“O Theremin” by Maija Sofia is an exploration of solitude, connection, and introspection set against the backdrop of an increasingly digital age undergirded by technology and artificial intelligence. Sofia establishes an allusion to Theremin, an electronic musical instrument whose eerie sounds are seen as a metaphor for the sense of alienation and strangeness experienced in an era suffused with technological intervention.
The theme of insomnia leading to an encounter with “Professor Theremin” symbolizes restlessness, desperation, and the seeking of solace through different means – in this case, via technology. The protagonist’s relationship with the ‘Theremin’ could be seen as a method of escapism towards a disembodied, impersonal entity, projecting feelings of anxiety and loneliness encapsulated within the hyper-connected yet isolating digital world, conveyed metaphorically as a ‘collection of machines’.
Furthermore, the allusions to ‘blue light’, and ‘binary’ reference the saturation of digital presence in her life, symbolizing how the digital realm has invaded the most personal spaces, dreams and emotions. The questions posed to the professor suggest a deep introspection, the search for meaning and validation, possibly representing the relentless quest for self-understanding and the hope that someone else, even an embodiment of technology itself, can provide insight.
“O Theremin” leaves an open-ended question regarding ‘loneliness’, revealing the unfulfillment borne from romanticized digital connection, a critique of modern society’s dependence on the digital world, and possibly the illusion of belonging conferred by online interaction. This ‘endless catalogue of faces’ is a clear representation of social media and the associated sense of anonymity and detachment from reality.
Addressing the ‘bug in her bedroom’, the second part of the song expresses the descent into paranoia, the inherent vulnerability that the interconnected world exposes us to, touching upon the notions of privacy, with the ‘walls’ of her room as pragmatic barriers against the intrusion of an omnipresent digital world.
Finally yet importantly, the ambiguous ending, centred around alienation and the unexplained, might indicate a spiritual or metaphysical dimension to the song. Her struggle to comprehend the undefined, could allude to the struggle of understanding one’s purpose in the fast-paced, chaotic information era.
Overall, “O Theremin” is a profound reflection on modern society’s complex relationship with technology, highlighting the often conflicted intersection of self, society and the digital realm. It stands as a critique of our era’s alienation, and the continuous quest for connection and comprehension in an impermeably coded world.