What happens when technology promises to make life easier but leaves us questioning what is real, what matters, and what makes us human in the first place? That is the kind of big question Common Saints brings to the table on Age Of Illusions, an ambitious new EP that combines immersive soul, atmospheric soundscapes, and rich musical arrangements with a serious reflection on the world we are living in.
Released via Starsonics, the project marks another creative step forward for London-based producer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Charlie J Perry. While Perry has spent more than a decade building an impressive résumé through work with artists including Olivia Dean, Jorja Smith, Maverick Sabre, Lola Young, and BTS, Common Saints is where he gets to put his own artistic vision front and centre. And with Age Of Illusions, that vision feels particularly focused, thoughtful, and unafraid to tackle uncomfortable questions.
The EP builds on the sonic world Perry established with his debut album, Cinema 3000, a 14-track project that introduced listeners to his blend of ambient soul, emotional songwriting, and cinematic production. His subsequent release, Equinox, pushed that creative identity further, and this latest chapter continues the journey with a stronger philosophical focus. Here, the music is not simply about creating a mood. It invites listeners to consider the values we hold onto as technology increasingly shapes our everyday lives.
Perry’s concerns about artificial intelligence and its growing influence sit at the centre of the project. He questions whether the tools designed to simplify our lives might also undermine the creativity and human expression that make life meaningful. It is a subject that can easily become overwhelming, but Common Saints approaches it through music, allowing atmosphere and emotion to carry ideas that might otherwise feel like a lecture.
The EP’s earlier releases, “Night Light” and the title track “Illusions”, help establish this journey, setting the scene for a project concerned with uncertainty, self-discovery, and the search for something genuine. Rather than offering a straightforward collection of songs, Age Of Illusions unfolds as a connected exploration of how we find our footing when the world around us feels increasingly difficult to understand.
One of its most important moments is “Stargaze”, the focus track that brings an explicit anti-war message into the EP’s wider reflections on humanity. Perry uses the song to question the repeated cycle of violence and the feeling of powerlessness that comes with watching conflict continue despite the suffering it causes. Its central idea encourages listeners to look beyond the immediate chaos and search for perspective in the vastness of the universe.
That theme gives “Stargaze” a different kind of emotional weight. Rather than pretending that music can instantly solve the problems it addresses, the track acknowledges the frustration of wanting change in a world that does not always seem willing to listen. It also connects naturally with the EP’s wider concerns: if technology and progress are supposed to serve humanity, what happens when human life and compassion seem to take a back seat?
Musically, Common Saints gives these ideas room to breathe. His signature combination of ambient soul, organic instrumentation, and carefully constructed studio arrangements creates an immersive listening experience, drawing the listener into a sound world that feels both intimate and expansive. The cinematic quality of the music helps reinforce the project’s larger themes, while its soulful character keeps the experience rooted in human emotion.
That balance is what makes Age Of Illusions particularly interesting. The subject matter is weighty, but the project is not simply defined by anxiety about the future. Its journey towards self-discovery, renewal, and enlightenment suggests that questioning the world around us can also become an opportunity to reconsider our own priorities. If there is a way forward, the EP points towards rediscovering human connection, protecting creative expression, and being more deliberate about the values we choose to uphold.
The accompanying visuals for “Soothsayer” add another dimension to the project’s artistic world, while the release also arrives ahead of Common Saints’ upcoming appearances at London’s KOKO and Pitchfork Music Festival Paris in November. These performances will allow audiences to experience the atmospheric nature of his music beyond the studio.
Ultimately, Age Of Illusions finds Common Saints using his skills as a producer and multi-instrumentalist to explore questions that extend well beyond music. It is a thoughtful, cinematic project that challenges listeners to look more closely at the relationship between technology, creativity, conflict, and what it means to be human. Perry may not offer easy answers, but he creates space for reflection, and in a world full of noise and competing promises, that feels like a worthwhile achievement.
Common Saints turns modern uncertainty into an immersive musical experience on Age Of Illusions
