Description
Lauded as the latest musical child of the eminent Cherry line, TYSON made an indelible imprint with the release of her first full-length album, ‘Chaos’, in 2024. Partnering with producer Oscar Scheller, widely known for his work with heavyweights like Lady Gaga, PinkPantheress, and Shygirl, Tyson channelled her exuberant musical genealogy and personal style into an eclectic pastiche of modern neo-soul, rebellious r&b, and electronica.
The album’s opening track, ‘Jumpstart’, presented a marriage of finely-laced electronics and the undeniable nostalgic recall of the ’90s r&b strains akin to the likes of Janet Jackson. The disparate sonic elements converged in a harmonious concoction, displaying Tyson’s passion for bending traditional genre borders. Even as she advanced into synth-pop territory with ‘Alien Romance’, Tyson managed to retain the soulful thread, thus exuding an innovative audaciousness that continues to echo throughout subsequent tracks.
Blending introspective lyrics with more synthetically manipulated sounds, ‘Chaos’ toyed with sonic textures from the classic r&b whisperings in ‘300Hz (low Frequency)’ to the more experimental vibes of ‘Brainfreeze’. Keeping up with the genre-bending ethos, she rendered a trip-hop infused ‘Grunge’, with the assistance of Wu-Lu, another London-based artist renowned for his multifaceted musical approach. Her earthy, even sultry vocals added layers of raw emotional depth to the tracks, interweaving an entrancing narrative throughout the course of the album.
Among the standout tracks, ‘Angel Dust’ unravels a riveting, ambient journey that manifests as an aural delight, demonstrating Tyson’s knack for composing immersive, profound songs. Similarly, the album’s closer, ‘Glide’, served as a fitting sign-off with its soothing r&b echoes melting into weary electronica.
TYSON’s rich musical lineage and her collaborations with leading underground artists like Dean Blunt and Leon Vynehall, significantly shaped her distinctive sound palette. References to Massive Attack and Portishead, both associated with her producer father Cameron McVey, resonate subtly throughout ‘Chaos’, bringing Tyson’s influences full circle from her familial roots to contemporary inspirations. The album also caught the critical ear of DJ Lauren Laverne and The Guardian, further iterating its noteworthy presence in the global neo-soul realm.
With ‘Chaos’, Tyson heralded the arrival of her talent for all to see – a talent that refuses to be tied down to a single genre. By enlisting elements of trip-hop, synthpop, and street soul into her artistry, Tyson exceptionally recreated the r&b landscape keeping a foot firmly rooted in its rich tradition while reaching out to the undefined future. The infectious blend of nostalgic melodies and modern sonic dimensions in ‘Chaos’ makes her a force to be reckoned with, putting her on par with contemporaries like Mabel, also from the Cherry lineage, and Shygirl.
