Konstantinos Karakolis
Konstantinos Karakolis
Watching brakence’s rise to prominence has been nothing short of impressive. The singer, producer and multi-instrumentalist's early beginnings as an independent artist led to his debut project hypnagogia, which preceded punk2, a massive breakout record that only led to more acclaim for brakence by way of iconic internet hits such as “fuckboy" and “dropout," as well as a number of Overcast-directed music videos.
The first glimpse into brakence’s new chapter was unveiled in late 2021 with the release of “Argyle,” an explosive yet vulnerable single which saw the boundary-pushing artist bring together glossy guitar melodies and glitchy drums, while delivering one of his most lively and soulful vocal performances to date. A little over a year and a handful of mesmerizing singles later, brakence has finally assembled the pieces of his third album, hypochondriac, which undoubtedly marks his most artistically ambitious effort to date.
At only 21 years old, brakence is at large the main architect of hypochondriac, a rare and impressive feat for a major label debut of this caliber. Out via Columbia Records, hypochondriac is a candid and inventive journey through brakence’s mind, effortlessly weaving in and out of a variety of sounds and influences while cohesive in both its storyline and sonic identity.
Previously released single “bugging!” kicks off the project on a high note with its uplifting energy and distorted 808s, before the gabby start co-produced “caffeine” finds brakence delivering a braggadocious and intoxicating performance over an assortment of experimental bass growls and mind-bending effects. brakence’s vocal inflections and lyrical content are equally as confident on “teeth,” while “intellectual greed” finds the artist delving into rock territory. Both tracks are co-produced and written with Wyatt Otis, who serves as brakence’s tour guitarist and makes an additional appearance on “stung.”
The tracklist’s final leg concludes the story in a bittersweet way, with “deepfake” arguably making for one of brakence’s most confessional and sonically diverse tracks to date. Both featuring writing and production credits from brakence’s manager Danny Rakow, “introvert” and “hypochondriac” complete the journey on a subtle tone, presenting brakence’s unique artistic sensibilities as he thrives in rather acoustic and tender settings.
The clever use of samples and spoken word segments throughout the project all the more display brakence’s unique creative angle as a songwriter and producer, adding a unique sonic dimension without taking away from its penchant and vulnerable moments. “caffeine" incorporates the classic “wombo combo” shout in a moment that’s as lighthearted as it is hard-hitting, while a cataclysm of eerie voices and off-kilter samples take over during the midway point of “introvert,” juxtaposing the song’s intimate atmosphere while somehow not feeling out of place.
Having been in the works for three years according to a social media post, hypochondriac is a highly-stylized, bold and ambitious effort, that only further puts brakence’s unmatched creative prowess on display. The album’s clear resonance with brakence’s strong fanbase, alongside his current headlining tour across the US, are only bound to help the young trailblazer propel himself forward and grow into a generation-defining talent.
Listen to hypochondriac below: