So what makes a song "disassociative"? For me I'd say it's strongly based on the use of echos along with the type of sound being used. I generally consider electronic music to tend to bring about temporary disassociation (one electronic music genre for instance, is literally called "trance".) and many of the songs on this list will have a key electric component. The slowing down of a track can also do this, as well as tampering with the mix. Consequently, vaporwave and chopped n screwed mixes (literally made to take drugs to in the latter case) can both be disassociative. The lyrics should be mystical and vague but allude to something (or several) things about the human experience, and that should be experienced in the sound of the lyrics. The use of left field instruments such as woodwinds can also produce this musically induced disassociation. Another technique is the fade in/out. This can seem very disassociative as well. They aren't disassociative in that they split your mind but the general vibe I get from the songs is kinda that image of when you are tired and everything splits into two. Here are my examples:
Everything from the beginning of the song, to the flute, the notes, the slow and apocalyptic tone of the music, the lyrics. It's so distinctly disassociative on both a cognitive and "feels" level. It also says a lot about the power structure of the world which makes it even more eerie.
It's a meme, it's a myth. It's also one of the most dissociative tracks I have ever heard. It spawned a whole music genre just to try and mimick the out of body experience this track will give you. It's literally just a slowed down soul song and yet, it's so much more. Even before I knew all this junk about disassociation in the psychological sense this track would make me majorly space out and think endlessly and I wondered why. The echoes, the desperate lyrics that fade and repeat and bounce around. The perfect vaporwave track. That ending!
This is a more obscure gem. The fade in along with the gospel sample and the way the music builds on itself is very disassociative. The lyrics are about my posts here on SC.
For me the disassociation is cerebral and based on the voice and lyrics (clever production too, the way he makes it sound ghostly). I see this song as being about mind control and propaganda and collectivism and how sometimes you should just be yourself. That's a common message, but the way he puts it out there feels very desperate and the distortion of the voice implies a struggle in this.
"The most beautiful thoughts are always beside the darkest."
This song really encapsulates that in a way that only Kanye could. The best is very disassociative in the way a distorted voice repeats over and over. The contrast between this very dark side against beauty is disassociative in that a shows a clear split in his personality which is a key feature of disassociation.
I love this song. The disassociative element is very emotive in it due to the lack of lyrics but it still puts me in a major trance. All the fade ins, repetitions, samples, ect come together in an out of this world way. It really takes you on a journey that really is so electric.
Going off of so electric is an italo do track that reminds me of it. It has that same electric vibe with the italo vocals in it. I don't know what it is about italo but they always seem to sound very dramatic in a good way and it really adds onto it. I have no idea what the song is about but do I really need to? It sounds great!
Last on my list is my favorite track by A Flock Of Seagulls. A lot of Flock's stuff sounds spaced out and disassociative but this takes the cake. It kinda has this pre synthwave synthwave sound to it. The overall tone is one of whistful nostalgia like summer of 69. There is a girl from his past and he liked her. He does not know why and wishes he had just one photograph to remind him. It's epic and poetic in a bittersweet way. I love the solos in the music too. This is how New Wave is meant to be.
And that concludes my list. As always, hope you enjoyed and give your feedback and add your own songs if you'd like.
