnotic Stress Disorder". The latter song was featured as the end title of the NBC Movie "Carrie" a remake of the Brian DePalma film based on the classic Stephen King novel.
Hypnogaja's latest studio recording, Truth Decay, was released by Union State Records in June 2009. The fourteen-track, science fiction-tinged concept album includes the song "Welcome To The Future," featuring Richard Dodd of The Section Quartet on cello. The album was released to strong reviews, including a 9 out of 10 star rating from Outburn Magazine, which noted it as an "expertly crafted album." The LP's first single, "The March," spawned a music video directed by ASC Award-winning cinematographer Nelson Craggand and writer/producer Marius Markevicius
Various television shows, motion pictures and soundtracks have featured Hypnogaja’s music, including America’s Next Top Model, Carrie, Cold Creek Manor, Dirt , Las Vegas, One Life To Live, Roswell, Sex And The City, Tru Calling, Valentine and many others.
Author Frank Beddor featured Hypnogaja's Alice in Wonderland-themed song, "Looking Glass" (from the Below Sunset album) on the soundtrack for the audio book version of his 2006 NY Times Best Seller, The Looking Glass Wars. In 2007, the Warner Bros. Interactive game, FlatOut: Ultimate Carnage, used the band's song "They Don't Care" (another track from Below Sunset), which was also placed - that same year - as the theme song for the Versus network's Red, White, Black and Blue Summer promo trailer. In 2008, Hypnogaja frontman, ShyBoy, co-wrote and performed two songs ("The Time Has Come" and "Shall Never Surrender") featured in the Capcom video game, The Devil May Cry 4 (the latter track appearing as the game's end title and both songs appearing on the accompanying, official Sony Music soundtrack). In 2009, Tapulous featured the Hypnogaja song "Things Will Never Be The Same" (from the Truth Decay LP) in the iPhone and iPod touch game, Tap Tap Revenge 3.
Several technology companies have featured Hypnogaja's music in noteworthy articles and promotional materials, and have invited the band to participate in events. Apple computers posted an in-depth interview and story on the band's experience in using Macs in the realms of recording, touring and promotion. AOL Music's Noisecreep property featured an interview with Hypnogaja about the concept behind Truth Decay, and offered an exclusive, free download of the song, "Worship Me (I'm On TV)." Microsoft Windows featured free downloads of two songs from Truth Decay - "Rusty Moon" and "Cellar Door" - on promotions tied to its Windows 7 release, including a slot in the January 2010 Windows Media Guide.
Hypnogaja performed at the first annual 140tc (Twitter Conference), held in Los Angeles in September 2009. In consideration of the band's success in utilizing social networking to grow its fan base (Hypnogaja has reached over one million followers on the site), keyboardist Donikian was invited to serve as one of the speakers during the conference's music panel, which also included Chamillionaire, Curt Smith of Tears for Fears and several notable music industry executives. The band rounded out 2009 with a Best Alternative Artist win at the Hollywood Music in Media Awards, performing "Welcome To The Future" at the November awards ceremony. In November 2010, Arnold won the Hollywood Music in Media Award for Best Male Vocal for his performance of the Donna Summer classic hit, "On the Radio," (released in January 2010 by Union State Records as the bonus track on the Hypnogaja digital 45, Welcome to the Future / On the Radio).
Hypnogaja's current lineup of Arnold, Donikian, Barnardo (member since 2004), Farrar (member since 2008) and Parker (member since 2009) performed an official showcase at SXSW '10 in Austin, TX and the group continues to tour and perform webcasts consistently. In July 2010, the band appeared on the debut episode of the web series, Stripped Down Live with Curt Smith (of Tears for Fears). On February 15, 2011, Union State Records is scheduled to release a new Hypnogaja digital EP entitled Dark Star which will contain a remix of the song "Dark Star" (featuring Slimkid3 of The Pharcyde). Later in 2011, there are plans to release Arnold's debut solo album (under the name ShyBoy) as well as plans to start recording a new Hypnogaja studio album.
The Dawn
Hypnogaja Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Now there's no need to cry or wonder why
Fly into the heavens, I beckon to the angels to come down
Before the sun starts to hit the ground
'Round, 'round go the wheels in my head
I dread the light 'cause I fight
And I might end up dead
I said all that's on my mental
Can you tell me why, why do I hate?
Questions demand answers
But there's no answers to my questions
Can you point me in the right direction?
Dark demands light, but there's no light in my darkness
Can you show me how to spark this?
Death demands life, but my life is full of death
Can you tell me if I'm taking in my last breath?
On demands off, but there's no off to my on
Can you tell me if it's heaven or hell beyond the dawn?
