SOUND OF MUSIC: EVOKING INGENUITY FROM IGOR’S SYNTHETIC SOUND

IGOR starts slow and unexpected — a 22-second distorted bass synth in E flat, followed by a building drum beat. Then, the lyrics come in: “Ride around town, they gon’ feel this one /  Ride around town, they gon’ feel this one.”  It’s odd and haunting, but then again, what Tyler, the Creator song, isn’t? And yet, this time, it’s different. At the beginning of his studio album IGOR, Tyler is not trying to recreate his usual rebellious, provocative sound. The synth that introduces “Igor’s Theme” signals the start of music more than experimental sound and clever lyrics. Tyler introduces the listener to a new narrative, and he uses the synthesizer's sound to guide his audience through each step of the way. 

Released on May 17, 2019, IGOR marked rapper and producer Tyler, the Creator’s fifth studio album since leaving his former group Odd Future. The album — produced, written, and arranged by Tyler Okonma with the help of industry friends— details a fictional character’s tumultuous relationship with another man. The titular man, "Igor," is caught in the middle of a love triangle, desperately vying for the undivided attention of his (same-sex) love interest. However, as the album progresses, Igor slowly realizes that his once mutual affection is now unrequited. The album processes all of the ensuing emotions that follow heartbreak and loss: embarrassment, hurt, shame, anger, remorse, and, finally, acceptance.

Unfortunately, finding peace with himself does not come easily. 

Behind the project’s lyrical narrative, an eeriness plays throughout IGOR — one that captivates the listener while simultaneously keeping them an arm’s distance away. Tyler amplifies this mystery with his manipulation and multi-dimensional use of the synthesizer.

First developed in 1955 by acoustic engineers Harry Olson and Herbert Belar, the electric sound synthesizer was intended to research sound properties. Yet, composers were fascinated by its range, and the synthesizer presented them with the possibility of creating musical sounds previously unknown to man. It could alter any musical instrument's intensity, duration, frequency, and timbre, allowing for greater versatility than conventional sounds. Since then, the device has been used across the spectrum of music. Within hip-hop production specifically, synthesizers gained traction during the 1990s G-funk movement spearheaded by Dr. Dre. Other artists soon picked up on the new sound and began incorporating it into their music in the early 2000s; however, it was not until the 2010s that it became a staple in the high-budget music world. 

This period welcomed a shift in rap from classic "gangster" tracks to more experimental sounds, with artists like Kanye West (now known as "Ye") paving the way.

Tyler, the Creator, is no exception.

His music has always pushed the envelope. Even before his solo career, his music has been unconventional. It’s unapologetic, dynamic and oftentimes, unhinged. Not every track is perfect, but he often manages to strike the perfect balance of chaos and genius, looping themes, metaphors and sounds throughout his work to create one cohesive narrative. 

Tyler masterfully introduces most of IGOR’s sonic and thematic elements in his first song, “Igor’s Theme.” It, in a sense, is the album’s overture, offering phrases, sounds, and feelings that will be further developed later in the album. The listener first introduces the synthesizer with a deep, distorted bass sound. However, Tyler experiments with both brassy and bass synthesizers throughout the album.

Techno influences ring throughout “Earfquake” as Tyler playfully begs his lover to stay, and it marches through “I Think” as he comes to terms with reality. Tyler manipulates the instrument to bend to its elusive shape of jealousy, anger, desperation, and more in each track. It plays loud and proud or dark and looming. The omnipresent sound weaves through the work, reminding the listener that these songs all belong within one narrative. 

Somehow, Tyler fits that eerie sound in each track, even when it feels like it should be entirely inappropriate. The synthesizer looms in the background in the ever-cheery notes of “A Boy is A Gun,” forcefully blending into the beat. It’s not always prominent, and it sometimes stays in the backdrop of the song, switching keys and staying just slightly off-path. But, throughout the album’s twists and turns, the synth is constant, from the upbeat track “Earfquake” to “Are We Still Friends.” In an episode of Spotify’s podcast Dissect, producer Cole Cuchna relates the sound to the archetype of Igor himself. The irregular instrumental and abrupt endings in IGOR demonstrate how the character will never truly resolve; he is forever destined to be, in some regard, the puppet to his master. It’s an unfortunate truth that becomes all too clear as Tyler finishes the album with “Are We Still Friends,” revealing that despite all of the bad blood, he still craves this person’s presence in his life. That, unfortunately, is the tragic paradox of Igor — a beast so desperate to be free of his owner yet intrinsically tied to them for life. But for every emotional up and down Tyler, the Creator presents to listeners, IGOR leans on its synthetic elements as the album’s rock.

While Tyler's story conveys a new aspect of personality, his artificial production is ultimately the one thread that connects them all — creating the now world-famous alter-ego: Igor.