HALUSANATION is live
Through an aural landscape of prog rock music pioneered by such artists as Radiohead, David Bowie, Muse and U2, singer & songwriter Dax Martinez-Vargas guides listeners along a dynamic and eclectic journey through an ever changing world in crisis where, “We can’t breathe, so we scream” to a place of inner peace and awakening. Different dimensions of rock music work together to tell a story of the human struggle against tyranny of external and internal forces as it explores themes of resistance, healing, enlightenment, revolt and serenity in 16 tracks.
Dax says, “I’d like to create positive ripples to get us closer to global spiritual alignment. May Halusanation be a cry out against oppression and a recipe for humility, leadership and grace. This album was created as a call to spiritual leadership, global equality, and peace. I hope this album helps shift the mindset of fear to one where we can flourish and lead a global transition.”
Producers include Colin Thibadeau, Jason Richard, and David Perlick-Molinari. Additional musicians include singers Kazina Latriga, Paul Hammer, of Savoir Adore, on drums, musician Joe Arcidiacono on guitar and synth, Matt Long drumming on “Just Stop Me” and “Come Out & Bite” and Patrick Cummings drumming on “Make You Better”.
The album cover is a commentary on present day and past America which Dax created in collaboration with U.K. artist Hannaj Bang Bendz. It was at an ayahuasca ceremony before the pandemic took hold of America where Dax first saw the vision for the album cover.
The art work depicts a shattering American flag being spooned in mid-air by a faceless Donald Trump, a selfie-snapping Statue of Liberty pole dancing high above a caged pregnant Indigenous woman whose foot is held lovingly by Mother Earth’s hand, coming up from the ground, in front of an incomplete, burning T-shaped Mexican-American border wall with the number “45”. On the right side are representatives of the animal kingdom observing the mess before them. Above them is a feminine alien being winking directly at the viewer while standing near a sun, which emits a solar flare along with a virus which spreads throughout the art. Facing the animals, a shaman harnesses the energy of the alien above, which ceases the spreading of the virus. Below the shaman, an illustration of Dax emerges from the ground, weary and stoic; an image designed by U.K. artist Liam Jackson, originally drawn for Dax’s November 2019 single Eyes & Ears.
Halusantion is available at all on-line music retailers as well as Halusanation.live where visitors can see more content. Music from the album is also currently featured in Dax’s new sci-fi political series Weed the Musical which can be seen at www,weedthemusical.live.
Dax Armand Martinez-Vargas is a musician and filmmaker in the Director’s Guild of America, a Peabody Award recipient for mtvU’s 2007 “Half of Us” Mental Health campaign, an Eagle Scout, a University of Texas graduate, and previously one half of the creative duo Sniper Twins.