What lies beyond the dawn
Is it enough to keep moving on
What lies beyond the dawn
Is it enough to keep moving on
I'm sittin', spitten and rewritten
Fittin' all thoughts into my mind speak
So I try to peep what's unique
Weak mental, transcendental comes down around
Try to put some action to my words
But my verbs are gagged and bound
Sound trickles in my ear and round ripples of my fear
Tell me that we can see that yes, the dawn is near
Fear not the spot that awaits you in your fate
But what I really want to know is it love or is it hate?
I'm sippin' water not coffee, comin' off me is the vibe
To strive to stay alive and just ride the ride
Slide slid down the wall, and crawled down the well
Are you swell, or do you dwell inside a personal hell?
The time is coming, hear you running from the fate that comes
Do you feel every pain, or do you go out numb?
Succumb to the reality-mentality, don't know right from wrong
The list goes on and on, just bring on the dawn
The lyrics of Hypnogaja's song The Dawn are introspective and delve into themes of existential crises, the struggle between light and dark, life and death, heaven and hell. The opening verse describes the singer's state of mind as they smoke under the moonlight and take flight into the heavens. The singer asks for answers to their questions and direction to find the light in their darkness. The chorus repeats the phrase "What lies beyond the dawn, is it enough to keep moving on," which suggests that the singer is questioning the meaning of life and what comes after it.
The second verse depicts the singer's attempt to understand their thoughts and to put them into action. They are afraid of what awaits them in the future and question whether it is love or hate. The final verse speaks of the inevitability of fate and the struggles of life, urging the listener to face their reality instead of numbing themselves to it.
The lyrics of The Dawn are open-ended and can be interpreted in multiple ways. Still, most people agree that it is a song about the search for meaning in life, the fear of death, and the struggle to find one's place in the world.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm smokin' trees under the moonlight flight right into the sky
I am smoking marijuana under the moon's light while flying through the sky.
Now there's no need to cry or wonder why
I am free from sadness and confusion.
Fly into the heavens, I beckon to the angels to come down
I am traveling towards heaven and calling angels to join me.
Before the sun starts to hit the ground
I want to reach my destination before sunrise.
'Round, 'round go the wheels in my head
My mind is going in circles.
I dread the light 'cause I fight
I do not like daylight because it makes me anxious.
And I might end up dead
I fear something bad will happen to me.
I said all that's on my mental
I am expressing my thoughts and emotions.
The incidental turns into fate—wait
Small events can shape destiny.
Can you tell me why, why do I hate?
I am asking for someone to explain why I feel dislike towards something or someone.
Questions demand answers
Asking questions requires receiving answers.
But there's no answers to my questions
I cannot find answers to my inquiries.
Can you point me in the right direction?
I want someone to guide me towards a solution.
Dark demands light, but there's no light in my darkness
In order to escape sadness, happiness is needed but I cannot find happiness.
Can you show me how to spark this?
I am requesting someone to teach me how to find happiness.
Death demands life, but my life is full of death
For someone to live, they must not experience death but I feel surrounded by death.
Can you tell me if I'm taking in my last breath?
I need someone to confirm if I am about to die.
On demands off, but there's no off to my on
If something is turned on, it can be turned off but I cannot turn off my feelings.
Can you tell me if it's heaven or hell beyond the dawn?
I want to know if what lies ahead is good or bad.
What lies beyond the dawn
I am wondering about what is to come tomorrow.
Is it enough to keep moving on
I am questioning if the future is worth continuing towards.
I'm sittin', spitten and rewritten
I am seated and expressively speaking about my life.
Fittin' all thoughts into my mind speak
I am organizing my thoughts and vocalizing them.
So I try to peep what's unique
I am attempting to see what sets me apart.
Weak mental, transcendental comes down around
My thoughts are fragile and I am seeking enlightenment.
Try to put some action to my words
I am trying to follow through with my spoken intentions.
But my verbs are gagged and bound
Something is holding me back from acting on my intentions.
Sound trickles in my ear and round ripples of my fear
I hear noises and feel anxious because of them.
Tell me that we can see that yes, the dawn is near
I want someone to confirm that the future is brighter.
Fear not the spot that awaits you in your fate
Do not worry about what destiny has in store for you.
But what I really want to know is it love or is it hate?
I am questioning whether I should feel positive or negative emotions.
I'm sippin' water not coffee, comin' off me is the vibe
I am drinking water and emanating a certain energy.
To strive to stay alive and just ride the ride
I am trying to survive and enjoy my experiences.
Slide slid down the wall, and crawled down the well
I fell to the ground and then slid into a deep depression.
Are you swell, or do you dwell inside a personal hell?
Are you well or do you feel trapped in misery?
The time is coming, hear you running from the fate that comes
The future approaches and I hear you trying to escape it.
Do you feel every pain, or do you go out numb?
Do you acknowledge your emotions or suppress them?
Succumb to the reality-mentality, don't know right from wrong
I am submitting to the truth but am unsure about what is the correct path.
The list goes on and on, just bring on the dawn
I have many concerns and questions but am ready for the future to arrive.
Contributed by Joseph P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.