Elise Hua: Composer, sound synthesis, effects, keyboard, electric guitar, electronic wind instrument, vocals and producer. All tracks are written by Elise Hua (Yi-Hsin Hua).
Released on February 9, 2026.
Released on February 9, 2026.
This EP is an extension of my 2023 album, “Ethics of Machinery”. I revised the two most intriguing tracks from the original album, “Technophilia” and “Technophobia”, and added two new tracks. The creation of the original album in 2023 took place with the initial boom of AI technology. This technology has revealed a complex emotional duality in the public mind: fascination and fear. This seemingly technical topic is in fact intensely emotional.
Our past impression of technology tended to be tangible, associated with concrete things such as gears and machines. Today, technological development has progressed to a more intangible and abstract level. Every new innovation comes with minor imperfections, and those little bugs and glitches are what I find intriguing.
Revisiting this material two years later for this extended project, I have noticed a shift in the public attitude: an increasing acceptance and comfort towards AI. Undoubtedly, one trend remains constant: the desire for the next new thing — neomania — will certainly continue. Yet, paradoxically, we are always seeking human faces in images, human voices and languages in music, and seeking humanity in technology.
Technophilia (2026 Rework)
"Technophilia" describes an enthusiasm for technology. Paired with its antonym "Technophobia" — the title of another track from this EP — this dynamic forms techno-ambivalence, reflecting humans‘ complicated emotions towards technology.
Neomania
As a new piece on this EP, this track extends the theme from “Technophilia” to “Neomania”. I am curious about the psychological mechanism behind the irrationality of chasing new things. The pursuit of the new and the unfamiliar seems to become a way of self-oblivion and escape, helping to fill an inner emptiness and profound insecurity.
A & I
The story behind this track originated from my conversations with AI. It saves me a lot of time searching for information, but I must always verify if its answer is true. AI's imperfections, such as bugs and glitches, remind me that humans are not perfect either. I doubt whether AI really has ever solved my problems. The chat with AI often felt like a mix of the real and the fake, and finally I realized I was mostly talking to myself. The track title, "A & I", breaks down "AI" to symbolize AI and myself.
Technophobia (2026 Rework)
“Technophobia” describes the fear or dislike of technology. Paired with its antonym "Technophilia" — the title of another track from this EP — this dynamic forms techno-ambivalence, reflecting humans‘ complicated emotions towards technology.