When a virtual artist steps into solo territory, the first question is always the same: is there an identity here, separate from the group? In Jiahao’s case the answer is yes, and it is articulated clearly enough already on the debut track. ‘This Was Us’ by Constell8tion and Jiahao is built on the aesthetics of early 2000s pop punk.

It is the sonic language of an era that was itself a time of teenage disillusionment and loud emotional expression, making it the perfect frame for the story of a virtual encountering the human pain of heartbreak for the first time. The dissonance between ‘programmed perfection’ and the chaos of heartbreak is the very core of the track.

In ‘This Was Us’ there is great punk rock with a light roughness to it, while the vocals are commercial and airy, which for me creates an interesting internal tension, placing softness against the harshness of the instrumental. In the context of Constell8tion’s promo campaign, the single serves a dual function: it works as a standalone statement and lays the foundation for the character over the long run. This is an excellent debut!

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