Vitesse X Explores the Gift of the Present on New Single “Right Now”

Techno artist-producer Vitesse X (also known as Jordan Stern) strips back the nebulous concept of the present to its core in her new single, “Right Now.” Stern has released the single under her newly-founded record label, Music Website, that focuses on amplifying the sounds of new-wave electronic-alternative music out of NYC.

This hypnotic siren song rocks along in unpredictable waves of swirling shoegaze guitar, a funky breakbeat bass, and twinkles of electronic sparks, making it impossible to pause for fear that you might miss out on something truly wonderful. And if you don’t queue it up right now, I can promise you that you will. Stern floats above the instrumentals with her ephemeral voice like some sort of apparition. Her clear voice is masked behind a veil of purple-tinted haze, making the entire song feel like a neon sign: a bright, blinding center with blurred edges that disappear into the unknown. It’s difficult to recall specific points of the song after it’s reached the end—even if you try to pin down a certain chord, line, or phrasing, “Right Now” flits just beyond reach, always teasing the beautiful moment it captures but never quite letting you capture it.

“Right Now” is more than just a song: it champions a certain way of living and experiencing the world. It begs its audience to pay attention to the transience—and subsequent beauty—of the present moment: “Realize the rhythm made/By heart’s pulsate/And flutter.” The song’s dreamy music video explores this theme further; Stern’s involvement in the direction and editing of what essentially feels like an art film is obvious as she pulls us further into the moment she wants us to experience. What is this moment, you may ask? Stern has described her specific vision in discussions of the single:

“In July, I took a trip overseas, and while I was there, I hiked up a mountain to watch the sunrise. [...] When I got back, I decided I wanted to start a song by imagining myself back in this place, and to just soundtrack the moment. When I listen back to this song, I see that it is about reclaiming the current moment amidst the constant go-go-go. Fighting against the addiction to the race, to get back to the now.”

Stern—or Vitesse X, in this context—beckons us throughout the video to join her as she gradually lets go of her inhibitions (represented through her clothing) in order to reach a type of Nirvana through being completely and truly in sync with the present.

Follow Vitesse X on Instagram and Twitter for updates “Right Now” (ha ha). If you’re interested in her unique sound, visit Music Website for more amazing work!