Australian Alternative Pop artist, Chymes has released her fourth studio EP, "Alien", and it's unlike anything she's ever done before. Taking a slight step away from her signature dark-pop style, Chymes experiments with a new, unique intergalactic hyper-pop sound.
“My whole life I’ve always felt very odd. I couldn’t ever quite put my finger on it. I didn’t quite fit in at school growing up. I always felt that I stuck out in an awkward way. That definitely carried on into my adulthood. But last year… I was just like, ‘f**k it’. I’m going to embrace it and make some music about it.” - Chymes
TRACKLIST
UFO
Sweet
Celestial
Voodoo Doll
Sour
UFO (Extraterrestrial Version) ft YOUHA
Chymes got her stage name from the Greco-Roman alchemist of the same name, who was said to have the power to turn the ordinary into extraordinary. Chymes believes she carries this same power through her songwriting. Although Chymes has been releasing music since 2016, it wasn't until 2018 that her life and career changed forever when BTS band member Jungkook shared Chymes' song "Dreaming" on his social media, causing Chymes' streams to skyrocket. To date, Chymes has been stream over 70+ million times worldwide. She has toured with artists like Leah Kate, Winston Surfshirt, The Preatures, Lastlings, and Tigertown, and her songs have been featured on hit shows such as Good Trouble and Pretty Little Liars. She has also written songs for som of the biggest K-Pop entertainment companies such as HYBE, JYP, and SM Entertainment. Admittedly overwhelmed by the vigorous release schedule of her previous three EP's, Chymes wanted this next one to different. Instead of focusing on getting the music out as fast as she could, she focused on taking a deep breath and enjoying the writing process. She tried new sounds and explored new areas of production, freeing herself from any one genre or from any expectations. So now here we have it; the "Alien" EP, which is what Chymes would describe as one of her most creatively free projects yet.
UFO
We're starting off with "UFO", the leading single of the EP which was released earlier this year. It was the first taste of this new cosmic hyper-pop era we'd get to experience throughout the year leading up to the release of the EP. "UFO" is about when other people want to treat you like you're the weird one, when really they're just jealous of how open you are about your awesomeness. They don't like how brutally honest you are with your loud personality and "I do what I want" attitude - but the harsh reality is, they just wish they had the courage to be like you. Chymes sings "One of a kind I-I’m an alien / Taking off into space in my UFO". She's carefree, and is proud to be an "alien" if it means she gets to be herself. The soundscape has a very eerie vibe while also being a whole bop and a half with Persian-esque slides in the melody and a very heavy synthesized bass. There's also a little bit of a hip-hop vibe, as Chymes raps in the beginning.
Sweet
Next we have the second single for the EP, "Sweet" which is about being with a guy who is way too nice to you. There's a bit of cuteness aggression behind the lyrics, but there's also some seriousness when it comes to wanting to rough up the relationship a little bit. She doesn't want someone who is just gonna give her puppy love - she wants more. Chymes takes her newfound hyper-pop influence and adds a bit of hip-hop and RnB flare. There's a catchy heavy beat while Chymes switches between a spoken tone and a gorgeously bright falsetto voice. This track perfectly flows behind "UFO" as you'll hear some of those similar Persian scale notes in the instrumental riffs.
Celestial
The third track is "Celestial", which is the third single and Chymes' personal favorite track on this EP, and I completely understand why. It seems like the most personal and meaningful song so far. It's also the most uplifting and lyrically driven, like Chymes' message to herself to remind her of how hardworking she is and how far she has come in life. My personal favorite part of the song are are lyrics, "Got the whole universe on my side / Every day I can feel it, I’m Celestial". There's no better feeling that when you just know things are going to go your way, and that you will be alright. This song also has a very energetic hip-hop type of beat, with a percussion and synth-bass heavy instrumentation. Chymes sings with heavy emotion and catharsis, as you can tell how much this song in particular means to her.
Voodoo Doll
"Voodoo Doll" is about being in a toxic relationship with someone that controls you, but you let them and you don't even know why. You have this attachment to them that you can't seem to let go of, even though you know that they aren't good for you. Chymes compares this to being like a Voodoo Doll, with extremely clever and heartbreaking lyrics. Chymes sings of being put on a shelf, living for her creator. She has a sewn heart with pins in her mind. This song is has a very dark and haunting soundscape, with a very ominous production style and beat, a popping bassline and moments of church bells to add to the soul-stirring atmosphere.
Sour
Next we have "Sour", which seems to be a bit of a sister song to "Sweet". Whoever was too sweet, isn't going to be anymore. Chymes sings of someone who is sweet, and they just can't get enough of her, and she is ready to turn them sour. With a heavy bass drum and a lot of electronic elements, this song has a super catchy vibe and a phenomenal production. You just have the hear the moment when Chymes sings the word "Sour".
UFO (Extraterrestrial Version) ft YOUHA
Last but not least, the EP ends on another version of UFO, which features South Korean singer/songwriter and producer, YOUHA. This Extraterrestrial Version mixed Chymes' and YOUHA's vocals and adds another rap verse to give the song even more of a hip-hop flare. The production adds just a bit more to the vocal effects as well, giving it that extra galactical and outer space atmosphere. It gives for a fun, extra energic version of an already fire song.
The best thing about Chymes' new EP, "Alien", is that you can hear and feel how much fun she was having getting to have new creative freedoms. There's nothing better than getting to create the music you want to create without worrying if it gets done by a certain time or if it sounds a certain way. By the end of the day, the best music comes from the heart and soul, and Chymes' did just that by having the chance to experiment with new sounds and write when she felt like it. "Alien" is a great concept, with a unique theme, meaningful lyrics, gorgeous vocals and it all comes together into a sonically cohesive story. This is a new beginning for Chymes and I can't wait to hear what she does next. I do recommend listening to her previous works as well, especially if you're a dark-pop lover! Make sure to follow Chymes below too, so you know what's to come.
Written By Kaitlyn Nicole
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