Last week, Chicago-born producer Ace Hashimoto unveiled a new collaborative single with Thundercat entitled, “VAPORWAVES”. The track was first shared exclusively to Hashimoto’s Patreon page, and is now available for fans to stream on YouTube–though Ace warns not for long.
From the opening traveling bass line, “VAPORWAVES” bears the touch of Thundercat. Together with Ace Hashimoto – formerly known as brandUn DeShay – these two multi-hyphenate artists are able to pack plenty of texture into a 2:23-minute runtime. The funky bass and drowsy backing vocals carry the hallmarks of Thundercat found on his Grammy-winning 2020 solo album, It Is What It Is. For his part, Ace Hashimoto constructs a lyrical examination of the meaning of life after the end of the world.
“This song is about existential crisis and I believe it was that concept that led me to feeling free enough to do things I’ve always wanted to do, while also being even more grateful for the things I CAN do,” Hashimoto wrote in the video’s description. “Basically, be aware of your own mortality. Remember, we’re all just human. And tell the people you care about, ‘I’m happy to have you in my life.’”
Ace Hashimoto first made a name for himself as “brandUn DeShay” in the 2010s as a producer for such rappers as Chance The Rapper, Joey Bada$$, Danny Brown, and the late Mac Miller, on whose posthumous 2020 album, Circles, Thundercat provided bass. In 2016, however, Ace revealed his new solo name and moved to Japan where his output slowed down to only a handful of singles in those five years. Yet the arrival of “VAPORWAVES” marks a new period of productivity for Hashimoto, as he plans to release an album.
“After a long, long siesta, I’ve [awakened] with new music and new energy! I took some time to figure how I’d like to proceed in music and have decided that the boutique route [suits] me best,” he said.
Watch the retro arcade video for the new collaboration between Ace Hashimoto and Thundercat, “VAPORWAVES”.
Ace Hashimoto, Thundercat – “VAPORWAVES”
[Video: Ace Hashimoto]
[H/T Consequence of Sound]