Regular Coda Story readers will know that much of our coverage of authoritarian technology examines issues around the use of biometrics, big data and surveillance. Often, the people who we interview (victims, academics and other experts) feel compelled to speak out about the black holes left open by technology.

This week, I thought I’d take an entirely different tack. 

We don’t often get the chance to write about how these same issues are being documented by artists. In musical terms, concerns about the uses of technology are as old as sheet music. Over the years, subjects like automation (Kraftwerk), surveillance (M.I.A.) and the dangers looming in our near future (EMA) have all been extensively tackled by electronica, hip-hop and pop artists. 

A new song from an upcoming album by the American musician DJ Shadow puts some very contemporary issues like data gathering and surveillance front and center. The song, “Urgent, Important, Please Read”, uses three rappers (Daemon, Rockwell Knuckles and Tef Poe), to warn about addiction to mobile phones, data collection and the motives of tech companies.