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.
Imitation
I:Scintilla Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Real followers through deception
Know I won't be in unison
Force another shallow connection
Pass it all by think
You're still at the center
Let it all waste away as you sit and ignore
Believe they never knew before you entered
CHORUS
Go play off another cliche
Call it all your own
I'll hold onto the things
That you've never known
Find yourself held to common boundaries
Down beyond the tortured rhythmic spell
By distorted and disposable ideals
Past the depths and perils of manmade hell
You try to fill your voids with avoidance
Then follow footsteps in manipulation
Part of the chain is all you've ever been
And question intensions of the misshapened
[Imitation]
CHORUS
View truth through what you find sacred
Contrast should not be feared
If you want my submission
You won't find it here
For that bright hope at last
And that light time have past
And my worldly rest hath gone
With a sigh as it passed on
Let none of earth inherit
That vision of my spirit
Those thoughts I would control
As a spell upon his soul
CHORUS
View truth through what you find sacred
Contrast should not be feared
If you want my submission
You won't find it here
The lyrics to I:Scintilla's "Imitation" speak to the idea of conformity and how people often blindly follow others in order to fit in and be accepted. The opening lines "Believe you're the only one, Real followers through deception, Know I won't be in unison, Force another shallow connection" point to the fact that many people feel like they are unique, but in reality, they are following others without even realizing it. The chorus "Go play off another cliche, Call it all your own, I'll hold onto the things, That you've never known" highlights the idea that people often try to claim things as their own, but in reality, they are just imitating what others have done before them.
The lyrics also speak to the idea of finding one's own truth and not being afraid to embrace what sets you apart from others. Lines like "Find yourself held to common boundaries" and "Part of the chain is all you've ever been" speak to the fact that people often feel trapped by societal norms and expectations. However, the line "View truth through what you find sacred, Contrast should not be feared" points to the importance of embracing who you truly are and not being afraid of being different or standing out. The final chorus "If you want my submission, You won't find it here" reinforces the idea that the singer is not willing to conform to others' expectations and will instead stay true to themselves.
Line by Line Meaning
Believe you're the only one
You have this arrogant belief that you're the only one who knows the truth.
Real followers through deception
Your followers are only following you because you're deceiving them by not showing them the whole truth.
Know I won't be in unison
I'm not going to agree with you or join you in your beliefs.
Force another shallow connection
You're trying to forcefully make a connection with me, but it's superficial and lacking depth.
Pass it all by think
You're ignoring everything that's happening around you and thinking only about yourself.
You're still at the center
You're so self-centered that you think everything revolves around you.
Let it all waste away as you sit and ignore
You're content to let everything else decay and fall apart while you remain oblivious to it all.
Believe they never knew before you entered
You're delusional in thinking that you're the only one who has ever had the knowledge or wisdom that you possess.
Like the others that came far before
There have been many before you who thought they had all the answers, but they were just as misguided as you are now.
Go play off another cliche
You rely on overused and unoriginal ideas instead of creating something new or unique.
Call it all your own
You claim ownership of everything you do, even if it's not truly your own creation.
I'll hold onto the things
I'm going to guard my own beliefs and opinions from being influenced by your shallow ideas.
That you've never known
You're completely oblivious to a lot of important concepts and ideas that I know about.
Find yourself held to common boundaries
You're trapped by societal norms and expectations, limiting your ability to think and create outside the box.
Down beyond the tortured rhythmic spell
You're stuck in a monotonous cycle of behavior and thought that's slowly crushing your creativity and spirit.
By distorted and disposable ideals
Your values and beliefs are warped and shallow, and easily discarded whenever it's convenient.
Past the depths and perils of manmade hell
You've gone beyond the deepest and most dangerous areas of a poisonous and destructive world created by humans.
You try to fill your voids with avoidance
You attempt to fill the emptiness within you by avoiding confrontations and challenges, instead of facing them head-on.
Then follow footsteps in manipulation
You try to lead others by manipulating them into following you, instead of inspiring them with honesty and vulnerability.
Part of the chain is all you've ever been
You're nothing but a small part in a long chain of people who have tried and failed to create something truly unique or valuable.
And question intensions of the misshapened
You're suspicious of those who don't fit into your narrow worldview, viewing them as flawed or misshapen.
View truth through what you find sacred
You should look for truth in the things that matter most to you, not blindly accept what others tell you to believe.
Contrast should not be feared
Don't shy away from conflicting ideas or opinions, as they can often lead to growth and greater understanding.
If you want my submission
If you're trying to control me or force me to agree with you, you're not going to succeed.
You won't find it here
I'm not going to submit to someone whose ideals and beliefs are shallow and devoid of true meaning.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
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