Dua Saleh's 'Of Earth & Wires' Blends Organic and Synthetic Sounds

Dua Saleh's second album 'Of Earth & Wires' explores the ambivalences of the present, combining organic and synthetic elements. The opening track juxtaposes naive acoustic guitar with industrial noise and a poem referencing Prometheus, symbolizing the duality of technological progress. The album is influenced by devastating fires in Saleh's adopted home Los Angeles, the war in their native Sudan, climate-induced floods during a stay in Cardiff, and current isolationist tendencies. Despite these catastrophes, Saleh maintains an unwavering belief in love and the future. The closer, created with poet aja monet, declares 'It's all love.' Musically, the album features Arabic string instruments alongside drum machines, Baile funk, and UK dance, pointing toward Saleh's North African heritage while addressing technological and ecological exhaustion. Bon Iver (Justin Vernon) contributed to three songs, providing beats and inspiration for the hybrid sound.