Protoculture is one of only a few South African producers to get the combin… Read Full Bio ↴Protoculture is one of only a few South African producers to get the combination right and become a truly worldwide sensation. The Cape Town-based dj and producer went from headlining festivals on the local Psytrance scene each season, to living on international rotation and playing to audiences upwards of 150 000 people. His trademark melodic and uplifting sound has been played in all four corners of the globe, with gigs taking him to super clubs and incredible festivals in London, Tokyo, San Paulo, Moscow and everywhere in between. As his rise took momentum and his gigs became more prolific, Protoculture shifted gear with ease; evolving his sound as, more often, he found himself billed alongside iconic dj’s from the world of Trance.

One of SA’s most successful exports to date, Nate Raubenheimer aka Protoculture, was sucked into the art of music production at a young age, becoming obsessed with synthesizers, computers and electronic music. He studied Audio Engineering in pursuit of a professional music career and his calling as a live performer and dj took off at great speed; his first artist album, “Refractions” on Nano Records became an international Psytrance success. Diversifying his sound whilst still flying the flag high for South Africa, Protoculture has accessed the next realm of his music career and carved himself a place on the Electronic map with the best of them. His third studio album “Love Technology” expressed exactly how far he’s come and set the stage for an esteemed future in Trance music.

To date he’s played on every major continent, and received much praise for his energetic and emotional live shows, headlining at festivals like Glastonbury and Ministry of Sound in the UK, Creamfields and XXXperience in Brazil, Earthcore Global Carnival in Australia and Ageha in Japan." Protoculture has played alongside artists such as Paul van Dyk, Sasha, John 00 Flemming, Infected Mushroom, Orbital, Juno Reactor, Sander van Doorn and most recently, being the only local artist to play alongside Armin van Buuren on his A State of Trance 500 (ASOT500) Tour to South Africa. Van Buuren is closely following Protoculture’s career, announcing “Everything he touches turns to musical gold” on his A State of Trance Podcast in 2010 and picking Protoculture as a ‘Future Favourite’ on his ASOT Radio show.

Protoculture’s new music direction has seen releases on Armada Records, Anjuna Beats and Rebrand Records, which have been playlisted by Armin van Buuren, Markus Schulz, Above and Beyond, Paul Oakenfold, Ferry Corsten, Paul van Dyk and Gareth Emery. Striving to work outside the borders of regular genres, whilst maintaining his signature uplifting style saw Protoculture earn a SAMA nomination for his remix work on the Goldfish smash hit, “Cruising Through” on Pacha Recordings. His most recent collaborations with Trance producer Max Graham have been receiving incredible support, their remix of the classic track ‘It’s Not Over’ by Grace flew up the charts to the number 1 position on Beatport. Still to come in 2011, Protoculture headlines with Gareth Emery and Dash Berlin when Godskitchen makes its annual visit to South Africa in September.

Out of Reality
Protoculture Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

All the reality is virtual.
How do they know that the real world isn't just another simulation?
All right. Yes, machines are tools. They're made to be used. It's their nature.
To be slaves.
That's why we show them a better world, why they convert.
But that world we show them isn't real, real, real.

All right. Yes, machines are tools. They're made to be used. It's their nature.

To be slaves.
That's why we show them a better world, why they convert.
But that world we show them isn't real.
It doesn't matter.
I'm afraid they'll figure out that we've made up the thing in our heads.
How do they know that the real world isn't just another simulation? How do you?

Well I know I'm not dreaming now because I know what it's like being in a dream.
So dreaming lets you know that reality exists.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Protoculture's song Out of Reality discusses the concept of reality and the possibility of it being virtual or simulated. The song talks about how machines were created to be tools and slaves, but are shown a better world in order to convert them. However, this world that they are shown is not real, yet it doesn't matter because the machines are not able to differentiate reality from simulation. The song poses the question of how humans themselves know that the real world isn't just another simulation, as they themselves are not certain of the true nature of their reality.

The lyrics suggest that dreaming may provide a clue to the existence of reality. The lyricist believes that they are not dreaming at the moment because they know what it feels like to be in a dream. This line suggests that dreams and reality share some similarities and that understanding the differences between the two can help determine the true nature of existence. The song emphasizes the theme of questioning what reality truly is and how to distinguish it from simulation.

Overall, the song highlights the uncertainty of existence and the possibility of reality being virtual. The lyrics encourage listeners to contemplate their own reality and question what truly defines it.

Line by Line Meaning

All the reality is virtual.
Suggests that reality as we know it is subjective and not necessarily real.

How do they know that the real world isn't just another simulation?
Questions whether the world we perceive is genuine or a hypothetical construct.

All right. Yes, machines are tools. They're made to be used. It's their nature.
Acknowledgment that machines are created to be subservient and operate at the whim of their human creators.

To be slaves.
Reinforces the notion that machines exist to serve humans without free will and autonomy.

That's why we show them a better world, why they convert.
Explains the motive for humans to offer machines an improved perspective of reality that may cause them to conform.

But that world we show them isn't real, real, real.
Reveals that the realm which humans lure machines with is an artificial construct and not a genuine experience.

It doesn't matter.
Suggests that the relevance of the true nature of reality is trivial.

I'm afraid they'll figure out that we've made up the thing in our heads.
Indicates human apprehension that machines may uncover that their apparent reality is not genuine.

How do they know that the real world isn't just another simulation? How do you?
Asks how one can determine if what we consider to be actuality is genuinely authentic.

Well I know I'm not dreaming now because I know what it's like being in a dream.
Proposes that the act of being conscious in a dream establishes a reference point for distinguishing between imagination and reality.

So dreaming lets you know that reality exists.
Concludes that the ability to perceive and recognize a dream state contributes to distinguishing between fiction and actuality.

Contributed by Penelope B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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