In the creative landscape where music and technology intersect, few artists embody this fusion as deeply as Tejas Nair, known in the industry as Spryk. With the release of his latest EP, Afterglow, Spryk not only expands the boundaries of electronic music but also invites listeners into his story where AI and human emotion converge.
In a recent conversation, Spryk opened up about his journey, creative philosophy, and the forces that shaped Afterglow. Here’s a closer look at the artist’s vision, process, and what’s next for him.
Exploring the Inspiration Behind Afterglow
For Spryk, Afterglow didn’t start with a single spark of inspiration. Instead, it was born from an inquiry that began years earlier with a commissioned set at Magnetic Fields Festival. This exploration questioned the relentless human pursuit of improvement—faster, stronger, smarter—an obsession that echoes across technology, culture, and society. As he puts it, “Humanity’s quest for this apex point drives everything, from art to technology. Yet, there is no real apex; it’s cyclical, almost ironic.”
This inquiry deepened during the pandemic, which forced him to reflect as the world seemingly paused. As he processed this disruption, he noted the ironic chase of technology towards a ‘better’ future, one that still tends to look back for inspiration. The irony, he noted, “was inescapable when the world itself came to a halt just as I completed this project about our endless pursuit forward.”
An Artist in the Age of AI
Spryk’s relationship with AI is complex, a mix of fascination and critique. Having worked with machine learning tools since 2017, he witnessed firsthand how AI could amplify creativity. Yet, he also noticed a cultural irony: people’s initial response to AI creations was often, “Make it more human.”
In his words, “Humans created a tool meant to be smarter, yet we’re asking it to do things as we would.”
This reflection became a central theme in Afterglow, and he imagined AI as a tool that dreams about human existence, much like we dream about a better future. Spryk’s vision was to explore the emotional depth AI could achieve, creating a soundscape that reflects both human and machine experiences.
“It’s funny but also profound. We build these systems, feed them data, and then ask them to reflect our humanity back to us,” he shared with a laugh.
A Fusion of Chaos and Order in Creative Process
Describing his creative process, Spryk refers to it as “creating chaos and finding order.” For Afterglow, he drew from a variety of experiences: running a video game company, organizing festivals, and building AI-based visuals. Balancing so many projects and roles, he admits, has become his way of finding inspiration.
“I get bored quickly. If I can do five things at once, I’ll do five things,” he explained.
For Afterglow, this meant a collaborative effort, a blend of technology and artistry. Collaborators like Sid, helped bring hundreds of video clips to life, while Denver and others in his team contributed to the cohesive show experience.
“It’s never just me,” he emphasized. “My team, the festivals, the people who support these ideas—they’re all part of this crazy vision.”
Visual Storytelling: A Key Element in Afterglow
Spryk’s approach to storytelling is inherently visual. Working with artists like Prajwal, who designed the EP cover and tour visuals, he crafted an experience that reflects his belief in the primacy of visual impact. “Humans respond to what they see first,” he explained. This concept seems to have guided his A/V show, where lights work in sync with music to evoke specific emotions.
When creating each track, Spryk imagines scenes, colors, and even historical contexts for his AI-driven visuals. He used AI tools to experiment with audio-reactive visuals, where environments like deserts transforming into forests or cities pulse in time with his music. This interplay of sound and vision becomes the backbone of his show, leaving audiences immersed in an AI dreamscape.
The Turning Point: Looking Inward for Inspiration
After years of exploring technology, science, and AI, Afterglow marks a transition point in Spryk’s career. “This project is a bit of a sign-off from that space,” he revealed. He expressed a desire to look inward, to rediscover and represent his roots. Growing up in Bombay, his musical influences range from Hindustani classical to hip hop and folk.
“I didn’t grow up with electronic music or thoughts on AI. I grew up listening to Hindustani classical on All India Radio and watching MTV. There’s so much I haven’t expressed yet.”
Spryk’s future projects aim to blend his cultural heritage with his experiences abroad, from his teenage years in Australia to his time in Dubai. As he wraps up Afterglow and looks forward to new endeavors, Spryk remains a unique voice in the world of electronic music.
He leaves us with a sense of anticipation—not just for what’s next, but for the unknown spaces he’ll uncover as he dives deeper into his own story. And if Afterglow is any indication, his journey promises to be as thought-provoking as it is visually and sonically immersive.
