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The Integrated Artistry of aldn
In today's digital landscape, where content creation spans across platforms like TikTok and YouTube, the integration of auditory and visual elements is crucial for engagement. Few artists manage this seamless integration as effectively as aldn. His approach to digital content creation is holistic, treating visuals not merely as supplementary to his music but as integral to the narrative he crafts with each note and lyric. This feature delves into how aldn’s internet videos, particularly on platforms like TikTok, are meticulously crafted to complement his evolving sound, creating a complete sensory experience that resonates deeply with his audience.
Highland Park and Beyond
Aldn's visual style merges his upbringing in Virginia with the dynamic energy of Highland Park, Los Angeles. Originating from Reston, a town near Washington D.C., aldn was shaped by the natural beauty and cultural richness of the area, which imbued him with a deep sense of authenticity. This foundation is evident in the thematic and stylistic choices of his work. "From like a little town outside of Washington D.C., it's called Reston," aldn reflects on how these roots have influenced his artistic narrative.
As his music evolved to develop a unique sound, so did his visual style, growing from subdued to strikingly personal.
"It's kind of corny but like finding myself in a sense...for so long I felt like I was kind of not being true to myself,"
aldn admits, highlighting his introspective journey that now resonates through his music and visual content. Highland Park enhances this narrative, providing a vibrant backdrop that complements aldn's eclectic vibe and the authenticity rooted in his Virginian background, making his visuals compellingly unique and deeply personal.
A Homage or Blasphemy? aldn's Profound Use of the Cross in His Visual Aesthetics
Aldn's incorporation of the cross in his digital videos transcends traditional religious symbolism, reflecting a deeply personal narrative forged during his time in rehab. His experiences there highlighted the profound role faith often plays as a last refuge for those seeking redemption or recovery. However, for aldn, the cross symbolizes not a traditional religious faith but a commitment to authenticity and self-expression—core principles that have profoundly shaped his artistic journey.
While in rehab, aldn observed that for many, faith becomes a crucial support system, a lifeline in their journey towards healing.
"A lot of people have nothing else to turn to, and they really cling to religion,"
aldn explains, acknowledging the comfort and guidance faith provides to those in recovery. Yet, his personal takeaway was slightly different. For aldn, the period of recovery wasn't just about overcoming challenges; it was a transformative phase of self-discovery and reaffirmation of his personal values. In this light, aldn’s use of the cross in his videos becomes a powerful statement about personal resilience and identity.
"It was more so an homage, even though it is technically blasphemous,"
he comments on his unconventional use of this symbol. This duality invites viewers to explore where reverence ends and irreverence begins, urging a reevaluation of what sacred symbols can represent in contemporary culture. For aldn, the cross is less about religious orthodoxy and more about the universal search for meaning and self-realization. It embodies his journey towards embracing his true self, unshackled by the expectations and labels imposed by others.
A Deeper Dive into Visual Narratives
In aldn's work, each visual element is chosen deliberately, from the backdrop of a gritty Los Angeles suburb to the symbolic use of the cross, each component is laden with meaning. These choices are reflective of his broader artistic intentions—to challenge, to redefine, and to intimately connect with his audience.
"Anything that I really like and am attracted towards is gonna resonate with people because it just translates,"
aldn states, suggesting that authenticity in artistic expression is paramount, whether through sound or sight.
Looking Forward: Anticipating aldn's Visual Future
As aldn continues to navigate his career, the integration of his visual and auditory art forms promises to evolve further. With a new album potentially on the horizon, his fans can expect a deepening of this integration, where the visuals are not only complementary but also critical to understanding the full scope of his artistic message.
"That's what I'm working on right now at this cabin, hopefully an album,"
aldn reveals, underscoring the anticipation of how his personal journey will manifest into his future projects. This ongoing evolution makes aldn not just a creator to watch but a holistic artist to experience.
In conclusion, aldn's approach to blending music and visuals on digital platforms is not merely about adding a layer to his sound—it's about creating a multi-sensory experience that challenges, delights, and informs. His journey is a testament to the power of genuine artistic exploration and the profound impact of embracing one's roots and influences to craft something truly groundbreaking in the digital age.
Interview Transcript:
Medicine Box: Yo, what's good, Aldn? How's it going?
Aldn: Pretty good, pretty good.
Medicine Box: Wait, are you from L.A.?
Aldn: No, I live in Virginia, or I'm from Virginia, but I moved to L.A. like a few months ago.
Medicine Box: How do you like living in L.A.?
Aldn: I actually love it so far. I lived in New York for two years before this, and it got so exhausting out there, so it's like a nice change of pace.
Medicine Box: Where in Virginia are you from?
