Night Waves

"Night Waves" is the fifth track from Act II of The Smashing Pumpkins' 2023 rock opera, ATUM.

The song originally had sounded similar to The Cars, with Billy Corgan comparing his writing to something Rick Nielsen would write. Engineer Howard Willing and Corgan ultimately decided that version wasn't going to work, and aimed for a more Brian Eno-esque production, with elements of marching bands. Corgan said the final recording is a "shadow of what it was" originally.

Synopsis
After the XI give their propaganda message to the world with "Moss", Osyraa, Nighthawk, and Ruby the robot realize that they are at the center of attention and that their friends and family could be in danger. They decide to return to Dr. Aesh – the old hacker who first appeared in "With Ado I Do" – whom they've learned to trust. While driving to his location, Osyraa looks out the window, realizing her new life and reflecting on the one she left behind. She sings "Night Waves" as she laments coming to these realizations.