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I/O (song)

"I/O" (typeset as "i/o") is the fourth single and title track of English musician Peter Gabriel's tenth studio album I/O,[1] his first album of original material since 2002's Up, and his first featuring a title track.[2] Two versions of the song have been released: the "Bright-Side Mix" (mixed by Mark "Spike" Stent) and the "Dark-Side Mix" (mixed by Tchad Blake). The cover art for this track features Olafur Eliasson's Colour experiment no. 114.[3]

"I/O"

  • 6 April 2023 (bright-side mix)
  • 20 April 2023 (dark-side and in-side mixes)

3:52

Peter Gabriel

Peter Gabriel

Recorded at Gabriel's Real World Studios in Wiltshire and the Beehive in London, "i/o" features regulars Tony Levin on bass, David Rhodes on electric guitar, and Manu Katché on drums.[3] Additionally, the track is the first of three on the album to feature the Soweto Gospel Choir from South Africa, whose parts were recorded at High Seas Studios.[4] The Soweto Gospel Choir had previously collaborated with Gabriel in 2008 on "Down to Earth" for the WALL·E soundtrack.[5] I/O was released on the Pink Moon, the full moon in April, which occurred on the 6th.[6] Gabriel explained that I/O stands for input/output, which served as a starting point for writing a song about the world's interconnectedness, adding that "if we can see ourselves as better connected, still messed up individuals, but as part of a whole, then maybe there's something to learn."[7]

– lead vocals and backing vocals, piano, synthesizers, rhythm programming, and production

Peter Gabriel

– bass guitar

Tony Levin

– electric guitar

David Rhodes

– drums

Manu Katché

Katie May – percussions, guitar, acoustic guitar and additional synths

Rickenbacker

Oli Jacobs – rhythm programming and additional synths

Richard Evans – D whistle