Evolved E-Stro is still “Hexxed”
E-Stro blurs the line between light and dark, life and art (bars?) to a perhaps dangerous (but effective) degree on his latest full-length project, the first outright Rock effort from the genre-bending, method acting, Los Angeles musician.
E-Stro’s rollout for Hexxed has been pretty pristine, Indie artists take notes. We’ve had a string of fire singles, each standing out from its predecessor while coherently conveying the album’s essence; individual puzzle pieces that begin to paint the picture of the upcoming film without spoiling it. Algorithmically, this benefits from the surging “waterfall” strategy but never falls victim to incoherence as tact is in tow every single step of the way from one of the most methodical and meticulous up-and-comers in the game today. It’s not just the streaming strategy or the Times Square Billboards or the press, it’s the supporting content, the mood, and every single element serving a distinct purpose. If there isn’t a slice of content wasted, then it instills a level of faith in me as a consumer/avid listener that there isn’t a word wasted on the project either.
Of the preceding singles, the Cody Benjamin-produced “Silhouette” probably secured the most buzz, which, boasting a hypnotizing hook and rising starlet Baby Goth in tow, makes quite a bit of sense. “Shut It Out” is a close second as it garnered some significant attention in its own right and was a major component in the surrounding hype for Hexxed. With all of that said, my favorite of the bunch with regards to the singles would be Keyawna Nikole-assisted “Lights Out” as the subject matter (using drugs and booze to cope when you don’t know where else to turn) resonates pretty heavily with me: The earworm of a hook strikes almost immediately, with E-Stro sounding like a Pop-Punk frontman on a remorseless bender. Keyawna Nikole sounds angelic but deadly like a siren at the center of E-Stro’s ocean of spirits.
Despite its obvious emotional gravity, Hexxed trudges (and sometimes sprints “Lyin to Myself” & “Adrenaline”) forward with infectiously catchy, dynamically produced, and executed numbers, simultaneously making for a euphoric and troubling listening experience as you feel like a fly on the wall viewing a struggle that feels almost too personal to watch. “Let Her Be” is a beauty of a closer that sounds like something I would have blasted on my broken speakers as an emotionally broken, rebellious teen but still resonates heavily as a more well-adjusted (depending on who you’re asking) adult. Produced, mixed, and mastered by Cody Benjamin and executive produced by Michael-Allen Harrison, Hexxed is peak E-Stro (to date), a labor of love (and hate) that is on my short list of must-listens for 2023.
