B-Side Guys

DinoA1’s “take it all away” emerges as a bold experiment in genre fusion, demonstrating how traditional shoegaze elements can be reimagined through contemporary production techniques. This self-produced track showcases an artist willing to push beyond conventional genre boundaries while maintaining the emotional intensity characteristic of both shoegaze and emo traditions.

The production reveals a sophisticated understanding of sonic layering, with thick walls of guitar distortion interweaving with hip-hop influenced drum patterns. DinoA1’s approach to mixing creates interesting tensions between these elements, allowing the processed beats to cut through the characteristic shoegaze haze without compromising the genre’s immersive qualities. This careful balance demonstrates how modern production tools can enhance rather than dilute shoegaze’s traditional sonic palette.

The vocal treatment deserves particular attention, as DinoA1 employs sampling techniques more commonly found in hip-hop while maintaining the genre-appropriate wash of reverb and delay. The result creates an interesting dialogue between clarity and obscurity, with lines like “Breaking down the blood and soul” floating through the mix like distant transmissions. The later shift to more direct, profanity-laced verses provides a striking contrast that emphasizes the track’s emotional arc.

Lyrically, the song employs repetition to build tension, with phrases like “Some reason now” acting as hypnotic anchors throughout the composition. The writing maintains emo’s confessional quality while adopting shoegaze’s tendency toward abstract imagery, creating an emotional narrative that feels both personal and universal.

As a fully self-produced effort, “take it all away” stands as a testament to DinoA1’s comprehensive artistic vision. The track successfully demonstrates how genre boundaries can be pushed and redefined while honoring the emotional core of its influences, creating something that feels both experimental and authentic.