Author: cory

Every time I work with Cory Cullinan on a project, I expect to be entertained by a new and different musical vision. His ability to use music to enlighten the listener shows through…

Will consider this mission accomplished. What clever and great lyrics, and so ridiculously full of energy. It’s also very musical. Seriously I am floored, it’s awesome.

I love the work you are doing.

Musically, 2025 Alive flows between theexperimental and the emotional. Fragmented voices, synthetic atmospheres, and a near-cinematic treatment of sound create a landscape that feels both dreamlike and unsettling. Therepeated and deconstructed use of the word “test” encapsulates the project’s core intention: torepresent the chaos, the inner and outer challenges, and the clash of ideas that define life in aworld turned upside down.

Cory Cullinan has returned with another experimental and avant-garde musical contemplation.2025 Alive is like nothing we have ever seen or heard before.The improvised multimedia release features a panoply of unique sounds including expansive synthesizers, dreamy vocals, static bass, unexpected electronics, colliding organic instrumentation, found sounds and more. The result is a whirlwind emotional listening experience with a darkly unforgettable sound.

The soundtrack for 2025 Alive is a high-tech improvisation by Cory Cullinan and his daughter, singer-singwriter Riley Max.

High-tech improvised music.

Cory Cullinan Composes a snapshot of the collective spirit. The sonics draw upon influences of high-tech dystopia thatgreatly mimic the spike in technology.2025 Alive stuns with emotive vocal outcries, fleeting electronics, and a chaotic frenzy of percussion that mimics the intense political shift. While the track is brimming with eclectic harmonies and powerful belts, the only actual lyric is the word, “test.

Musically, 2025 Alive is an improvisational composition that begins with ambient drones and evolves into a richly textured soundscape. Cullinan layers instruments such as guitar, keytar, saxophone, and percussion in real-time, creating loops that intertwine unpredictably. This method mirrors the chaotic yet interconnected nature of current events, offering listeners an immersive experience that reflects feelings of confusion, hope, anxiety, and resilience. The piece features a single lyric: “Test.” This word is deconstructed and fragmented throughout the track, symbolizing the myriad challenges and trials faced in 2025. Cullinan explains that this choice represents the various “tests” society undergoes—be it of ideas, stamina, willpower, intellect, empathy, or patriotism.

Footprint is the idea of composer, teacher, musician and songwriter Cory Cullinan. He was inspired as a student in the 80s to create this unique masterpiece while at the Stanford University 220 Course taught by professor John Chowning. Not finding the recourses or time to complete his idea, the artist tabled the project for some time. Circle back to recently and Cory ran into his mentor once again. This inspired him to finish his prolific work Footprint, giving listeners and unparalleled creative experience.