What do Aarktica and The Ellipsist have in common? One could say they are sonic sculpturists, gifted individuals constantly pushing the boundaries of ambient and electronica, doing so with keen gusto and minimalism. Such a link is particularly relevant and obvious in a recent remix penned by The Ellipsist for Aarktica’s ‘Trick of the Light’, an evocative and luscious track originally included in the latter’s album ‘Ecstatic Lightsongs’. The shifts in energy and references are rather striking, with the remix taking the original version into completely new territories.
If ‘Trick of the Light’, as envisioned by Aarktica’s Jon DeRosa, is a cinematic, organic and crepuscular cut, The Ellipsist’s interpretation completely scrambles its foundations, embarking into a very particular mix of late-night beats, R&B elegance and dreamy vocal samples. In a way, the original song gets deconstructed quite heavily and moulded into a hypnotic, structure-less continuum. If you like what you hear, The Ellipsist’s debut EP ‘All Night Wishing I Was Here’ will be released on Mother West Records on May 1st, 2026.
Delving deeper into the inspiration behind ‘Trick of the Light’, Aarktica explains: “Lyrically, the song talks about the literal ‘trick of the light’ the moonlight plays on someone’s face in the dark. But it also refers to the way time and distance can distort or magnify a memory, emotion, or experience. It’s a very nostalgic song.” We appreciate the way DeRosa is able to blend a specific aural mood with corresponding lyrical and visual imagery. It’s a marriage of intents that work very well, a holistic creative ethos that speaks volumes about Jon’s sublime artistry.
Discover ‘Trick of the Light’ now: