What’s your stage name and where are you from?
My stage name is Chaos1.0. I’m from Dayton, OH, but I’ve been based in Cleveland for a few years now for college. I attend Cleveland State University and major in film.
What’s the story behind your stage name?
Funny story, actually. Back in 7th grade, I went on a school field trip. Typically, being caught with a cellphone at that school would’ve resulted in a demerit, but it felt like a special day, so I brought mine. It was a chill day at a nature reserve. On the ride back, I noticed a friend of mine had fallen asleep and took a picture of him, posting it on Instagram with the caption, “This dude knocked tf out.”
The next day, everyone was talking about the post. I apologized to the kid, but he told the principal. Facepalm. The principal printed out the post, caption and all, and either gave me detention or suspended me—I was SICK. At the time, my IG handle was @jr_young1.0. I changed it to @Chaos1.0, hoping they’d never find my account again. I didn’t start making music until sophomore year, though. That’s when Chaos1.0 became more than just an Instagram handle.
Describe your musical journey in three sentences.
I explore a lot and push the envelope of genre expectations. I used to work alone, but each release granted me more opportunities for collaboration. These days, I’m learning to give myself more grace.
Share an interesting experience you had while creating your latest track.
I’ve been working on an album for the past 2–3 years that’s about to release. One of my favorite experiences was reaching out to “Chuuwee” and getting him on a song. I’ve been listening to his music since high school, so having a track with him now feels like a big accomplishment for both my current and younger self. Collaboration is my favorite part of creation.
What message do you want to convey through your music?
I want to convey that artists are human beings too, and that every human is capable of being expressive, beyond music.
Tell us about a challenge you faced during production and how you overcame it.
When I first started music, my cousins were already making songs in studios. I wanted to join them, but I had to stick to GarageBand on an iPad provided by my high school. I made everything I could on there and learned a lot. Eventually, I saved up from working at a retirement home to buy my own laptop, microphone, and Focusrite. Gaining my own setup felt earned and gave me insight into the process of making music.
If you could collaborate with any artist, who would it be and why?
Probably Childish Gambino. He planted the seeds of inspiration I grow from today. That said, I want my artistry to level up before that day, if it ever comes.
Where do you see your music taking you in the next year?
Definitely more collaborations. I tell myself, “Even if this next album isn’t the one that blows things up, it’ll hopefully persuade other artists that I’m worth a shot.”
What’s the next big step for you as an artist?
“Kayo’s Voyage,” an album by Chaos1.0 x Hidden Renaissance, releases Friday, January 17, 2025, and I’m excited! Shout out to Hidden Renaissance—a community of over 200 underground musicians.
Where can we hear/watch your most recent work?
My most recent work, aside from Hidden Renaissance features (which are incredible and have been helping me level up), is “Dawn: Kayo’s EP,” available everywhere—Spotify, Apple Music, and SoundCloud.
What is the best way to contact you if fans want to give feedback or if other artists/producers want to collaborate?
I do a lot of keeping up on Instagram. Some days I’m a bit busy, but you can definitely catch me there: @Chaos1.0.