Aldn: From like a little town outside of Washington D.C. It's called Reston.
Medicine Box: Wait, so how did you get into hyperpop in Virginia?
Aldn: I mean, this is all during COVID, so I was kind of just started making music with people on Discord and shit and that's how I was meeting people. But that was all before it was even called hyperpop, you know? It was just kids online making music during COVID. Um, and then you know midway through the Spotify playlist came out and that was like the defining moment, and all the labels started signing kids and stuff.
Medicine Box: What genre do you classify “I can't believe I let you get away”,
Aldn: I would say it's, I don't know, I feel like it's like alternative music. I'm not necessarily trying to go for one genre in particular, I'm just mixing together a combination of everything I've developed over years and years of making music and producing, it's definitely production heavy that's what I focus so much on and I started out as a producer so I've been producing for more than half my life. I derive influences from you know hyperpop and shoegaze and indie, like stuff I grew up on, dubstep or whatever. But I'm not you know, I'm trying to twist it into a direction that sounds its own thing.
Medicine Box: I guess you wouldn't consider yourself a hyperpop artist anymore or did you ever consider yourself that?
Aldn: Not anymore really, I mean, I would say even from the beginning, I never fully thought of myself as a hyperpop artist. I guess, mainly because, you know, I was making all that music before
Medicine Box: Are there any future releases we can expect or is this kind of a one-off release?
Aldn: Yeah, most definitely. I mean, I've been using my voice more because throughout my whole career, I feel like I've been kind of restraining my voice and putting myself into this whisper thing but I've been getting a lot more into using a whole different side of my vocals.
Medicine Box: How did you come up with that kind of aesthetic for this release or were you just testing that aesthetic and then were like let's just tease this song with this aesthetic or was it built for the song
Aldn: It was kind of a culmination of months of i don't know, just kind of it's kind of corny but like finding myself in a sense you know for so long i felt like i was kind of not being true to myself and that type of shit, that can translate in a video, in anything in the sound, it just it doesn't come across, like over months I've been kind of just looking deeper into what I like and kind of going back to my Virginia roots in a way, and that really it was, you know over when I was living in New York, I found myself trying to fit in with like cool New York kids but I ended up fucking hating myself, I hated it, and I just realized, I came to a realization that I just hate everything about all of that, the whole scene. But now, with this new aesthetic, it's like truly me.
Medicine Box: Yeah, I'll be completely honest, I feel like it's something that I've never seen before, but at the same time, it feels so familiar if that makes sense.
Aldn: Yeah, yeah, exactly
Medicine Box: Is there a through line for all the different pieces in all your videos, like a central theme or aesthetic or inspiration that you're pulling from?
Aldn: I mean not fully necessarily, I think the main through line is kind of the you know like I was saying too, with like things I think are cool, I guess like fishing.
Medicine Box: Yeah yeah, the fishing one's fire! Fishing out the microphone, it feels like you're almost like cooking up music in this environment,
Aldn: Yeah I'm like pulling the music out of the ground, digging it out of the dirt.
Medicine Box: Can you explain the cross motif because I feel like there was a little controversy on that.
Aldn: I'm glad there was a little controversy, but I mean I didn't grow up very religious, there is this kind of like pressure in the whole recovery world there's a lot of religious pressure because a lot of people have nothing else to turn to and I really like how it's, I like how religion gives something for people to guide them and that's kind of what led to the cross because I really respect religion. A lot of people. Thought me bearing the cross was almost like a dig on Christianity or something, but for me it was more so an homage, even though it is technically blasphemous. I felt more so that it was like paying respect.
Medicine Box: How will this aesthetic be integrated going forward and can we anticipate a whole new project that follows the single?
Aldn: I mean that's what I'm working on right now at this cabin is hopefully an album and it would be my first album so I really want to get it right on every aspect being, the sound, the writing, but also the visual side of it I feel I've struggled in the past with cases so I'm definitely planning on taking this aesthetic you know deeper and more shocking. More based on what I like myself because I think anything that I really like and attracted towards will resonate with people because it just translates, something you can just tell when they're interested in something it shines through for sure
Medicine Box: Are you gonna have any help on this project, as far as features or other producers or is it kind of gonna be like a solo project
Aldn: I mean for the most part it's a solo I don't think I'm gonna have any features or anything on it I mean if something comes along that makes sense I would but as of right now it's just me for the most part on production but also a good mix of my friend Gabe Greenland who I produce with pretty often and I have a lot of work already with him
Medicine Box: All right, man, thanks so much for hopping on
Aldn: Of course, thanks for everything yeah,
Medicine Box: And congrats again, man,
Aldn: Thank you. I appreciate it.
Medicine Box: All right, peace
