Henry Chauhan – Curse Me (2023)
With the raw intensity and charisma of Linkin Park, 15-year-old Henry Chauhan is stomping into the UK alt-metal scene with powerful stomps. Taking advantage of the YouTube age, the UK-based drummer turned heads in 2020 with covers of popular songs including a cover of Slipknot’s ‘Unsainted’ parachuting him to the ears of audiences across the globe. Alongside his millions of views and over 350’000 followers, Chauhan has studied at BIMM London, earned a scholarship to the Berklee Summer Program 2022 at age 14, and featured on notable media including Sky News.
Blasting into 2023 with a sweep of pounding drums, Chauhan has released four singles all met with critical acclaim. He began with his debut ‘Arctic Noise’ described as a welcome addition to the current alt-metal world. With the following ‘Life As We Know’ and ‘Meant To Be’ he established himself as a prominent name, and now he releases his fourth single ‘Curse Me’.
Unsure of what to expect from Henry Chauhan, I was slightly apprehensive about what would come through my speakers. In honesty, even after the hip-hop-inspired opening, I was still unsure of his music. Teetering on the cusp of a kaleidoscopic swirl of music, a luring hand was extended while the apprehension remained. I took the hand and was pulled into a heart-stopping, gut-wrenching whirl filled metal, hard rock and trap – all bright lights before my eyes.
Vivacious and vibrant, ‘Curse Me’ is an intoxicating tug from hip hop to melodic metal with slips of hard rock woven into the melody. One element I find interesting is not how the genres are melded but retain a distinctive presence beginning in hip-hop, ending in metal. The bold vocals hit you above pounding drums with electronic slivers dashing across; however, a rise into scorching guitars picks you up then settles in the wistful but ruthless world of melodic metal.
While ‘Curse Me’ is a head-spinning spiral of music with an edgy twist, it is the meaningful lyricism that adds an extra “oomph” to the track. For Chauhan, songwriting is “a means of freedom…touching on feelings of isolation and bullying.” With ‘Curse Me’, Chauhan captures the desperation and screaming frustration of bullying, but also allows you to pour your heart out as a heavenly catharsis.
Always hitting both sides of the coin, ‘Curse Me’ is bold but soothing; confident but vulnerable; sophisticated but rugged and raw. If this is the tip of the iceberg, I am eager to see where this talented artist will take us.
For more from Henry Chauhan, check out his Facebook, Instagram and Spotify.
This artist was discovered via Musosoup #sustainablecurator
