Aleksejs Macions Releases A Massive and Edgy Record

A recent record release from Aleksejs Macions delivers an absolute soiree of edgy alternative and experimental pop approaches that seem to bend genres at free will and is built with far fewer boundaries than you may be used to, which makes the entire thing come through with the beautiful sonic presence and semi-hard-hitting approach that breeds massive personality.

The Never album has more than a few surprises around its corners and is woven with a lot of attention to detail, but also this particular kind of looseness that lets it feel freeing and slightly rebellious.

The musical and vocal approaches are both a bit rambunctious and wild, but also honest, so it brings me back to the character of everything because you end up paying attention to the lyrics through all of this brilliant presence musically.

You can hear plenty of electronic tonality throughout this record as it's built with synths and guitars but it also has an edging is to it that brings together this decimated and distorted fuzz tone approach that makes you think of garage punk and it seems to blend these elements together seamlessly which is something that sort of blew my mind a little bit.

Songs like "No Soul" bring this kind of soundscape out, and it packs a serious punch but is still incredibly addictive, colorful, and fun.

It's been almost forever since I've heard a record that packs in this much of a blend of color and edginess in one release, and while this happens and the record unfolds, you find yourself delving deeper into these textual layers that the record presents.

There's also a heavy hip hop element here that feels like it brings rap and hardcore music together, and tracks like 'Drill A Skull Into A Heart" display this sense of aggression while creating such experimental and inventive production techniques.

When songs like this one end, you realize you haven't heard anything exactly like this before, and this is what I meant by creating music with fewer boundaries than you are used to.

This is a stepping stone kind of record that surely takes that massively fuzzy, distorted, and aggressive underbelly of garage, punk, rock, and heavy hitting hip hop, and brings it into an alternative pop playground and by doing this, you have something that has an atmosphere that is completely its own.

Throughout all of this, you have loads of swagger, attitude, and messaging behind the songs that let you know a lot of these came from personal places, making everything even more authentic and building on that character I mentioned earlier.

All in all, this record spans about an hour, and if you listen to the full record from beginning to end, you get this amazing escape, and when it's over, you have to reacclimate yourself back to reality.

This is something I found refreshing but also addictive because as soon as it was over, I wanted to start it up again.

Once you're embedded in the atmosphere it gives you, you don't want to leave.

You're getting glimpses into somebody's world.

If you listen to a few songs from the record, you may get an idea of what to expect, as certain tracks bear staples that the entire album holds, but you will not get the full spectrum of what the record has to offer as a whole.

As a full album, you're getting stories, personalities, viewpoints, and vast undertones, edgy overtones, and experimental drive that all makes for something unique and still can hit like a sucker punch to the gut.

This was an intense record but those intensities come in waves so once you start this up, you go along for the ride.

This is an album you listen to with headphones on as well because then you can really soak in all those layers and textures, notes and sounds that float through the ethers of some of the songs, along with the brilliantly executed synthesizer tones that come through in different tracks.

This was something that I got pulled into, and once I was there, I had to see it through.

It's been a long time since an album did that for me, and it's also been quite some time since I listened to a record that served almost like an escape.

The album pulls you away from wherever you are and whatever you're doing, and it does so with this sort of emotional drive and inventive production style.

With such a well-woven record, we wanted to chat with Aleksejs to find out where this record came from and what may be coming up next for the artist.

Here's what happened.

Buzz Slayers: Let's talk about the Never record! This was such a great blend of experimental electronic and indie pop with color and edge!! Where did this record come from?

First off, thank you very much!

This album came from a wild mix of ideas. I had an idea in mind to make a hip-hop-influenced album. Something like Ghostemane, Death Grips, JPEGMAFIA, ELUCID, IC3PEAK… But over timed, it honestly kind of turned into its own… how can I say it, “creature”? Something I didn’t anticipate, but that felt really powerful in its delivery. It’s definitely not clean or polished, but it’s alive.

Buzz Slayers: I'm hearing a few different approaches on this record! Who are some of your biggest musical influences?

My main influences overall are Gilla Band, The Armed, Midori, IDLES, Viagra Boys, Daughters, The Blood Brothers… and a lot of different bands. If you want I can give you a full list but you’re in for a treat~

For my solo stuff specifically, I think my main influences are Xiu Xiu, Sub Urban, Billie Eilish, The Null Club, SOPHIE, Marshmello, Death Grips, Weatherday and KFC Murder Chicks. They all inspire me in different ways. Emotional intensity, sound design, performance style…

Buzz Slayers: Are you performing live right now? Any touring in support of this release?

I have a solo gig on May 16th 2025 in Nice, France. Gonna be playing my solo material for the first time. I am both excited and terrified haha!

Touring is really hard for me right now because I am a high-school student. It’s really expensive, and I also have exams coming up. I wish that one day I’ll be able to organize a tour with either my band ShitNoise or with my solo project. It’s my current goal/dream.

Buzz Slayers: Did you record this in a home studio setup, or did you go to a big studio for this?

All of it was recorded on my MacBook using Logic Pro and/or GarageBand. I’ve got a Focusrite soundcard, a couple microphones, and a ton of gear. Guitars, cymbals, other percussions, pedals, weird stuff that make weird noises, a lot of plugins on Logic Pro… No fancy studios, just a big imagination (cheesy, I know).

Buzz Slayers: Now that this is out, what's next for you as an artist?

More albums, for sure. I’m always making music. ALWAYS. And I can’t really stop!

I also produce for other artists, and I’m always down for collaborations. Production, mixing, artwork, whatever. I like being involved in every layer of a project, whether it’s mine or someone else’s.

I’m currently working with my friends MC Ciadel and pickletastemusic on their music.

Buzz Slayers: Are you planning any music videos in the near future?

This is a really interesting question because I have a lot of ideas, but most of them are just way too ambitious or expensive for me to pull off right now. Like, I dream big, but I also gotta be realistic.

For now, I’m focusing on videos with ShitNoise. We’ve got some pretty intense stuff coming up.

For AM, I got new music on the way, so music video ideas are already in the making

Buzz Slayers: Who's in your headphones right now?

My ears!

On a serious note, I’ve been listening to quite a lot of Black Midi, Geordie Greep, Viagra Boys (the new album’s amazing), Suicide, The Null Club, and Fontaines DC.

I’ve also revisited old projects (Chasse Aux Hiboux, IV, Hackers Inc, Past Aliens)… and I cringed a lot. But it was also fascinating to hear how far I’ve come. It’s like looking at your childhood drawings. Weirdly powerful.

Buzz Slayers: This was a pretty big record! Was it a big undertaking? How long did it take to finish this?

Definitely. Some of the songs go all the way back to 2021, and the album cover too. I actually had a pretty clear idea for the title track (“Never”) early on, especially that plucky synth in the chorus. But I lost track of when it all started to feel like an album. It kind of came together over time. Like a jigsaw puzzle!

Buzz Slayers: What would you tell people they can expect on this release?

You can expect my usual dose of avant-garde lyricism. Abstract, sometimes brutal and harsh, sometimes vulnerable and personal, sometimes stupid. There are also a few multilingual tracks on the album. If you’re into music that doesn’t sit still and isn’t afraid to be weird, you’re in for a treat.

Buzz Slayers: Before we go, what would you like to express to fans of the music? 

Thank you so much, genuinely. Keep creating. Keep being weird. And never let anyone shame you for feeling too much.

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