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Bryson Tiller would transform into a robot if he could.
“I wish I could transform my arms or have a robot heart and organs,” he laughs.
Since he can’t fully embody his futuristic final form, he created this spring’s self-titled album — a project he describes as an encapsulation of his “robotic alter ego” — to tap into this sentiment.
“I’m Dr. Frankenstein and Bryson Tiller is my Frankenstein,” the self-proclaimed “sci-fi fanatic” explained of his relationship to the project. The predominantly solo 18-track album, which marks Tiller’s fourth studio record, does evoke an experimental ethos, tapping heavily into Tiller’s technological composition and “first love” of gaming.
Courtesy Of The Artist
It’s not a huge surprise, considering the Street Fighter sample on the into of TRAPSOUL cut “Sorry Not Sorry,” but the Mario Kart enthusiast’s passion for e-sports goes back to his childhood.
Tiller has been enthralled with the expansive worlds presented in video games since he was in elementary school. Childhood favorites included Dragon Ball Z and GTA 3, the latter of which catalyzed Tiller’s fixation with open-world games specifically. He loves to get lost in a virtual world – especially Modern Warfare’s “Terminal” and “Estate” maps – and wanted to build a similarly immersive one on Bryson Tiller.
The album trailer gives us a first glimpse into Tiller’s new terrain, introducing the project’s dystopian approach. “Dr. Tiller” is seen in the lab building a robot, while a news broadcast warning of AI usage’s dangers plays in the background. At the end of the clip, robot Tiller awakens, resembling the cartoonish iteration of the artist shown on the cover art – the only other visual component of the project, which draws inspiration from old Cyberpunk covers.
Tiller has taped into his Dr. Frankenstein side with his on-stage outfits as well, donning a white lab coat and bringing his robot arm dreams to life with a set of sleek silver mechanical limbs. “I’m just so drawn to the idea of the future,” he says.
While he’s way past his heartthrob TRAPSOUL point in his career, the legacy album does surface in the name of Tiller’s own gaming company: TRAPSOUL Games, which he founded in 2020 after going back to finish high school and get his diploma. Tiller is also eyeing enrollment in a college degree program to formally study gaming and has also professed an interest in seeking a gaming internship to learn more about the industry.
Courtesy Of The Artist
The ultimate goal of the hiatus (in addition to spending more time with his children – one of his favorite pastimes is visiting anime stores with his daughter) is to launch his first video game with TRAPSOUL Games, which already has a full website, merchandise, and a few open job applications.
While he keeps most information about the game, which is slated for a 2025 release, under wraps, he’s started dropping off teasers on Instagram and, in conversation, shares a few details, calling it a “dark comedy.” “It’s filled with smart humor, but it’s got a lot of real-life sh*t in there as well,” he adds, noting that it also pulls visual references from films like Ready Player One, Alita Battle Angel and The Fifth Element and citing anime as another major influence.
With his self-titled tour nearly wrapped – just one more performance, Thursday, July 11 in Calgary, Canada until he’s done – he’s ready to go off the grid and ensure his gaming debut is perfect.
In the meantime, next time you listen to a sadboi Tiller track, just know he could be lamenting the loss of a level rather than the loss of a lover.
