Written by: Nawal Chowdhury ; Guests: Avianne, Mico, Moon, and Rynx
DPR IAN released his latest EP, “SAINT,” on June 7th. The EP consists of three songs along with their instrumentals, creating a total of six tracks. Two of the tracks, “SKINS” and “LIMBO,” were released as music videos prior to this EP.
With his artistry, Christian yu, professionally known as DPR IAN, aims to diminish the taboo surrounding mental health. He has created a storyline based off of his real life disorders: Bipolar 1 and Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID). Through the storyline, DPR IAN has introduced Mito and Mr. Insanity, characters in the lore who take inspiration from his real life alters. In his recent release, Ian sets up the introduction to a new character: the Hybrid.
Confirmed Lore:
Following the release of the “SAINT” music video, Ian went live on Instagram to explain the lore. The Hybrid is described to be an ancient god, an uninvited one, who is the ruler of the Other Side, an alternate world created by DPR IAN. The Hybrid is confined somewhere in the Other Side called the Void. The only way to enter the Void is by using a special key. In the music video, we see Ian influenced by the Hybrid. We know this because of the blue in Ian’s eyes. Blue is one of the colors that represent the Hybrid. Along with the color blue, the Hybrid is represented by red and green.
There are eight moons in this world, each of them presenting a different phase. Additionally, there are eight doors that can be unlocked with eight different keys. Each moon phase requires a task. One of the tasks is shown in the “SAINT” music video. Ian is being used as a vessel by the Hybrid to steal the sword. The sword is known to be a very powerful tool, a god-killer, created by past ancient gods, but there is no specific ownership over it. A successor is sought by the Hybrid and by obtaining one, it opens an escape route from the Void and into the Other Side. The Hybrid is creating false promises and spewing lies to Ian causing him to follow along with its agenda blindly. This contributes to Ian transforming into Mr. Insanity, whom we see the peak, glittery form of in glimpses in the music video.
At the beginning of the music video, Mito, the guardian of the Other Side, is speaking to Ian. Mito has had encounters with the Hybrid as he was the first successor. He is aware of what the Hybrid is trying to do with Ian. We see flashes of Mito from the past holding the sword with special gloves. These gloves are required for wielding the sword.
This is a summary of what is going on in the music video. If you’d like a more in depth explanation, watch DPR IAN’s Instagram live here.
Fan-made Theories:
I have gathered some of my friends to discuss the music video and share our thoughts. Immediately after the music video release, we were all fiending to talk about it. Our minds were racing with theories and questions:
Mico: If red, green, and blue are the Hybrid’s influencing colors, then wouldn’t that mean both the MIITO and Dear insanity albums show the Hybrid’s influence on them?
Moon: Wait how so?
Mico: In the live, he explained that RGB are the Hybrid’s colors and they’re powerful because they’re primary colors in RGB color profiles. Mito’s colors include red and Insanity has green, so these represent the essence of the Hybrid in them. The blue is the Hybrid. Blue means the Hybrid has total influence because it’s the one color of RGB that the others don’t have.
Moon: He referenced the lyrics in No Blueberries, “tell me what’s in your eyes baby, red green or blue.”
Avianne took to Twitter/X to explain the science behind RGB and the symbolism of eyes within the DPR IAN lore.
Avianne: The choice of RGB as primary colors is related to the human eye in our retina, which receives light, much like a sensor in cameras. Essentially, the human eye is an RGB sensor. We have three cones that respond to red, green, and blue light wavelengths. And obviously, eyes are also a symbol important to DPR IAN. The RGB model is used in many modern technologies—phones, monitors, TVs, cameras, & lighting! Basically, all what we use to consume DPR Visual’s content. The RGB model uses eight bits — remember the eight doors Ian mentioned in the live? And the eight phases of the moon?
Many of us were perplexed at the character that was seen at the very end of the “SAINT” music video. We began questioning who this character could be. Is it someone new or is it someone we have already met in previous music videos?
Nawal: What if this character is the Green (a character introduced during the Dear Insanity era in the “So I Danced” music video) before he became the Green? What if he’s a spy? I don’t know, but I’ve always found the Green to be suspicious. I don’t trust that fella.
Moon: I wonder if it’s just a completely new character.
Nawal: That’s a possibility. I’m still sticking with my theory about it being the Green. What if the version of the Green we see in “So I Danced” is a costume? Perhaps he’s a shapeshifter? The Green’s complexion could be a reference to green screens, which can be manipulated and turned into something else.
Avianne: It’s interesting that the Green turns pink for a hot second in the “Don’t Go Insane” music video. He also turned blue for a moment in “So I Danced.” Is this possibly the Hybrid’s influence?
Nawal: Is there a part of the Hybrid in each character that exists in this universe? Because I’m tweaking out right now.
Avianne: It could be a possibility!
Mico: My brain is imploding.
Nawal: My ADHD brain cannot keep up.
Moon: We know that the Hybrid wanted Mito to be his successor. Did Mito choose to banish/sacrifice/exile himself and become a “fallen angel” to be free of Hybrid’s influence? Maybe this is how Mito got away from Hybrid, then locked it away in the Void. Then when Ian comes to the other side, due to temptation from the Hybrid, Mito wants to stop him because he knows what the Hybrid’s goal is.
Rynx joins in on the conversation and reels us all back into the “SAINT” music video.
Rynx: What does Insanity gain? If the Hybrid is freed, won’t it bring chaos to the realm? We know the Hybrid is an ancient god ruler of the Other Side? But isn’t Insanity also portrayed as a god?
Mico: Yes, Insanity is a god. But it isn’t the same as him being an ancient entity. The Hybrid is compared to titans that then create gods. So, it’s another level of power the Hybrid has.
We eventually dug a little bit into the lyrics for “SAINT.”
Rynx: In the part where he goes “I’m a saint… I’m no saint…” I thought it’s like Ian/Insanity saying “I’m a saint” where Ian/Insanity is under the Hybrid’s control. Could it mean that Ian could eventually become a saint?
Nawal: I also noticed that that specific lyric also sounds like he’s saying “I’m not sane.”
Rynx: That kind of makes sense. “I’m not sane” as in Ian turning into Mr. Insanity then?
The conversation held between my friends and I jumped around from different topics and ideas. It was chaos, but this sums up the main points we had in mind. With such a stimulating storyline, it is difficult not to jump into conclusions and make thousands of connections.
We cannot wait to see what else DPR IAN has in store. We are eagerly waiting to see if any of our guesses were correct. DPR IAN has mentioned that the Hybrid album will most likely come out after the Dream Reborn tour.
