The submissions are closed. The deliberations are complete. The timelines have been chosen.
After receiving submissions from artists across the world we’re thrilled to announce that the finalists for DUAL PROTOCOL: A Tale of Two Futures have been selected.
Every single submission was listened to. Multiple times. By all three partners.
And let us be clear: This was not easy.
THE SELECTION PROCESS
For those wondering how we made these impossible decisions, here’s what went into it:
Round 1: Technical Quality Check
First, we eliminated any submissions that didn’t meet our technical requirements:
- Improper file formats
- Poor mastering
- Incorrect length
- Technical issues that couldn’t be fixed
This was the easy part.
Round 2: Thematic Fit
Next, we evaluated how well each track embodied the narrative of its chosen timeline:
- Side A (SYNTHESIS): Does it capture the optimistic collaboration between human and AI?
- Side B (OVERRIDE): Does it warn us of the cold, algorithmic future we must avoid?
Many technically perfect tracks didn’t make it past this round because they didn’t serve the story we’re telling.
Round 3: The Impossible Choices
This is where it got brutal.
We had roughly 12 tracks that were: ✓ Technically perfect ✓ Thematically appropriate ✓ Emotionally impactful ✓ Production quality on par with commercial releases
But we only had 8-10 slots.
The final decisions came down to:
- Sonic diversity – Each side needs to sound cohesive but not monotonous
- Narrative arc – How tracks flow together to tell the timeline’s story
- Emotional range – From hope to ecstasy (Side A), from unease to dread (Side B)
- Artist vision – Who brought something truly unique to the conversation?
Some tracks were locked in immediately. Others sparked hours of debate. A few came down to votes.
THE ARTISTS
We’re not revealing the full lineup yet—we’re still finalizing contracts and coordinating with all selected artists.
But here’s what we can tell you:
🌍 Geographic spread:
- Artists from different countries
- No one from Antarctica represented (though if a penguin submitted, we’d definitely consider it)
- Both established names and complete unknowns
🎵 Experience Level:
- Veteran producers
- Bedroom producers releasing their first compilation track
- Everyone in between
🤖 AI Usage:
- 10 % of selected tracks used Songen
- 90 % were human-made
🎹 Genre Diversity:
- Pure synthwave and cyberpunk
- Synthwave with orchestral elements
- Cyberpunk with industrial influences
- Sounds we don’t have names for yet
The unifying factor? Vision.
Every selected artist brought a unique perspective to the question: What happens when humans and AI create together?
WHAT’S NEXT
Now the real work begins.
February 2026: Contracts & Coordination
This Week:
- All selected artists receiving contracts
- Final track confirmations
- Artist bios and photos collected
- Contract negotiations and signatures
Our Ask to Selected Artists: Please respond to our emails promptly! We’re on a tight production schedule.
February-March 2026: Production
Album Sequencing:
- Determining the exact order of tracks on each side
- Making sure the narrative flows perfectly
- Balancing energy, tempo, and emotional arcs
Final Mastering:
- Professional mastering for both cassette and digital formats
- Ensuring sonic consistency across all tracks
- Making it sound perfect
Artwork Creation:
- Thriv and Songen collaborating on the visual identity
- Cassette J-card design
- Digital artwork for Bandcamp
- Promotional graphics
Production:
- Placing the order with our manufacturing partner
- Quality control on test pressings
- Finalizing the physical product
March-April 2026: The Reveal
Artist Introductions: Over the coming weeks, we’ll be introducing each artist individually:
- Their story
- Their vision of the timeline they chose
- Behind-the-scenes on their creative process
- How they used (or didn’t use) AI in their work
Release Campaign:
- Video trailers featuring snippets of the tracks
- Social media campaign across all platforms
Official Release:
- Limited edition C-cassettes ship
- Digital release on Bandcamp
- Launch event (details TBA)
TO THE SELECTED ARTISTS
If you’re reading this and you received our email:
Welcome to the timeline.
Your music is about to become part of something bigger than any individual track. You’re not just on a compilation—you’re part of a conversation about the future of creativity itself.
We can’t wait to share your vision with the world.
Please:
- Check your email (including spam folder)
- Respond to our contract ASAP, as soon as we send it
- Send us your bio and photo
- Start thinking about how you want to talk about your track
TO EVERYONE WHO SUBMITTED
If you submitted and weren’t selected, please know:
Your work mattered.
Every submission influenced our thinking about AI, creativity, and the future. Even tracks that didn’t make the final cut helped us understand what this conversation needs to be about.
You should:
- Release your track independently
- Keep creating
- Stay connected with Neo Helsinki for future projects
- Be proud that you tried
The difference between artists who “made it” and artists who didn’t often comes down to timing, luck, and subjective taste—not talent.
Keep going.
