In the vibrant indie music scene of the late 1990s, a unique synthpop duo emerged from Athens, Georgia, blending laptop-generated beats with ethereal vocals to create a sound that echoed influences from St. Etienne, Fatboy Slim, and the Stone Roses.

Formed in 1999, I Am the World Trade Center consisted of producer Dan Geller and vocalist Amy Dykes, whose personal and professional partnership would inadvertently intersect with one of the most tragic events in modern history.

Their debut album, Out of the Loop, dropped on July 17, 2001, via Kindercore Records, featuring 14 tracks of indietronica with laptop beats and ethereal vocals. Notably, track 11 was titled “September”

Just two months later, on September 11, 2001, the World Trade Center was destroyed in terrorist attacks, casting the band’s name and track in an eerie light. The coincidence sparked controversy; the duo temporarily shortened their name to “I Am the World…” for tours to avoid backlash, though they soon reverted. For a 2003 UK single, they used “I Am the World.” Despite the shadow, they released two more albums before going inactive in 2006, with a brief 2014 reunion.