Evil Key Album Drop

Evil Key, Jonas Reddy-Nicholson, announces his newest album “Let Things Die.” It is a full 12 songs. He describes it as his most approachable album. It is a rap album but with harmonies and keys. There is still a cohesive theme, like his album “The Host,” but it feels different song to song. A single will be released in September and the album drops in October. “When I announce this album, I’ll share a trailer and  snippets, then poll fans for favorites to decide on a single to release. I think you definitely hear Vaporeyes more on this one (singing & keys) and my favorite keyboard solo is on this Evil Key album,” he shared.

“The intent behind it was the same as others: to keep it honest. But hopefully it’s more approachable and relatable. Each song is about death and it’s infinitely relatable,” Nicholson explains. One song, Modes,  is about the death of a relationship. Stephen Phillips adds vocals to this track. The gist of the chorus is  “I used to know you. We don’t talk anymore but I hope you’re good and hope you wish the same for me.” The tracks cover death of friendships, friends, ego. Songs get it out then it doesn’t need to be addressed anymore. You can “let things die,” as the album title implies. There is a type of closure. 

I breathe water under pressure. That’s why I work hard, create love in depression. I don’t need accolades, it’s all for the message. – Drowning

“Production wise I did about half. There are a lot of guests but they are singing my words. Except Blaque Alex & Biggz- they added their take and creative input. My girlfriend, Danielle Marie, harmonized in the beginning and the end of the album. When I record I do it so quick. I’ll wake up at like 6 or 7, make coffee and roll a joint, I’ll make a beat. Take a break then that night or next day write the words. I work through one song at a time. Then I get to the studio and do it in an hour or two. I’ll do a few songs at a time. Then I’ll forget the words until I make a post about it. The transitions are pretty cool, I tried to make it cohesive,” he said.  Nicholson shared that his favorite beat can be heard in Scum World.

I get lost in the lyrics when I listen to the album and my own connections flood my brain. Overall, my picks would be Where I Am featuring Jah Mala and New Body. I kept going back to those songs but I enjoyed listening to the entire album in it’s intended order. It’s so lyric heavy and deep. You get some real insight into Nicholson’s experiences. I’m a big fan of Vaporeyes and Nicholson’s vocal style and those sounds shine through on this album.

Music is my motive, rap I cut through and cornered it. Worldstar and recorded it. More importantly, true to myself. I’m a performer, see. – With Feeling

Patrick Tuohey and Death Scythe Media came through on the album art again. The artwork on his albums are red and blue. “The Host” is red, LoFi, and aggressive then this album is blue, being more approachable and dreamy. It’s more direct with lyrics and verbose with some deep house, ” he described. The cover art was shot when they recorded the first music video. Within that video they got a photoshoot and album photo and then in the next music video they got another photoshoot and the third album cover.

Nicholson worked on three albums in about a year. “I like to commit to a theme and get out as many as I can. It’s tunnel vision. My last album, “The Host, ” was written in order done in a couple months and I still like it. I threw a listening party for a critique. I’m such an album guy and I wanted each one to be the one you want your friends to get into but also have the album flow. It was just too many songs. So a B Sides project is up in the air. They are good but just don’t fit,” Nicholson said.

Follow Nicholson’s Evil Key and Vaporeyes projects on social media and YouTube.