Vjdamusicman Creates “Chaos On The Canvas” With His New Album!
VJDAMUSICMAN unveiled his third full-length album, “Chaos on a Canvas,” on May 12 via Retrograde Records. The fifteen-track-long masterpiece record indulges in the themes of representation, identity clash, and cultural intersectionality, and roars his inner queer voice tackling internalized homophobia and heteronormativity one dance number at a time. It serves as an explosive conclusion to the past albums “Escape The Retrograde” (2020) and “Kinks & Trauma” (2021) displaying his songwriting prowess and musical versatility.
The eclectic pop album opens with a 2.5-minute-long high-spirited dance banger, “UGLIES,” featuring Lil Babbu, which sets the tone of the album, both lyrically and sonically, using different cadences and flow changes. The lead single accompanies a captivating music video depicting the intersectionality of identities with the song’s two major characters: VJDAMUSICMAN and Mad Hatter. MusicMan represents the confusion and insecurity that constantly surround culture clashes, as indicated by the mixture of R&B vocals with the heavy cinematic synths present in South Indian soundtracks. The visuals of the dancers performing in Indian garments with kuthu steps amidst the colonial architecture reflect the common experience of first-generation Indian-Americans. “No matter how hard we try to assimilate, we will always be seen as ugly,” VJDAMUSICMAN exclaims.
“UGLIES” music video then switches to VJDAMUSICMAN’s alter ego, Mad Hatter, who exudes confidence and pride in pursuing one’s vulnerability and truth, an often challenging road, as sonically represented by aggressive rap lyrics and choreographed using one of India’s richest storytelling art forms, Bharatanatyam. The music video brings the song to life featuring choreographed dancing, outfit and style changes, and even a skit during the visual’s intermission.
Watch the official music video below:
Overall, “Chaos On A Canvas” propels VJDAMUSICMAN’s ambitions and lays the groundwork for his future releases, showcasing him as a versatile musician with an amazing vocal range and aural sensibilities who is a force to be reckoned with. Through a string of fabulous songs like “Stockholm Syndrome” and “Lingering” adorned with textured hip-hop and rapping, and “Kiss My Asstrology” and “Love Is Not Earned” oozing with R&B-soul syncopated instrumental phrases that will make your heart melt, the album truly has something for everyone.
The album is available to stream and purchase on all digital streaming platforms. Listen to “Chaos on a Canvas” on Spotify!
