Xinobi is the stage name for Portuguese DJ and music producer Bruno Cardoso, who makes music under the Discotexas label with Moullinex. "Real Fake" is a track from his 2014 album 1975, which his label describes as "packed full of sonically-rich, epic productions that sound big, but not bombastic or over-baked. They take in elements of dub, surf guitar, deep house, disco and acid, all delivered with a pop sensibility and individual flare that sets it apart from other, more generic dance music long players. During 54 minutes, the album roves from contemplative moments, deep dance floor dynamics to memorable choruses, adorned with a colourful and joyous array of sounds that are beautifully produced".
I really like the idiosyncratic pop sensibility that's on display with "Real Fake" - it puts a fresh and mature spin on a typical dance track about the adolescent experience, adding a layer of contemplation and complexity that invites multiple listens. The female vocals on the tracks are both sultry and emphatic, presumably addressed to an off-stage teenage or young adult persona: 'You try and try/ The only way you feel alive'.
The song quickly builds up to a memorable chorus that seems to evoke the conflicting needs of fitting in with peers and staying 'true' (or 'real') to one's self-identity:
'You try and try/ It's all a mistake
Real is fake/ Real is -
Real is all a mistake/ All a mistake
Real is fake/ Real is -'
The addition of handclaps and a second layer of vocals to the second series of chorus repetitions add a near-tribal human touch to the song's simple lyrical structure, creating a sense of communal empathy with the song's addressee. The adolescent struggle being portrayed seems timeless and universal, but Xinobi's usage of funky electro beats to accompany the song's lyrical shifts adds a modern twist to the track, making it seem like a potential anthem for the present generation of conflicted teenagers and young adults. The accompanying music video (which involves a surrealistic scene shift from a dilapidated indoor swimming pool to a remote island) involves convincing acting and beautiful videography: a fitting visual representation of the song's immaculate production.
