Sometimes, all it takes is a deadline and a new life on the way to kick-start a dream. For the artist known as Khaosé, his self-titled debut, ‘EP’, is less a typical introduction and more a testament to snatched motivation and personal reckoning. At 36, after years spent wrestling with "fear and insecurity" that kept him from the studio, the news of impending fatherhood was the ultimate catalyst. The resulting nine-track project is a raw, self-taught sonic manifesto, created so he could tell his child he "did what he wanted to do and believed in and did not regret not attempting at all."
The name Khaosé itself signifies this battle, rooted in feelings of being an outcast, of fear, and of self-doubt. The EP's central narrative is an urgent call to arms: to reclaim that name and one's future, even at the edge of destruction. This intense, almost philosophical pressure cooker environment is perfectly mirrored in the music, which blends a strikingly broad range of influences, from the hard-hitting electronics of Noisia and Enter Shikari to the lyrical gravity of Kendrick Lamar and Eminem.
The release is an eclectic but cohesive journey through industrial rap and aggressive electronic soundscapes. The opener, ‘In-a-mill’, plunges listeners into the deep end with distorted percussion and eerie sound design, setting an anxious, restless tone that immediately signals the friction between the artist's vulnerability and his fierce resolve. This dynamic continues with ‘Pennies / Worth’, a track that pulls from hardcore electronica and tight hip hop phrasing, with the production shifting between dense, rhythmic pulses and fleeting moments of calm.
Khaosé’s refusal to be confined to one atmosphere is clear. He temporarily dials down the intensity on the trip hop-influenced ‘Dimensional’, offering a space for reflection before returning to the assertive, vocally articulate thrust of ‘Pillars’. However, the thematic centrepiece is arguably ‘Precious / Wounds’, a song the artist explicitly links to the EP's core message. Built on rapid-fire hi-hats and a texture of urgency, it is the sound of searching for hope in a fire designed to consume everything.
The project closes with the experimental, almost chaotic structure of ‘Commandments’, offering a final, fitting nod to the artist's chosen moniker. Rough edges exist, a natural result of the artist teaching himself everything from songwriting to production from scratch, but they only serve to underscore the album’s genuine, determined spirit. ‘EP’ is an authentic, powerful document of a man who found his drive in the most personal of deadlines, proving that it’s never too late to begin reclaiming your name.
You can stream ‘EP’ in full above, and for more, be sure to join him on his journey on Facebook and Instagram.
