In a collaboration years in the making, THE ILLUSTRATED MAN and Sasha Carassi join forces for the release of their new single “Dance of Shadows” featuring Berlin-based electronic artist Aquarius Heaven, arriving May 8 via ILINX. The release serves as the latest preview of THE ILLUSTRATED MAN’s forthcoming debut album The Skin Of Time, set for release on June 12.
Already emerging as one of electronic music’s most intriguing new names, THE ILLUSTRATED MAN has earned support from influential artists including Adriatique, Bedouin, Township Rebellion, Richie Hawtin, and Joris Voorn, while gaining recognition across platforms such as BBC Radio 1 and Ibiza Global Radio.
Born in Yerevan, Armenia, and now based in Dubai, THE ILLUSTRATED MAN exists as more than a traditional music project. Inspired by Ray Bradbury’s legendary science fiction work The Illustrated Man, the artist’s identity blends cinema, visual art, and literary storytelling into immersive electronic music experiences. Rather than etching stories onto skin, the project embeds them into sound, unfolding through layered tension, emotional depth, and cinematic atmosphere.
That immersive quality is fully realized on “Dance of Shadows.” Opening with mysterious, muffled synth stabs and ethereal vocal textures from Aquarius Heaven, the track slowly builds into a hypnotic groove driven by a powerful kick-led rhythm section. Co-produced, mixed, and mastered by Sasha Carassi at his studio in Naples, Italy, the single balances emotional introspection with late-night dancefloor energy, moving fluidly between melodic tension and club-focused momentum.
THE ILLUSTRATED MAN describes the record as “a hypnotic and fluid movement where groove emerges, enriched by soulful and expressive vocals,” adding, “Time does not pass, it transforms. What remains is not what happened, but what it became within us.”
The collaboration also marks another milestone for Sasha Carassi, whose influence across electronic music stretches back decades. Beginning his journey as a DJ during the 1990s before releasing his debut album in 2002, the Italian producer has long been respected for his technical precision, fearless experimentation, and ability to evolve sonically without losing his underground roots.
“I love listening to everything,” says Sasha Carassi. “I’m inspired by a lot of different things, from Burial to Daft Punk, David Bowie, and Aphex Twin.”
That openness to experimentation is evident throughout “Dance of Shadows,” where deep techno textures, melodic movement, and soulful vocal work intersect naturally. The result is a track that feels equally suited for intimate after-hours moments and peak-time club settings.
With The Skin Of Time arriving in June, THE ILLUSTRATED MAN continues to position himself as one of electronic music’s most compelling emerging storytellers, blending visual imagination, cinematic emotion, and dancefloor functionality into a sound uniquely his own.
THE ILLUSTRATED MAN: Instagram – Soundcloud – Spotify
Sasha Carassi: Instagram – Facebook – Soundcloud – Spotify
Aquarius Heaven: Instagram – Facebook – Soundcloud – Spotify