After a 6 year hiatus from making music, Providence post-punk virtuosos, Sick Electric, release their newest EP detailing introspective observations on the world, the ubiquitousness of smartphones, and the commercialization of data. Tiny Invasions is a thoughtfully crafted, bold compilation that skillfully incorporates intense vocal harmonies with thought-provoking themes that’ll leave any listener in deep contemplation.

Sick Electric grew up together in one of the last generations to come of age without the internet, and have been slowly observing their surroundings. A parent himself, guitarist and vocalist Jimmy Poirer has been observing the effects of the digital age in the younger generation. “I feel bad for kids now that don’t know a world pre-internet,” Jimmy says. “It’s done a lot of really great things for us as a society but the unintended negative impact has been almost equivalent.” The infinite scrolling of social media and the constant inundation of information can be truly exhausting. Smartphones and apps have even gotten so advanced that it seems like they know more about us than we know about ourselves. “A Window, Not a Mirror” on the EP alludes to that—As we slowly grow accustomed to the digital omnipresence, we often forget about the tiny invasions of our privacy.  How with every Google search, every individual scroll on TikTok, every “like” on Instagram, our data is cataloged and used to learn more about us. “I look into my phone to see myself, but really, it’s a two-way street,” Jimmy says. “You can present yourself on social media the way that you want to, but people can see through that. Your presence online is always visible to anybody that wants to find out.” 

While the music on Tiny Invasions is stellar, what truly brings the EP over the top is the artwork. Jimmy, a visual media artist himself, wanted to visualize the concept of what it felt like to be constantly being watched by social media while also resembling the first track off the EP, “Young & Dumb (and Chewing Gum).” Through that, the “gum girl” in the panopticon was born. The panopticon is a prison design with a 360-degree view of the prisoners, unseen by them—never really knowing if they’re being watched—resembling how it can feel during the digital age with the surveillance of technology and data tracking. Putting a girl made of gum in the center is symbolic of how fast we consume content on the internet—figuratively being chewed up and spit out in mere seconds. 

The EP as a whole will not only make you examine the digital world, but it’ll make you think about current issues that affect us and our communities as well. From examining global warming while listening to “Shoebox Terrarium” to examining communities affected by the opioid epidemic in “Detergent,” Tiny Invasions combines contemplative metaphors with perfected dual harmonies to make this EP a philosophical, musical journey.

Pro tip: Do you remember the scene in Lilo & Stitch where Lilo is lying on the ground listening to Elvis Presley? Eyes open, staring at the ceiling, and deep in thought—That is precisely how this EP should be listened to. This EP is not a casual listen—it needs to be consumed and digested with your full attention. So turn off your phone (or maybe on silent if you’re streaming it from your phone), unplug, and listen to this post-punk paragon. 

Tiny Invasions is out now on all streaming platforms, and you can stream it via Spotify below. You can watch the album visualizer here.