With the second single from his upcoming Universal Jest EP, genre-defying artist Rob Tirea doubles down on his signature blend of raw vulnerability and sonic ambition. ‘There You Are’, out today, expands the emotional and sonic palette of his project with haunting vocals, swelling synths, and a lyrical meditation on life’s strange dualities. As anticipation builds for the full EP and an immersive live performance video featuring string collaborators Nicole Garcia and Michelle Rearick, we sat down with Tirea to dive into the inspirations behind his latest release, the paradoxes that fuel his art, and what it means to soundtrack the absurd beauty of being human.
Stream ‘There You Are’ below:
Your new single ‘There You Are’ is the second release from your upcoming Universal Jest EP. How does this track fit into the EP’s overall narrative?
Think of ‘There You Are’ as the confused middle child of the EP—equal parts existential crisis and accidental wisdom. It’s the moment where the cosmic joke stops being just funny and starts feeling personal.It’s kind of the emotional center of the EP. ‘There You Are’ is about that weird feeling when something clicks—like you’ve been floating around, and suddenly you’re grounded for a second. It doesn’t give answers, but it feels like a moment of clarity in the chaos.
You described the song as capturing “the paradox of feeling both bewildered and oddly comforted at the realization that we are all part of this cosmic comedy.” Could you elaborate on this theme?
Basically, it’s like tripping over the meaning of life in the dark and realizing it was your own shoe. Bewilderment and comfort are best friends in this song—they bicker, but they never leave each other’s side. It’s loosely based on Thomas Metzinger’s book “The Ego Tunnel” which suggests that our conscious experiences, including our perception of the self, are not direct representations of an external reality, but actually a simulated interface between the mind and the world. So ‘There You Are’ is a battle of figuring out if my self perception is real or not.
You’ve described the Universal Jest EP as “a soundtrack to life being both beautiful and equally absurd.” How has this philosophy shaped your creative process?
I’ve stopped trying to make everything perfect. I let the weird, honest stuff come through—even if it doesn’t make total sense. That’s kind of the point. Life’s messy, so the music should feel alive and unpredictable too.
The EP will be accompanied by a special live performance video featuring string players. What inspired this visual and musical collaboration?
I wanted to bring more warmth and intimacy into the sound. Strings just do something to your chest, you know? They crack you open a bit. I wanted the visuals to feel like a black-tie gala in space—beautiful, elegant, and mildly confusing.
How does your approach to performing live differ from creating in the studio?
In the studio, I’m a mad scientist tweaking sonic potions. Live? I’m the potion. It’s less controlled, more sweaty, and definitely more awkward dance moves. There’s that unpredictability that makes me alive.
How do you tap into emotional authenticity when writing?
I try not to overthink it. If something hits me emotionally—good or bad—I just follow that. Some of the most honest stuff comes when I’m not trying to write anything profound, just getting something off my chest.
Beyond music, what other art forms or experiences inform your creative vision?
Every morning I go to this cafe near my place and I meander around like some French Poet and try to talk to people or the owner or whomever. Just observing life and listening to people’s stories makes me realize how similar we all are despite having different backgrounds.
The title ‘There You Are’ suggests a moment of recognition or realization. Was there a specific personal experience that inspired this?
Yeah—one of those quiet, unplanned realizations where I felt like I’d been running in circles, then suddenly it was like… I saw myself again. Not dramatically, more like a soft landing. Just a “Hey, you’re still here.” That’s what the song is: a moment of return.
What can fans expect from the remaining tracks on the upcoming EP?
Expect beauty, absurdity, and my life story… It’s a sonic road trip through the strange and sublime—no map, but a great soundtrack.
Watch the live performance of Rob Tirea’s Universal Jest EP below:
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