Colorado Nachos

I decided to utilize the idea of Jujutsu Kaisen's idealistic and self-sacrificing, Yuji, being possessed by the incredibly violent and powerful "King of Curses", Ryomen Sukuna, and struggling with containing him as a metaphor for my own mental health struggles particularly with an episodic mood disorder that is often triggered by stress. Particularly recently with current world events I've found it difficult not to have mood swings triggered by frustration and helplessness of feeling like there's nothing I can do to bring enough positivity and goodness back into the world along with the stress that comes with just existing. This idea took form as a back and forth struggle between Yuji/myself and Sukuna/my internal struggle. I tried to touch on anger fueling shame continuing to fuel anger, the desire to put good out into the world, and the fear of turning those I love against me. Colorado did an amazing job creating a tonal atmosphere and moods that really sell the story in my opinion. I described two characters in conflict with no idea how the track itself should/could sound and they really delivered with music that really sells two opposing personalities in conflict with potentially devastating consequences. It was an absolute pleasure to meet this challenge together and I am so looking forward to meeting the future challenges with them!

my recorded sample was originally a viola bow brushed against the rim of a copper cup. after nearly four hours of sound manipulation, a misclick in Ableton resulted in the original sample being deleted. quickly recorded myself in the process of finding said sample to see if any gold would come out of it, and one exasperated "groan" seemed to work when slotted in its place and normalized. the groan was transformed in various ways. the first was through a sampler a trance gate for that vowel-morphing ostinato heard throughout the track. its waveforms were fed into vital to provide the basis for various synths, including the hoover bass and the synth that supports that sampler instrument. the groan was also resampled to provide various risers, vocal chops and assorted ear candy. this production admittedly took a ton of inspiration from Death Grips' Ex-Military: buzzy synth lines peppered with heavy distortion and lo-fi digital samples. Nacho was such a great sport with this and was pivotal with shaping the direction of this track -- still amazes me how they were able to ride this beat between three tempo changes! they truly took whatever curveballs i gave them and delivered a killer performance.

I’ve got a demon inside of me, fighting for freedom
A dangerous foe, but I fear that I need him
A powerful tool, and I am its vessel
Cursed with the duty to eternally wrestle
This rage deep down, got me shaking and twitchin'
The potential for carnage born from contradiction
Desperate for justice, but who decides what that is?
Fighting fire with fire and my words are violence.

What can one man do about worldwide catastrophe
Countless suffering and dying, injustice, and blasphemy
As in life, so in death all deserve to have dignity
To give of myself is my responsibility
I will give according to my ability 
everyone’s entitled to an opportunity
I pray when I die they’ll say that “he fought valiantly”
I've learned that karma don’t grant you impunity

a cruel, ugly world, and it’s making me sick
Containing my rage, I projectile vomit
It’d be easy to claim that people are shit
Is it time to give up or time to overcommit?

Am I at peace with my mission and what it necessitates?
Possessed with a bloodlust, sated with hate
How could I ever keep him contained?
The vessel is powerless so Sukuna reigns


Slicing and dicing all those who get in my path
I’m every sin fueled by wrath
Bloody vengeance for laughs
No escaping my trap
Get in my way and get clapped
I’m generational trauma, 
I don’t stay in the past.

When all hope’s lost, you’re left with Ryomen Sukuna
Been growing inside like I was a tumor
lurking behind their aqueous humor. 
Now serving up violence direct to consumer.

Boot on they neck
Better expect 
There’s gonna be some blowback
Tired of being on guard, going on the attack
There’s no escape from the terms of our pact

My bloody crusade
Granted more aid 
by your weakness, fear, and shame
Consuming your brain
I’m all that remains
This is my house, bitch, you’re in my domain!


I’ve got a demon inside of me, fighting for freedom
A dangerous foe, but I fear that I need him
A powerful tool, and I am its vessel
Cursed with the duty to eternally wrestle
This rage deep down, got me shaking and twitchin'
The potential for carnage born from contradiction
Desperate for justice, but who decides what that is?
Fighting fire with fire and my words are violence.


Try to fight back and I’ll do it to ya, like Shibuya
Twist ya corpse up in knots like it’s Kama Sutra
Slice 'em all into bits that can never be sutured
Give up on restraint, I am your future

I am what’s left when your failure’s inevitable
When no other options are reputable
Your shame that powers me will be irreparable
The fate of your doomed world is unquestionable

When all hope’s lost, you’re left with Ryomen Sukuna
Been growing inside you like I was a tumor
They’ll all turn against you, you hear the rumors. 
You’ll never shake your internal abuser.


I’ve got a demon inside of me, fighting for freedom
A dangerous foe, but I fear that I need him
A powerful curse, my duty to hold it
In a world full of curses, all roads lead to Ryomen