“A song questioning artificial realities was itself made possible by artificial intelligence.”
😉 The Wink may be the most unusual song on Vertigo.
It’s certainly the most sarcastic.
It’s the song that asks questions instead of providing answers.
And it’s the only track on the album that was inspired by equal parts technology, media, politics, social media, and a healthy dose of irony.
Because the more I looked around, the more I realized that we’re living in a world where reality itself sometimes feels open to interpretation.
The Age of Artificial Reality
One of the biggest inspirations behind The Wink was the rise of artificial intelligence.
And before anyone assumes otherwise, I should be clear:
I think AI is amazing.
On any given day, I can use it to analyze information, summarize dozens of emails, organize ideas, draft professional communications, and help me work more efficiently.
The possibilities are remarkable.
At the same time, I think most people would agree there are legitimate questions worth asking.
Questions about energy consumption.
Questions about data centers.
Questions about authenticity.
Questions about what happens when technology becomes increasingly difficult to distinguish from reality.
Those questions fascinated me.
And eventually they found their way into this song.
Social Media’s Perfect World
Another influence was social media.
Not because social media is inherently good or bad.
Because it’s fascinating.
Everyone shares the highlight reel.
The vacation photos.
The accomplishments.
The celebrations.
The carefully chosen angles.
The edited versions of everyday life.
And somehow we’re all expected to believe we’re seeing reality.
That’s where lines like:
“Caption reads ‘no filter’ but with lighting you’re surrounded.”
began to emerge.
The song pokes fun at the idea that we’re living authentically while simultaneously polishing every detail for public consumption.
The Stories We’re Sold
The song also examines how narratives are created around us every day.
Media organizations.
Political movements.
Corporations.
Influencers.
Everyone has a story they want us to believe.
Everyone has an angle.
Everyone wants to shape perception.
That doesn’t mean every story is false.
It simply means every story comes from somewhere.
And that’s worth remembering.
Throughout The Wink, I wanted to explore the idea that we’re often presented with conclusions before we’ve had a chance to examine the evidence for ourselves.
A Lyric From The Song
“Every headline’s got a halo, every promise has a spin,
Every ‘breaking story’ breaks exactly where it’s been.”
For me, these lines capture the spirit of the song.
The feeling that we’re constantly being handed interpretations rather than information.
And the challenge of deciding what deserves our trust.
The Biggest Irony
The funniest part of The Wink is also the thing I love most about it.
Although I wrote every lyric myself, the song was created using AI-powered music tools.
The music.
The vocals.
The production.
The overall listening experience.
Technology helped bring the song to life.
Which means a song questioning artificial realities was itself made possible by artificial intelligence.
I couldn’t have invented a better twist if I tried.
The irony felt too perfect not to embrace.
What Is Real?
One of my favorite moments in the song asks:
“Does it matter who’s behind the words or only how they start?”
That’s not a rhetorical question.
It’s something I’ve genuinely thought about.
As AI becomes more capable, as media becomes more fragmented, and as reality becomes increasingly filtered through screens and algorithms, we’re all going to be forced to wrestle with questions like that.
The song doesn’t pretend to have the answer.
It simply invites listeners to think about it.
Why It Matters to Vertigo
Throughout Vertigo, perspective is constantly shifting.
Love changes perspective.
Memory changes perspective.
Risk changes perspective.
Loss changes perspective.
The Wink examines what happens when perspective itself becomes manipulated.
When every headline, every feed, every algorithm, every image, and every narrative competes for our attention.
If the album is about finding your footing in a changing world, then The Wink explores what happens when the ground beneath you isn’t always what it seems.
Looking Back
More than anything, The Wink was written with curiosity.
Not certainty.
It’s not an attack on technology.
It’s not a political statement.
It’s not an indictment of social media.
It’s an observation.
A wink.
A raised eyebrow.
A reminder to occasionally step back and ask:
Who’s telling me this story, and why do they want me to believe it?
Sometimes that’s all it takes to see things differently.
Now Streaming
😉 The Wink is available now as part of Vertigo.
After you’ve listened, I’d love to know:
Which line from the song stood out to you the most?
Downloads
Don’t forget to download the songs from my catalogue for your own library. I’ll be bringing the “Vertigo” album to the page soon, with a 30+ page deluxe booklet!
Hey there — I’m Jon. This is Moteventure, my corner of the internet where music, movies, lists, and life all collide. Glad you’re here.