About the Song

Spiders is a post-punk rock song that tackles the sensitive subject of toxicity in intimate relationships in a vulnerable manner. The narrator’s misogynistic views conflict with the truth that, as the listener, we can see that the narrator is blinded by patriarchy, and hasn’t took the time to understand why his partner’s behaviours exist in the first place. A Black Widow Spider is used as a metaphor, since they often eat their male counterparts post-reproduction.

The song was written and performed originally in 2009, but finally recorded in September and October 2024.

It is the second track ever recorded, produced, and released by Chargia.

Production Techniques:

Sonic Imagery:

Use of chromatics, contrast, and syncopated rhythms to create the illusion of a spider running across the floor irregularly, stopping and starting.

9/16 bar at end of choruses, coupled with chromatic movements, to showcase a decline in mental state and judgement.

Background vocal of “arachnophobia” in breakdown attempts to drown out the sampled voicemail of the female character, feeling guilty and gaslit into apologetic behaviour.

Interpreting Lyrics – Double Meaning:

Samples used at appropriate moments – With exception of the breakdown, where we hear the truth coming through, the female sample vocals represent both the narrator’s interpretation of “nagging behaviours”, and the third party’s interpretation of “confusing behaviours”. Either way, the reaction of the female vocal equates to the audience’s own interpretation of events.

Irregular use of first/second/third person – Leads the audience to question who the narrator is really talking to. Is it a friend, or themselves in the mirror?

Promotional Video:

The video was created entirely from stock images due to a tight budget. However, this is incorporated into the storyline and lore of the band as The Architect, the narrator in the story, is working his way through a mid-life crisis.

Elements in the video were carefully selected to emphasise individual words and phrases. These include (but not exclusively):

“Girl” – Video flashes from Black and White to full colour, where the girl is wearing pink. This emphasises the idea of stereotypical mindsets.

“Spider” (end shot) – The premise of the video is you’re waiting for the spider to appear, when in reality it’s in plain sight and predictable. It’s designed to keep the viewer engaged, but also to highlight the importance of seeing the bigger picture and not taking things too literally.

“Pre-Chorus 1” – The imagery of the eye looking round with blood dripping flashbacks indicates the paranoia that comes with not being able to see the damage being done. This relates to the narrator’s interpretation of events, but in reality could also be the narrator’s own paranoia.

About the Band

New Art Riot is a semi-anonymous one-man musical project conceptualised, produced and marketed by Chargia.

After a catalogue of life-changing events caused an enigmatic Brit to be signed off work for three months, his therapist told him he needed a healthy outlet for coping with the struggles he was facing at the time.

So, one night in September 2024 he decided to sit down and record some of his old songs that were never released. After seeing both his best friend and partner stunned at the quality of the production for someone who’d been doing it for only a week, he proceeded to sit down and record some more. And more. And more.

And so, The Architect was born.