Dubhed: Those Are Not My Flaws, My Lips, My Face?

Tuesday, 15 April 2025

Those Are Not My Flaws, My Lips, My Face?

Roberta Fidora is an artist and musician who describes herself as

"Falling somewhere between

Bet Lynch, David Lynch, Laurie Anderson and Gerry Anderson,

with polite nods to

Toyah, Amanda Lear, Siouxsie, Alison Moyet and Sparks".

In other words, right up my strasse. I first discovered Roberta's music via a remix of Chvrches that she did in 2013 as Curxes, at that time a partnership with Macaulay Hopwood.

However, it was in 2021 that I rediscovered her on Bandcamp, at this point having continued with Curxes solo up to and including second album, Gilded Cage (2017), and then releasing a couple of longform space-themed works during lockdown, Black Arrow and Ether/Orbit.

2023's Apophonia EP gave a hint of things to come, but Roberta has taken things to a whole other level with her last two singles, released last October and January this year.

To get the full experience, you need to watch Information Array (below) first, followed by Let Them Deep Fake (Opt In Or Die) (above).

According to the promo info, the video for Information Array "can be considered an unofficial instalment in the Terminator film franchise", whilst Let Them Deep Fake (Opt In Or Die) explores the further adventures of Roberta's character "as a perplexed test subject, narrator and dancing discontent creator within the twisted, ridiculous, confusing and sometimes comically bleak world of the internet."

The latter in particular is a dizzying array of AI images and sequences, referencing pop culture, social history and Roberta's own body of work in under three minutes.

It's too much to absorb in one go, but none of it detracts from the fact that this is a talented artist creating great music and videos.

I've included some choice picks from Roberta's back catalogue, and you can buy Roberta's music from Bandcamp or her website, which includes other lovely merch items too.

I'm excited to find out what's coming next.