Sea of Voices

"Sea of Voices" is a song recorded by American electronic music producer Porter Robinson. It was released on March 3, 2014 as the first single from his debut studio album Worlds (2014). The track revealed the tone of Worlds as emotional and nostalgic, as opposed to his older complextro dance music style.[1] The song features uncredited vocals from Breanne Düren. The song was a hit on the American Dance/Electronic Songs chart.

"Sea of Voices"
Single by Porter Robinson
from the album Worlds
ReleasedMarch 3, 2014
Recorded2014
GenreAmbient[1]
Length4:58
LabelAstralwerks
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Porter Robinson
Porter Robinson singles chronology
"Easy"
(2013)		 "Sea of Voices"
(2014)		 "Sad Machine"
(2014)

Composition

" 'Sea of Voices' was the first thing that anyone heard of Worlds. I just kind of dropped it out of the blue, so a lot of people's permanent impression of what that album is like is based on that one song. I like the song because it's touching, it's pretty. Those are some of my favorite things about it."

 — Robinson in an interview with Cuepoint.

Robinson has stated that "Sea of Voices" is one of his favorite tracks on the album in addition to "Divinity", "Goodbye to a World", "Sad Machine", "Fellow Feeling", and "Flicker". He has stated that "Sea of Voices" went through many versions, including a version where he used the Vocaloid voice, Avanna, to provide the vocal.[2]

Release and promotion

"Sea of Voices" was the first single that was released from Worlds, in March 2014. Robinson stated that Astralwerks, the record label he is signed under, wanted to release the EDM-fueled "Shepherdess" as the first single, but Robinson declined. He wanted to do the exact opposite, and release the track that reminded him the least of dance music. He decided to release "Sea of Voices" first, to inspire conversation among his fans about his change in style, and released "Shepherdess" as the bonus track on the vinyl version of his album.[3]

The song peaked at number 28 on the Billboard Dance/Electronic Songs chart in the United States on the issue week of March 22, 2014.[4]

A remix by RAC was released on March 18, 2014. Another remix by Galimatias was released as a single off of Robinson's debut remix album Worlds Remixed on September 18, 2015. An official audio video for "Sea of Voices" premiered on August 14, 2014 on Robinson's YouTube channel.

Critical reception

"Sea of Voices" was very well received by critics. Elissa Stolman praised Robinson on the track by saying "This was the first track I heard from Worlds, and it blew me away. I've blabbed about it to my snob friends and gushed about how he's crafted the first ambient EDM track I've ever heard. A beat kicks in later, but the first few minutes pit slow-moving big room synths against ... nothing. No drums."[5] In his mixed review of Worlds, Derek Staples of Consequence of Sound stated that "Sea of Voices" was "a few months too late for inclusion on the Divergent soundtrack."[6] Allmusic journalist Andy Kellman said of "Sea of Voices" that, "For over three minutes, it's nothing but softly swelling strings, wind chimes, and Breanne Düren's distantly cooing voice, and then a trudging beat enters and disappears in time for Düren to sing, lullaby-like, something vague about the world falling apart."[7]

Charts
Chart (2014) Peak
position
US Dance/Electronic Songs (Billboard)[4] 28

Release history
Version Region Date Format(s) Label
Original Worldwide March 3, 2014
Astralwerks
RAC Remix March 18, 2014
Galimatias Remix September 18, 2015

References
  1. "Porter Robinson Changes It Up With His New Single "Sea of Voices"". Vice. March 5, 2014. Retrieved September 13, 2016.
  2. Pizzo, Mike "DJ" (2015-10-05). "Porter Robinson Reflects on "Worlds," One Year Later: The gifted young producer revisits his seminal debut track-by-track, with a new remix album in tow". Medium. Retrieved 2016-09-13.
  3. megaphonixmusic (2014-10-31). "Your EDM Exclusive Interview: Porter Robinson On 'Worlds'". Your EDM. Retrieved 2016-09-13.
  4. "Hot Dance/Electronic Songs". March 22, 2014. Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved September 13, 2016.
  5. Stolman, Elissa (August 5, 2014). "Beat by Beat Review: Porter Robinson – Worlds". Vice. Retrieved September 13, 2016.
  6. Staples, Derek (August 12, 2014). "Porter Robinson – Worlds". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved December 21, 2015.
  7. Kellman, Andy. "Worlds – Porter Robinson". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved December 21, 2015.
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