This Song is Essentially Internet Alchemy
How a genre-defiant artist turned synthwave, punk and hip hop into a unified field theory of sound.
We have a habit of putting artists in boxes. Chase Aaron, with his soul-clasping vocals, often gets filed under R&B—a categorization that says as much about our biases as it does his sound. But his true talent has always been genre-fluidity. His debut album, Therapy, was a masterclass in this, cementing his status as a musical problem child who brought a punk rock ethos into refined spaces.
So, it’s no surprise that ‘BVNDO’—his first release in three years—feels like the ultimate expression of his alchemical process. The track is a fusion of subcultures that typically never speak: Synthwave, Punk, Hip Hop, Rage. It’s a chaotic blend on paper, but in practice, it’s a coherent and defiant whole.
This is the song’s central magic. The production is a polarized homage, but the message is one of unity. The chorus delivers a polarizing ultimatum, demanding you pick a side of sorts. Yet, the final line reveals the vulnerable core:
“I know we can’t save everybody, I’m just wishing somebody would listen.”
That’s the alchemy. Chase Aaron uses sonic conflict to deliver a deeply human plea for connection and community. You should listen to ‘BVNDO’ not because it’s a future trending sound, or because secretly tens of thousands are already tapped into it (thank you Tidal), but because it contains a piece of everything and everyone. And there’s no better feeling than finding something—or someone—you can relate to.
Curiosity Corner:
What’s the one thing you wish people would listen to you about? Tell us in the comments or journal about it to yourself.
For The Noobs
Thanks for reading EVERYTHING+NOTHING, a free newsletter by ANKH STUDIO that’s part art journal, part cultural x-ray. If you’d like more content like this, consider subscribing to E+N. And please, share this article with someone you know. For more information about the studio, visit our website at ankhisalive.com.
