Ian Mathias-Baker

Dissident Sound Lab's second EP followed two standalone singles ('Work Will Make You Free' and 'Infinity and Beyond'). Unlike those tracks, the four tracks here didn't feel sufficiently strong or radio-friendly to release as singles but seemed to work together as a mini-collection. I was also worried that waiting to have an albums worth of material might mean that the topical themes (Gaza, the AI arms-race, wealth inequality) might lose relevance. I needn't have worried on that score.

Freedom of Information was something of a throwaway idea – conceived of and recorded in a few hours, in contrast to the months that most of my pieces take. As is often the way, it's my most popular track in terms of streaming numbers.