Emerging once again from the shadows of New York City's underground, Vajra returns with “Sub Specie Aeternitatis” — a thunderous, soul-stirring single that fuses gothic drama with progressive metal complexity. Fronted by the hauntingly expressive Annamaria Pinna, the band delivers not just a song, but a fully immersive experience that questions the very nature of existence.
“Sub Specie Aeternitatis” dives deep into themes of eternal self-awareness. It's a track that lingers with the listener long after the final note. But how did the wisdom of Alan Watts and a 19th-century Rabbi shape the emotional core of the song?
The lyrics came after the music, so I suppose only the listener can answer that. But in general, lyrically, I was thinking about the dissonance in the world, juxtaposing all of our similarities, including the common themes that run through all religions. I was reminding myself that I am the one that is experiencing itself - from the eternal, hence the title. Around that time, I was listening to an Alan Watts lecture, and he quoted a 19th century Rabbi. His words stuck with me. You can check out the golden reminder in the second verse.
There’s a cinematic and physical rawness to the video — how did you approach translating something as abstract as ‘spiritual reflection’ into movement and dance, especially with no budget?
As with all of music videos, Dave and I produce, write, shoot, edit, costume, location scout, etc everything. We started doing this mainly because we don’t have a budget, so it’s mainly old school creating from whatever inspires us. For this video, we were really inspired by a MoMA installation called 'Double Quadruple Etcetera Etcetera' by Sondra Perry, and we fused that with a dash of 'Black Swan (Odile's Coda)' and 'The Red Shoes (1948) - Ballet Sequence' and the ethereal vibe of Sigur Rós' 'Valtari.' I’ve been dancing Five Rhythms method for a couple of years now, and I thought it would be fun to film my one-take improvisations, which are just my immediate reactions to the music. I wanted to just react tothe music, and have the music move my body in whatever way that manifested at that time, returning to the lyrical themes. Editing dance videos is notoriously tricky. But Dave was determined to create a'movement-building-to-crescendo' sequence where my somatic improvisation would be the constant and uncut focal point, no matter what else was happening around me. Oh, and we pulled this all off with a zero budget!
Vajra’s music blends gothic, progressive, and
Eastern influences. How do you approach weaving such diverse elements
into a sound that still feels cohesive and emotionally potent?
Thank you. The music is just an extension of who we are. I mean, we are conduits for the music to flow through us, but of course, we have our own distinct filers of receptivity based on our internal makeup and external experience. I lived in India for about five years, so my experience there had a huge influence on the person I am today. For “Sub Specie Aeternitatis,” musically, I started with improvised keyboard doodles that gradually expanded into what you hear now. I didn't realize this while I was creating, but merging the diverse musical genres kind of creates a sound that both reflects the complexity of the message and enhances the spiritual or philosophical themes we are exploring. Of course, this reflection is only in hindsight, but this is what is so beautiful about creating. There are forces that move through us that most times we are completely unaware of and most times, we don't understand. This is why we love doing what we do.
What does the line ‘We are born out of and not into’ mean to you personally — and how does it tie into the concept of identity and interconnectedness expressed in the lyrics?
Alan
Watts talks about one of the differences between Eastern philosophy and
Western philosophy being that in the West, we talk about being born into
the world and in the East, they talk about being born out of it. For
me, me are not separate and apart from nature or the vital force that
binds all things. It’s along the lines of “energy is neither created nor
destroyed.” It is all one. Defining what the “one” is, is another very
long discussion that so many of us throughout time strive to answer.
You’ve worked with heavyweights like Sahaj Ticotin and Howie Weinberg — how did their input help shape or elevate the final sound of the track?
We love working with those dudes. Howie mastered the song and some of our other songs. He puts his magic mastering sauce on the song to make it aurally pop. Sahaj produced the song, and he’s helped in so many ways to shape the song into what it is musically. He also lets me know when I fly off the rails with my lyrics hahaha.
You’ve worked with heavyweights like Sahaj Ticotin and Howie Weinberg — how did their input help shape or elevate the final sound of the track?
We love working with those dudes. Howie mastered the song and some of our other songs. He puts his magic mastering sauce on the song to make it aurally pop. Sahaj produced the song, and he’s helped in so many ways to shape the song into what it is musically. He also lets me know when I fly off the rails with my lyrics hahaha.
The guitar work in the track is both intricate and aggressive — can you tell us about the gear setup used for recording it, and how you achieved that balance between atmosphere and heaviness?
It
was a simple chain, with the guitar into a Mesa style head and a cab. I
like to let the amp carry the weight, so I don’t drown it in effects.
When I do use them, it’s just to bend the air around the tone a little,
so it hits hard but still has room to breathe. The raw aggression stays
front and center, but there’s still that space and vibe swirling around
it.
If Vajra’s sound were a mythical creature, what would it be — and what kind of coffee would it drink before a live show?
A
unicorn because it/s powerful and magical and can heal. It would drink
single origin dark roast from South or Central America or India.
“Sub Specie Aeternitatis” is a bold, atmospheric journey that marries spiritual inquiry with sonic ferocity. Ethereal vocals soar over jagged, dynamic riffs, creating a tension that feels both celestial and grounded in raw human emotion. Produced by Sahaj Ticotin (Ra) and mastered by industry legend Howie Weinberg, the track feels polished yet primal, philosophical yet visceral.
The accompanying video — a hypnotic, one-take dance performance choreographed and executed by Pinna — is a visceral translation of the song’s themes. It’s Kate Bush meets Black Swan, shot guerrilla-style and dripping with mood, motion, and metaphysical reflection. Vajra proves yet again that you don’t need a big budget to make something unforgettable — just vision, intensity, and a refusal to compromise.
“Sub Specie Aeternitatis” isn’t just a new single — it’s Vajra pulling back the veil on our shared search for meaning, identity, and connection. It’s dark. It’s cinematic. It’s alive. Whether you’re drawn to deep lyrical explorations or just want to feel something real in a world of digital noise, this track hits where it matters.
Listen now. Watch the video. Let yourself feel the weight of forever.
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