KIKO LOUREIRO shares music video for new solo single 'Point Of No Return'
12-11-2024
Brazilian guitarist Kiko Loureiro, best known for his work with MEGADETH and ANGRA, has shared the Leo Liberti Films-directed music video for his new solo single, “Point Of No Return”. The track is taken from his latest solo album, “Theory Of Mind”, which is available for pre-order at kikoloureirostore.com.
Listen to “Point Of No Return” below.
Kiko states about “Point Of No Return”: “This track captures the irreversible shift in our collective journey — both as individuals and as a society — toward a future where humanity and technology are inextricably linked. We stand at the edge of a monumental threshold, a point from which there is no going back. ‘Point Of No Return’ reflects this moment, where the advancement of artificial intelligence has reached a level that will forever change how we live, think, and interact.
“In both personal and technological evolution, there comes a moment when everything changes — when you cross into a deeper understanding, and once you see it, there’s no way to unsee it. This song embodies that experience. We’re at the brink of a new reality where AI is no longer a tool we control but a presence we must coexist with. As AI approaches the ability to understand, interact, and perhaps even develop its own form of awareness, humanity is being forced to adapt.
“This isn’t just about technology evolving — it’s about us evolving as well. We are entering a post-human era, where the line between human thought and artificial cognition is becoming blurred. ‘Point Of No Return’ parallels this moment, when we, as humans, will need to redefine what it means to be conscious, creative, and alive in a world shared with intelligent machines.
“Musically, the song drives forward with relentless energy, symbolizing the unstoppable march of progress. There is no hesitation, no chance to pause. It mirrors the acceleration of technology development, where each breakthrough pushes us further into this new reality. We are not just spectators but active participants in a transformation that will change the essence of what it means to be human.”
Listen to the previously released “Mind Rise”and “Out Of Nothing” below.
Kiko previously commented: “My new single ‘Out Of Nothing’ emerges not from a plan but from the mystery of creation itself. When I compose, I do not think, nor do I theorize — I let my hands glide over the fretboard, as if they already know the way, discovering paths, rejecting others, always searching for the feeling that satisfies, even for a moment.
“‘Out Of Nothing’ kicks off with a bold tritone interval — ‘Diabolus In Musica,’ that notorious interval known for its tension. It’s a simple, direct statement that immediately shifts the key, setting up a dynamic riff alternating between A and D with their tritones. The intensity ramps up with 16th notes that launch the track into high gear.
“The verse is simple, almost baroque in its harmony. A Tonic and Dominant, Am to E7, arpeggiated with hybrid picking over the rhythm of Baião, a syncopation from the northeastern reaches of Brazil. The original music from this area also incorporates many arpeggiated themes from European heritage. And then, bringing contrast, the chromatic lines arrive to challenge this basic cadence, introducing the mediant progression—Am to Fm—
For the chorus, I take things up a notch, moving to the fifth degree and playing with the tension between E major and minor, As I didn’t feel the chorus should be completely happy and uplifting.
“In the middle of the song, I let the existing elements repeat, develop, and transform, as one might do in a symphony or a sonata. The arpeggios return, expanding the baroque spirit, and then, unexpectedly, nylon strings echo from a distant past. Before long, the tritone chord progression returns, but now with more complex lines and a mix of techniques.
“But I will not leave you lost. The verse and chorus return, as familiar as old friends. For in this song, though I take you far, I am careful never to lose you entirely.
“Check it out, and let me know what you think!”
In November 2023, Kiko announced his decision to “extend” his absence from MEGADETH‘s touring activities, explaining that he didn’t want to “hinder any of the band’s plans or the hard work of all the incredible people involved in the tour.”
Kiko revealed in September that he would sit out the next leg of MEGADETH‘s “Crush The World” tour in order to stay home with his children back in Finland.
One day after Kiko‘s announcement that he was “extending” his absence from MEGADETH‘s touring activities, band leader Dave Mustaine released a statement in which he said that he loves Loureiro and respects and fully supports Kiko‘s decision. He described Kiko as “a top-notch professional, a maestro” and thanked the guitarist “for his dedication and hard work these past nine years, helping us to achieve a Grammy on ‘Dystopia’ and the additional awards we have received on this latest record ‘The Sick… The Dying…And The Dead’.” Mustaine added: “I could not have done this without Kiko Loureiro.”
MEGADETH played its first concert with Kiko‘s replacement, Teemu Mäntysaari on September 6, 2023 at Revel in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
The 37-year-old Mäntysaari was born in Tampere, Finland and began playing guitar at the age of 12. In 2004, he joined the band WINTERSUN. He has also been a member of SMACKBOUND since 2015.
Loureiro officially joined MEGADETH in April 2015, about five months after Chris Broderick‘s exit from the group.
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