Chris Oquist – But If We Are To Build Springs: Layers of Emotion and Sonic Intensity – Frequency State

But If We Are To Build Springs opens with delicate ambient tones and slowly unfolding harmonies. String-like layers expand, with electronic textures adding depth as the track grows in intensity. Woodwind-like bends, deep rumblings, and creeping distortion give the piece a sense of emotional weight, leading to a powerful crescendo that feels both fragile and overwhelming.

The track is the first piece on CYCLES / 01, Chris Oquist’s years-in-development EP, available now. Written and recorded during a period of personal change and wider uncertainty, the music captures the shifting moods of those months. Instruments include a vintage Juno-60, bowed electric bass, drone machines, environmental recordings, and various guitar pedals, with mastering by Aneek Thapar (Rival Consoles, Max Cooper).

Oquist, known as the drummer of Brooklyn’s electronic rock duo RIBS, explores a more introspective side in his solo work. His compositions move between experimental electronics, classical influences, and sound art, often created live without sequencing to retain a raw sense of expression. With CYCLES / 01, he presents four meditative pieces that chart a path through reflection, disintegration, and transformation.