Jean Dawson releases his latest album "CHAOS NOW*"
“I’ve been really mulling over the ethos of the record lately. A lot of it has to do with the chaotic mess of what tomorrow means” Jean Dawson stated in an interview with Our Generation Music when speaking about the project – ”We have our everyday lives where we’re like ‘Oh, I gotta do this, I gotta do that,’ and I feel like there’s a lack of commas — or pauses — we have in our lives.” The San Diego-based artist shared his new album “CHAOS NOW*” (Oct. 7), serving as a testament to the notion that tomorrow will always be chaotic – a beautiful mess in its truest form.
A follow up from his 2020 effort with “Pixel Bath,” see’s Dawson draw the line between personal experiences and relatability. This being the third iteration of the album, Dawson has never constricted himself to a specific genre but rather he’s emotionally unparalleled – a deep reflection leaving the consumer to figure out.This deeply introspective record finds him wrestling with himself and coming out victorious.
The 27-year old recruited artists in the likes of Earl Sweatshirt and George Clanton to help assist his exploration. Utilizing his influences from all genres, Dawson continues to prove his creative uniqueness from the majority of what is being made as of right now. “CHAOS NOW*” is accentuated by highlights such as “”THREE HEADS*”, “BAD FRUIT*”, “GLORY*”, “POSITIVE ONE NEGATIVE ONE*” and “KIDS EAT PILLS*”.
“GLORY*” see’s the transition from an acoustic guitar singalong into distortion and noise, while “THREE HEADS*” rides an aggressive rhythm – Dawson adds beautiful harmony moments to navigate his extremes throughout the record. Embracing the title entirely, “KIDS EAT PILLS*” follow unexpected sonic paths, in attempts to shape raw chaos into something more. The rage of “POSITIVE ONE NEGATIVE ONE*” leads into the Earl Sweatshirt featured track “BAD FRUIT*” which is one of Dawson’s most impressive written tracks. For an album that's anchored by standalone singles, the whole experience brings the singles together as a singular entity. Dawson has stared into his personal chaos to find some measure of peace.
Words can’t explain the unique quality of this record – the album is a mix of neo-folklore fused with elements of punk rock, hip hop, and pop. Dawson has stated the album isn’t meant from a specific demographic but rather anyone who “wants it or needs it.” Retrospective and eye opening all together, “CHAOS NOW*” not only represents the chaos Dawson has experienced but the neverending venture of ups and downs. Jean Dawson proves you can achieve your dreams not matter the chaos around you.