SE19 - Chyaro

“I probably wouldn’t be alive without music, in the sense that it is the only

thing I can do and want to do. It kind of saved me, and it’s always been a huge

part of my life.”

London-born, Jamaican-raised, and Newcastle- based; yet Chyaro’s home is rooted

firmly in the music.

If you don’t know- get to know. The freshest sound to grace the North- East

airwaves, Chyaro is stepping out from his behind-the-scenes role in artist

development at Generator and into the limelight with his second single, “SE19”.

Described as “a deeply personal piece that tells the origin story of who I am through

the lens of my parent’s journeys”, Chyaro carefully blends “honest, down to earth

lyricism with immersive instrumentals” to trace the real-life meet cute of his parents,

vocalise the pressures which arise from being an only child and highlight the magic

of music as a looking-glass into his history and unspoken emotional landscape.

From the offset, this track cracks open a time-capsule of nineties nostalgia. The

funky bassline and jazzy piano carry a whimsical, effervescent charm reminiscent of

the vibrant playfulness and rhythmic density heard in Jamiroquai’s Virtual Insanity,

Lauren Hill’s Doo- Wop (That Thing) and Will Smith’s The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.

A humble, reserved Chyaro announces, “I don’t know, it’s weird man ‘cause I’ve

never really done this kind of thing before, but music is my world,” feeling inclined to

justify his place as an emerging solo artist. It’s a modest opener for a track that is

anything but-and rightly so. “Liar, liar”- Chyaro goes straight in for the kill and boldly

raps over a dynamic, energetic beat with each line emanating pride and sincerity.

This is an artist who knows and owns exactly who he is, and with open arms he

invites others to catch a glimpse of his world.

Fostering a natural knack for lyrical storytelling drawn from Lin Manuel- Miranda’s

masterclass in rich, poetic narration, Chyaro’s verses interlace short snippets of his

mother’s life in Wiltshire and his father’s beginnings in Jamaica to create a vivid

patchwork tapestry of the many versions of home which have come to shape Chyaro

into the person he is today.

Speaking on the process of delving into his parent’s past, Chyaro explains:

“Obviously I’ve known my parents all my life, but I didn’t know half of their story. And

hearing about it made me appreciate certain things in my life a lot more.”

“I think home is how you feel in yourself. It’s a mindset, in a way. For me, it’s what

emotion you’re feeling in the music.”

Teasing an EP and live shows on the horizon, the golden age of hip-hop is truly alive

and kicking, and with “SE19”, Chyaro is harbouring its beating heart.

Words - Erin Jones