Secret Arcade is the alias of Babak Govan, also a fiction author. With the lead singles “Fall for Me”, “Suspect”, and “Save Me”, the debut synthpop/dark-wave/electronic rock album Quarter Century is a fusion of dark and light elements reminiscent of influencers Depeche Mode, Morrissey, and The Cure.
“I’m fortunate in many ways, and have had lots of “I’m that guy” moments, but much loss has come my way,” states Babak himself. “There’s definitely that sense of melancholy and existential crisis over the album. Some say without loss there cannot be love, and so there are some deep love elements there too. Given that I am a clinical psychologist, lyrics reflect psychological struggles and the importance of introspection, vulnerability, and validation.”
Quarter Century was supposed to be about the first 25 years of Babak’s life, but doing it all himself, it’s taken a lot longer — thirteen to be exact. In such a timeframe, there’s much heartache and, hopefully, joy, and everything in between — and significant learning and transformation if you allow that. The title represents that range of emotion and growth. In the interim, Babak lost his mother and father, earned a doctorate degree, wrote a novel, married, moved from Los Angeles, CA to Portland, OR, and had a child.
The songs of Quarter Century span darkness to light, despair to joy, and they embody the belief that moderation and balance are necessary for every aspect of life. The album’s own history is a testament to how strife and perseverance coexist.