We Speak Music
Chauhan ‘Age 17’: A Raw Anthem of Perseverance and Self-Belief
Chauhan’s latest single, “Age 17,” is a heartfelt tribute to his early experiences as an emerging artist, offering listeners a raw and authentic glimpse into his journey of self-discovery and resilience. The song captures a deeply personal moment in his life, marked by both the struggle for acceptance and the triumph of self-belief, as Vaibhav Chauhan reflects on the pivotal year when he found the courage to share his music with the world.
At its core, “Age 17” is a story of perseverance. Chauhan delves into the tension between the harsh realities of life and his unwavering determination to pursue his passion, even when those around him doubted his potential. The line, “The hard reality of life is that your own beloved people support you when you finally make it; no one wants to support you while you’re struggling,” powerfully encapsulates the emotional weight of his journey. It’s a sentiment that resonates with anyone who has faced skepticism from their closest circles while chasing their dreams.
Musically, the track leans into a minimalist production, reflecting Chauhan’s DIY approach. With only basic recording equipment and a phone, he channels the spirit of underground rap and hip-hop, where storytelling and lyricism are king. Yet, despite the limited resources, Chauhan’s passion and ambition shine through, creating an intimate yet impactful listening experience.
The chorus stands out as an anthem of self-confidence and ambition. Chauhan’s assertion that even at 17, he had a “hustler’s mindset” is a powerful statement, reinforcing his belief that one day, his words and music will leave a lasting mark. The repetition of these themes of struggle and eventual triumph adds layers to the track, drawing listeners into his personal journey.
In terms of influences, Chauhan takes inspiration from Punjabi giants like Sidhu Moosewala, not only in sound but in ethos. Much like Moosewala, Chauhan uses his music to pay homage to his roots while aiming for global recognition. His pride in his heritage is palpable, and the track becomes more than just a reflection of his personal journey; it’s a declaration of intent to represent his community on an international stage.
“Age 17” is an authentic and compelling offering from Chauhan, blending emotional vulnerability with a strong sense of purpose. It’s a testament to his growth as an artist and his refusal to let doubt or limited resources stand in his way. For fans of rap and hip-hop, Vaibhav Chauhan’s story and his music will likely resonate deeply—an inspiring reminder of the power of persistence.
‘What’s Next?’, the sophomore album from Danish artist NP York, is a dreamy indie-rock record that reflects on lost youth and the places, people, and versions of ourselves that we leave behind as we grow older.
Written in the aftermath of a severe period of depression and as somewhat an outsider of Copenhagen’s music scenes, ‘What’s Next?’ is an album about the strange distance that develops between who we were and who we’re becoming. Across the record’s 10 tracks, NP York turns that distance into melancholic, guitar-driven songs about aging, memory, friendship, ambition, and the quiet realization that youth is something you can never quite return to.
Rather than treating growing older as a simple loss, ‘What’s Next?’ lives in the tension between grief and acceptance as it moves between existential reflections and epic moments of blissful uplift. There’s the paradox of leaping headfirst into new love when you know the cost of failed romance in ‘As Bold As A Heart’, there’s revisiting late teenage night drives and old friendships in ‘One More Day’ and there’s the effervescent gem ‘Trier’, which deals with holding on, waiting for answers and persevering.
Musically, ‘What’s Next?’ draws from the emotional immediacy of indie rock, balancing chiming guitars and restless rhythms with expansive poignancy. NP York’s rich baritone vocals anchor down lyrics that combine a poet’s ear for emotion with a humourist’s wit as he ironically muses on childhood dreams and expectations from the reality of becoming a man in his mid-30s and the absurdities and chaos of the world around him.
The result is a record that feels nostalgic without becoming sentimental, a collection of songs less interested in preserving the past than in understanding why we miss it. As the wild and exuberant yearning for youth in tracks like ‘LIE!’ and ‘As Bold As A Heart’ turn to maturity in more mellow tracks like ‘Let’s Talk’ and ‘Better Place’, ‘What’s Next?’ becomes about a past that has shaped us and the moment we realize we have outgrown it. It asks what happens when places that once felt like home become a memory, when old friends begin living different lives, and when the future starts to feel less like an open road and more like something that requires choosing.
‘What’s Next?’ follows NP York’s 2024 debut album ‘Music for Fools’, which was a sumptuous intimate singer-songwriter affair of personal catharsis featuring graceful string arrangements by Who Killed Bambi, alongside subdued pianos and raw guitars. Backed again by his band of musician friends ‘The Fools’ and recorded live with producers Kaspar Kaae and Asger Techau (David Bowie, Lou Reed and Tony Visconti) at the helm, there seems to be more letting go, nerve and release in ‘What’s Next?’, as the apathy of feeling lost in the world, makes way for the optimism of new love, a revived sense of creativity and the constant urge to explore and the question: WHAT’S NEXT?.
-
We Speak Music1 week agoMoon Rocket Finds the Space Between Soul and Dancefloor on ‘Just Us Alone’
-
We Speak Music1 week agoThe Songs of Butler & Cupples Share New Single ‘Therapy’
-
We Speak Hip-Hop1 week agoHieroglyphics drop new LP & video
-
We Speak Music1 week agoSlay Raché Shines In New Single “You Make Me Wanna Dance”