I:Scintilla is a post-industrial music band from Chicago, Illinois, current… Read Full Bio ↴I:Scintilla is a post-industrial music band from Chicago, Illinois, currently consisting of Brittany Bindrim (vocals/lyrics), Jim Cookas (guitar/programming), Vincent Grech (drums), Dean Dunakin (bass) and Myles Arwine (guitar). They are currently signed to Belgian label Alfa Matrix.

To date, they have released four studio albums and four EPs.

History
Early Years and The Approach (2002-2004)
I:Scintilla was conceptualized in Champaign, IL in Jim Cookas' bedroom in October 2002. In January 2003, Chad Mines joined the group as bassist followed shortly by Jason Allen on guitar and programming in March. Upon formation, they immediately began writing their debut album, The Approach while still searching for a vocalist. Many singers were auditioned before finding Brittany Bindrim, who they found to be a perfect fit. The album was finished and self-released on July 29, 2004. The album contained early versions of many songs that would appear on later albums.

Alfa-Matrix and Havestar (2005-2006)
After a previously full year of nonstop live performances, I:Scintilla was discovered and signed by Belgian electro label Alfa-Matrix. In March 2005, Jason Allen left the band and Chad Mines moved to guitar. Bethany Whisenhunt was brought on to play bass.The band continued to work on the release of its first EP, Havestar, while providing material for a future full-length album.

The Havestar EP was released by Alfa-Matrix in the summer of 2006. In addition to a few re-mastered songs from The Approach, remixes by Combichrist, Diskonnekted, Neikka RPM, Implant, and Klutae are included.

The Havestar EP also highlights the first collaboration with producer and artist Wade Alin, who is known for music works Christ Analogue, The Atomica Project, and Scanalyzer. This collaborative process adds a consistent working sound quality that carries forward to I:Scintilla's following full-length album Optics.

After its release, Havestar peaked at #13 on the Deutsche Alternative Charts Top 20 Singles list.

Optics and The Immortal Tour (2007-2008)
I:Scintilla released their second full-length album Optics in June 2007. The album consisted of many older, reworked songs as well as multiple new releases. Optics was released in single-CD format as well as a two-disc edition, containing a second disc entirely of remixes by bands such as Combichrist, Clan of Xymox, and Ego Likeness.

While this album was being made, Mines and Whisenhunt departed the band. Instead of replacing the members, Jim Cookas began programming the bass parts and played all of the guitar parts.

Optics peaked at #6 on the Deutsche Alternative Charts Top 10 Albums list, and was featured in multiple alternative magazines. Preceding the album release, I:Scintilla performed at Wave-Gotik-Treffen in May 2007.

I:Scintilla joined with the then-Tallahassee-based darkwave band The Crüxshadows and Canadian electro act Ayria for the U.S. stretch of The Crüxshadows' Immortal Tour in 2008. At this point, the band incorporated two new members, Justin Pogue (keytarist) and Vincent Grech (drums). Up until then, the drums had all been done through a drum machine.

Dying & Falling (2009-2011)
In 2009, keytarist Justin Pogue left the band and moved to Florida, where he was a DJ under the name DJ Halon at the now-closed Club Rayn's popular Industrial music and Alternative Rock night, Blue Monday. In the band he was replaced by Brent Leitner (guitar/programming).

On December 4, 2009, I:Scintilla released an EP titled Prey On You. The EP contained three new songs and five remixes of these songs. Two songs, Prey On You and Ammunition, were later released on I:Scintilla's third full-length album Dying & Falling (formerly called Redshift), which was released on November 26, 2010. Like Optics, this album was released with a single disc version and a limited edition containing a second disc. This second disc contained the third song from the Prey On You, another previously unreleased track, and nine remixes.

Over the next year I:Scintilla toured lightly, with most of their shows being in their hometown of Chicago. Around December 2012, Brandon Chase was brought in to fill the long empty bass position, making the band a quintet. However, he left I:Scintilla the following August to focus on his own bands.

The Marrow EPs (2012-Current)
In 2012, I:Scintilla announced they would be releasing a series of EPs entitled "Marrow". The first of these EPs, Marrow 1, was released on October 15, 2012. This album was a dramatic change in musical styles. Abandoning their signature metal-electronica style, this album had a more acoustic sound to it. With five tracks, Marrow 1 contained one new song, Drag Along, two reworked versions from songs previously on Dying & Falling, as well as two covers.

Shortly after the December 12, 2012 release of Marrow 1, a new single was digitally released containing a new song, Skin Tight, and two remixes of Skin Tight. A month later, I:Scintilla announced a remix contest for Skin Tight as well as a new album, Marrow 2. The winning remix artist would have their song featured on the upcoming album. The band received 64 submissions and allowed their fan base to vote on which song should be included on the album. The votes were cast in a unique fashion counting cash donations as votes. All proceeds from the votes were donated to the Amnesty International charity.

Marrow 2 was released on May 2, 2013 and marked a return to their signature style. The album contains four new studio recordings as well as four remixes.

In January 2013, Brittany Bindrim launched her own company, Black Dove Design Company. The company focuses on graphic design, programming, and fine arts. The Marrow series album covers are all illustrated by Brittany and are part of her illustration portfolio for Black Dove.

On September 21, 2018, i:Scintilla released Swayed, their first full-length studio album in nine years.

Havestar
I:Scintilla Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Subversive mystics
Taking over you
Spent my self worth
On your unworthy soul
But i will regain the toll

The past is all that remains
Over skies turned black,

Blue and gray

Capture the wreckage
That holds strong to your restrain
These words will stain
You said shred
Trust here in now
But i found new eyes to clear

The past is all that remains
Over skies turned black,
Blue and gray

Through a shield of fears
You say return
But your hand led me here

Sorry i broke your calm
Over so many storms
But you crawled onto night
So i shine

The past is all that remains
Over skies turned black,
Blue and gray

Capture the wreckage

That holds strong to your restrain
These words will stain

Overall Meaning

In the song "Havestar" by I:Scintilla, the lyrics depict a story of a relationship that has gone sour. The singer refers to the person they were with as "subversive mystics," suggesting that this person was intriguing and alluring but ultimately harmful. Despite knowing that the relationship was toxic, the singer gave themselves over to it completely, sacrificing their own self-worth for someone who was not deserving. However, the singer declares that they will "regain the toll," indicating a newfound determination to take back control of their own life.

The chorus of the song repeats the line, "The past is all that remains over skies turned black, blue and gray," which can be interpreted as a reference to nostalgia and the emotional weight of memories. The singer is acknowledging that even though the relationship has ended, the memories of it still linger and affect them deeply. But despite this, they are moving forward and "shining" in the present.

Later in the song, the lines "Through a shield of fears / You say return / But your hand led me here" further illustrate the singer's conflicting feelings about their former partner. Although part of them wants to go back to the safety of the known, they realize that the relationship was ultimately damaging and they need to move on.

Overall, "Havestar" is a compelling and emotionally charged song that explores the complexities of love and loss.

Line by Line Meaning

Subversive mystics
People with radical beliefs that go against the norm.

Taking over you
Influencing and dominating one's mindset.

Spent my self worth
Dedicated too much of oneself to another person.

On your unworthy soul
Invested in someone who doesn't deserve it.

But i will regain the toll
Reclaiming ownership of oneself.

The past is all that remains
Nothing can change what has already happened.

Over skies turned black, Blue and gray
Referring to a time of sadness and despair.

Capture the wreckage
Retaining the remnants of the damage done.

That holds strong to your restrain
The emotional burdens that restrict one's freedom.

These words will stain
The memory of the hurtful things said will not go away.