Chenda delivers incredible debut album ‘Serenity’: Listen
Melbourne-based melodic dubstep producer Chenda has released his debut album to fans worldwide. The 11-track collection showcases his incredible production powers and offers powerful, emotionally tinged anthems.
Delivering his debut via Proximity Records, Chenda showcases his talent and reach. The iconic label has been a tastemaker and staple of the electronic music industry for years. Simply called Serenity, the album’s title may be a bit misleading, as the powerful melodic dubstep production and heart-on-your-sleeve lyrics will certainly invoke a wide range of emotions. Across the 42 minutes of music, Chenda and guests such as Harley Bird, Lexi Scatena, GILLIAD, and more help the Australian producer flesh out the music and provide impactful vocal performances throughout. The producer went track-by-track, talking about the inspiration and production behind each piece of music on the album:
1. Everything Matters
In the “Everything Matters” prelude, I reflect on the chaotic journey of life and love, capturing the essence of fleeting moments that define our existence. This was also originally a part of the track “Ruins”, however I believed that the voicemail line I created centralized the theme of the whole album to start off with, so I decided to make it its own moment as an intro to help convey that to everyone listening.
2. Ruins
Lexi and I met two years ago during a studio session with Synymata in LA – from there we became really good friends and have always wanted to work on something special together. When I finished the instrumental to this track, I instantly knew that Lexi would be able to work her magic and give it a whole new meaning. To me, the song “Ruins” delves into the complexities of a toxic relationship, painting a vivid picture of emotional entrapment and the struggle to break free. Lexi and I believe that “Ruins” stands out as a track full of pure and raw emotion due to its heavy lyrical content, storytelling, and authentic nature that audiences will relate to on an intense level.
3. Salvation
Working with Hannah on this song was a very special experience – I truly think that the both of us writing together always comes so naturally and we have a lot of fun with whatever we make. “Salvation” was originally a demo for “Ruins” that Hannah had sent to me a while back, and I was so in love with her vocals to the point where I wanted to create a new instrumental around them – something heavier but also in the realm of staying melodic. Hannah’s heartfelt lyrics and my
aggressive production style intertwine so well, and we’re very proud of the outcome of this song. Hannah and I believe that “Salvation” stands out as a track full of pure and raw emotion due to its heavy thematic content, immense sound design and authentic nature that people will definitely love.
4. Be Alone
“Be Alone” is about my major depression episode from a few years ago, where I was secretly suicidal and didn’t tell anyone about it whatsoever. I still cry listening to this song every time someone plays it because it’s by far the most personal subject that I’ve written about. It also delves into the art of self-discovery, as my lyrics touch on heartfelt subjects such as mental health and the need of emotional healing after a toxic breakup. This track resonates with anyone navigating the quiet aftermath of love lost, speaking to the heart’s struggle to heal.
5. The Wall
Collaborating with Awon and WISNER on “The Wall” brought an intensity to my style that I can rarely achieve within my own songs to start off with. I’m honoured to have received the demo from Awon, I think he’s super talented and I’ve been a fan of his heavy production for quite some time leading up to this song being made. This is also the first duet that I’ve done in any song, even before making “Twenty Five” with Nina Sung. WISNER’s voice and my own work so well together, so I would for sure say that this was also one that I’m super proud of.
6. Novocaine
“Novocaine” was I song that I started over two years ago inside my university dorm, and it took quite a while to nail the concept of this track because it was so multi-dimensional. This song is my attempt to articulate the emotional numbness that can accompany heartbreak. I wanted to express that desperate need to escape pain, as well as the fleeting highs of distraction that inevitably lead to deeper lows – hence the heavy reference to drugs such as novocaine, oxytocin,
and so forth. This track reflects the cycle of emotional avoidance many do experience in their life, resonating with those seeking temporary relief from their heartache.
7. Hard To Forget You
I initially started “Hard To Forget You” with a separate vocal that I didn’t end up using, and it was a lot slower to begin with – so I had a lot of trouble making it have the energy I wanted to so that it would complement every other song on the album. I then met Kindred in an LA studio session to show her some ideas and we ended up writing to this together in a full day – which was honestly some of the most fun that I’ve had in any studio session ever. I’m really grateful about
how open she was to my production style and I’m super lucky to be able to have her on the album with me. This track resonates deeply with anyone caught in nostalgia’s web, embodying the challenge of letting go while still holding on.
8. Take Me Home
“Take Me Home” is a complete one-eighty of my very aggressive production style, because it’s so chill and down-to-earth. I really wanted to articulate the longing for comfort and familiarity in times of emotional upheaval. The evocative lyrics capture my desire for solace in a chaotic world, emphasizing the comfort that home represents. Ironically, I’m also going to be moving across the country with my family very soon – and this track kind of helped me realize that home
isn’t really about the destination, it’s about the people you’re surrounded and love by within your life.
9. Twenty Five
“Twenty Five” has some of the best vocal production that I’ve ever done, and it’s also another duet with Nina Sung [GILLIAD] that I’m extremely proud of. I started this song in my university dorm room around the same time that I was beginning to make the song “Novocaine”, and I’ve always kept both drop ideas different in intensity because this track was intended to be a sequel to “Be Alone”. Nina Sung was always a dream collab of mine, I’ve always loved her work ever
since her ILLENIUM collaboration “Only One”. To be able to have her on this song with me is a literal dream come true.
10: Elastic
In “Elastic,” I delve into the complexities of love that stretches and bends, sometimes teetering on the edge of breaking. The collaboration with Ryscu and Veronica Bravo brings a dynamic energy that perfectly captures the push and pull of a relationship filled with both passion and tension. This track reflects the resilience required to navigate love’s challenges, resonating with those who feel the weight of desire and the struggle to maintain connection amidst the ebb and flow of emotions.
11. Elastic
Ryscu and I met four years ago online and he’s been a close friend of mine ever since. We have worked on quite a bit of music together, but “Elastic” was the first track that he initially reached out to me with – and I remember falling in love with it after the first listen. Veronica Bravo’ voice and songwriting on “Elastic” is extremely emotional and heartfelt as well, and I’m so lucky to have the opportunity to work with her on both this song and “Just Be Honest” from 2021. This track reflects the resilience required to navigate love’s challenges, resonating with those who feel the weight of desire and the struggle to maintain connection amidst the ebb and flow of emotions.
Closing out the run though, the producer discusses the overall theme and messages contained within Serenity. Read his words and check out the album today!
“The things you cannot change about yourself – you don’t run away from it all – you just accept it. The things you can change, however – you must find the courage to do so. And in life, it’s always important to develop the skill of telling the two apart in the best way possible. Now it may take a few months, a few years, maybe even a few decades to reach this point – but with enough of a willingness to improve and embrace your own storm, you can finally be free. You can finally be in serenity.”
-Chenda
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