Nissan has released a limited-edition vinyl LP titled Driven by Electric Beats in recognition of National Vinyl Record Day, observed on August 12. This initiative supports the National Museum of African American Music (NMAAM) in Nashville, Tennessee. The album, priced at $23, is available both online and in-store at The Groove Nashville and NMAAM’s Amplify Store. Only 1,000 copies of the LP have been produced.
The album is inspired by morning and evening driving experiences and features two tracks designed to reflect the dual personality of the Nissan Ariya, an all-electric vehicle. The LP is a collaboration between artists Dope Candi and Harold “HB” Burns, who are part of Nissan’s Electric Beats program. This initiative promotes diversity in music production by working with Black musicians.
A notable feature of the vinyl is a zoetrope pattern printed on the record itself, which creates an animation when the record is played. The artwork on either side of the picture disc portrays a man and a woman driving the Nissan Ariya, synchronizing their movements with the music. The LP includes two tracks: “Electric Dawn,” which is intended to energize listeners in the morning, and “Nightscape,” which aims to help listeners unwind at the end of the day.
The project follows the success of a previous Nissan campaign featuring a four-hour animated film of a woman driving an Ariya through a Japan-inspired landscape. This film, part of the Lofi Girl series, garnered significant attention, with over 18 million views.
Nissan returned to the lofi genre due to its potential benefits for listeners. Studies have indicated that lofi music can aid concentration, reduce stress and anxiety, and possibly improve mental performance. The album also includes an “Easter egg” in the form of a locked groove that contains a sample of the Nissan Ariya’s driving sound, which loops continuously until the record is manually stopped.
The Driven by Electric Beats project is part of Nissan’s ongoing partnership with NMAAM, which opened in Nashville in 2021. NMAAM is the only museum dedicated to preserving and celebrating the various music genres created, influenced, and inspired by Black musicians.
