Ronin - Chemical Smiles
PREMIERE | RONIN RELEASES INTOXICATING ‘CHEMICAL SMILES’
Meet Ronin, who premieres the music video for “Chemical Smiles” today on Rawckus.
Ronin
“Chemical Smiles” mirrors Ronin’s amalgamation of stylish elements of pop, emo-trap, funk, R&B, alt-rock, and spacious orchestral washes into an inimitable sound exuding susceptibility, as well as concentrated auras of emotion bordering on all-consuming. Artists making an impression on Ronin include Kendrick Lamar, Prince, Queen, Halsey, Muse, and Jeff Buckley, yet it’s difficult to identify any direct influences on Ronin’s music. His sound is his alone.
Born in Philadelphia, Ronin began piano when he was five-years-old, and then switched to trumpet, playing jazz and classical music with ensembles in Philly. Next, he added guitar to his instrumental repertoire, performing in blues and prog-rock bands. After immersing himself in R&B and hip-hop he opted to fashion a totally sui generis sound, one reflecting the inner passion of who he is.
Simply put, Ronin lights it up!
The child of Korean-immigrant parents, Ronin experienced the dark touch of bullying, testing his self-perception. Later he felt profound love, followed by intense heartache when the relationship ended. In the icy grip of loneliness, he resolved to utilize his music as a focal point of connection to other people who felt a similar isolation.
“It’s your chemical smile” – delivered by Ronin’s captivating voice – opens the song, surging into a yummy falsetto, followed by a potently thumping rhythm driven by a subterranean bass line and crunching percussion. Layers of pulsing synths inject vibrant colors full of searing resonance on a melody blending pop, alt-rock, trap, and heady R&B flavors into tightly infectious harmonics.
Teeming with delicious sonic energy, Ronin’s voice, seething with dark sensual colors and galvanizing textures, ignites the atmosphere with sizzling oomph. Simply put, Ronin lights it up!
“Chemical Smiles” hits like a hammer, full of oozing synths, a muscular throbbing rhythm, and the high-voltage voice of Ronin. Ronin has it going on!
