Aphir’s The Halo Is Shapeless – a dreamlike succession of ambient choral works.
The output of producer and vocalist Becki Whitton has two major streams: intricate and often dark experimental pop, and lush choral works. The Halo Is Shapeless is the latter, a mixture of sublime compositions and vocal arrangements which can draw comparisons to the likes of Julianna Barwick, Holly Herndon and Kelly Lee Owens. Each track is based on an improvised vocal loop. It’s a mesmerising experience witnessing Whitton create these ten sonic sculptures effectively in real time.
“When I originally compiled these songs together at the start of 2022 I was thinking about cataclysmic upheaval and terrifying, paradigm-shifting change,” says Whitton. “It was a weird thing to be thinking about because I was feeling quite comfortable and settled at the time, but I must have smelled something on the wind because 2022 turned out to be all about that kind of cataclysmic change for me.”
“These songs don’t feel like fear or devastation to me, though – they’re kind of like a soothing voice leading you through a change of state. In part, this record is inspired by the imagery in Neon Genesis Evangelion – I’ve always been really inspired by how inorganic the angels look in that show and being reminded of it got me thinking about sacred geometry and geometric vs organic shapes. Eventually I landed on The Halo Is Shapeless.”
With transcendent harmonies and brutalising production, Viscosity Angel is the first single off The Halo Is Shapeless. As the track progresses, Whitton’s vocals are shattered into hundreds of pieces before reforming over a crescendo. The track emanates a gentle, airy violence – much like the smoke left from a flame as it eats away at a leaf – and shows Whitton’s experimental talents as form and focus become playthings within the composition.
“This track was originally called The Slow Pace of Angels but Viscosity Angel conjures up more of a nice gory mental picture,” continues Whitton. “I think of this piece as a meditation on how positive change always feels like it takes aeons to enact. Tearing something down? Instantaneous. Building something new that’s good? Feels like you’ll straight up die before you ever get there.”
Whitton’s dedication to experimenting with her craft plays a huge part in the formation of this project. The Halo Is Shapeless, for example, is the culmination of a year long process of vocal improvisations, featuring elements from her 9-, 10-, 11- and 12-hour livestream improvisations performed across 2021.
Observing both her incredible determination and demonstrable talent, it may come as little surprise that Whitton is a nominee for an Australian Women in Music Award for her engineering and production work. After a breathtaking launch for her last record, Pomegranate Tree, at Phoenix Central Park in New South Wales, Whitton is again eager to sink her teeth into live performances with a yet-to-be announced (and not to be missed) midyear tour.
Aphir’s The Halo Is Shapeless is out May 26 on Art As Catharsis.
