Aeromos Dax - Is This It!?!?
Aeromos Dax, sometimes styled Aeromos...Dax? is an abstract Hip-Hop artist from Bainbridge, Georgia. A true visionary, you would be hard-pressed to find an artist whose work is as distinctive as what Aeromos Dax is releasing. Today we are excited to share our thoughts on Aeromos Dax’s new EP, Is This It!?!? as well as our interview with this talented artist!
Is This It!?!? which is a sequel to Aeromos Dax’s 2021 album So... This Is It kicks off with “Rehearsal of the Envision”. This track opens with a spoken-word portion that really sets the table extremely well. Aeromos Dax’s rap flow alternates with more spoken word segments throughout the track, bringing the lyrics to life in a memorable way. Up next is “Succumbing/Submerged” which is the shortest track on the EP at just two minutes and three seconds. There is some real weight behind Aeromos Dax’s words in this song and its subdued nature allows for the meaning to stand at the forefront.
“Whisk Me Away” comes next in the third slot from Is This It!?!? which features Myk11. Myk11 speaks about his loneliness and Aeromos talks about the lack of value in his efforts in this song which are intertwining messages that come together to create a united, meaningful experience. “IDK Anymore” is fourth from Is This It!?!? and it stood as my personal favorite. Throughout this song, we are treated to some brilliant wordplay and you get a real sense of the lyrical mastery Aeromos Dax is capable of. Indeed, Aeromos Dax’s skills are on sharp display here. Closing out the EP is “Host” which features Javelin. Aeromos Dax’s three verses set the stage while Javelin’s verse really provide a certain kick to the song that brings things full circle. Introspective and mysterious, this track is a perfect way to close out Is This It!?!? because it is a great example of Aeromos Dax’s abstract and intelligent lyricism while also showing how his work with his collaborators really helps his music shine brighter.
I would be remiss if I did not mention the B-sides from Is This It!?!? as well; “Mara” has my favorite flow out of each of the songs written for this project while “Midnight Oil As Mourning Coffee” features lyrical themes present within other tracks on the EP and definitely feels like a “lost song” among the five that made the official release. “The 50th Shade of Gray Matter” also has all the hallmarks of a great Aeromos Dax song and it truly offers a unique listening experience.
Now let’s jump into the interview!
Thanks for being with us today!
How did you get your start in music? Can you share some of your influences and early experiences
It all started in 2015 when I just started writing raps cause I wanted to and the more I did it the more seriously I took this hobby. During these times I was just rocking Accapella in classrooms and locker rooms, there was one time late in my junior year of high school (2018ish) I and one guy rocked back in forth for about 40 minutes and I cherish that because he understood the assignment was to just rap not try to turn this into a battle it was a fun experience. I would record a little while after that. In late 2018 early 2019, I released my first mixtape on CD-R it was amateurish but it was an interesting experience shopping around to everyone walking around with twenty some odd tapes in one’s cargo shorts. Then I graduated High school and I soon realized CDs weren’t very viable so I made the transition to digital formats and the rest is history. As far as influences go my biggest influence is MF DOOM with billy woods, Aesop Rock, and R.A.P. Ferreria (FKA Milo; AKA Scallops Hotel), and a few lesser examples are artists I’ve learned from to make my craft what it is today and what it will grow into being in the future
When it came to writing your most recent EP, Is This It!?!?, what were some of your goals? Did the songwriting process vary at all from what you've done in the past?
Honestly, the only goal I have is to take what criticism I’ve received from the last project and implement it as I go in order to make a better product. As far as my songwriting process goes: No, I always write when I’m inspired and edit as I go that's always been my process.
How did your collaborators help to shape Is This It!?!? and what are you most proud of with this EP?
The Water Crop, Shinji Holocron, and by extension Milikifun helped enhance the vibe of the record while adding their original flair in order to keep the record interesting. While Mykll and Javelin gave different points of view as well as different styles. Mykll is straightforward and earnest while Javelin pushes the English language to its poetic limits.
In addition to the five tracks that made the cut, Is This It!?!? has some B-sides. What went into the song selection process and what can you tell me about the three songs that didn't make it on the EP?
There wasn’t a real complicated process these three specific songs didn’t make the cut for simple but unique reasons
Mara: was taken off due to it having an overly compressed mix (especially during the spoken intro/outro) and having a clunky rhyme structure in the first half of the verse along with a really short runtime just shy of two minutes. I felt it didn’t add enough to the record other than the fact it would have been a lightning-fast banger whose intro and outro would’ve destroyed the project's momentum at any moment.
Midnight Oil As Mourning Coffee: had a bad mix
The 50th Shade Of Grey Matter: Was made really late in the creation process and at the time felt like a repeat of a track on “So… this is it” called Outside The Stained Glass so I left it off the record.
What's next for you?
I’m always cooking something up but nothing specific at the moment just make sure to follow my Instagram and Soundcloud if you want to know whats coming down the pipeline.
Thank you!
After the interview, I really feel like we have a great understanding of what goes into Aeromos Dax’s writing and recording process. I especially enjoyed how he broke down why each B-side failed to make the EP - that kind of artist insight is not always freely available. I really feel as though each piece of Is This It!?!? is cleverly presented and extremely well thought out; Aeromos Dax is skilled with writing deep, introspective and at times mysterious lyrics that will leave you yearning to find the meaning within. We have Is This It!?!? embedded below via Spotify and you can also catch the B-sides for this EP on SoundCloud!
