A Chat with 4ra 4ra (09.04.26)
4ra 4ra is an interesting artist. With her latest EP, CHROMEsoME, the audio-visual artist blurs the line between listener and participant, crafting a cinematic, immersive experience that interrogates identity in a hyper-technological age. From cyberpunk rituals to introspective techno-phonk, glitch-inspired digital armour to AI-driven reflections on humanity, 4ra 4ra invites us to explore a future where the human and synthetic coexist, collide, and redefine each other. We chat with 4ra 4ra about all this music below.
OSR: What inspired the concept behind CHROMEsoME, and how did the idea evolve?
4ra 4ra: I had a production session where I created that metal-sounding bass in the drop of ‘CHROME UP’, and that’s when the whole EP concept clicked. That sound design basically unlocked the vision: a full chromed microverse with its own storytelling and visuals. I had a super strong idea of everything from the start, and honestly, it hasn’t evolved that much since. That’s just how I work, I design one sound and instantly see the whole branding, like an art director… or maybe just a control freak. Then I just enjoy experimenting inside the world I already set.
OSR: The EP blends music, visuals, and performance. How do you approach creating a fully immersive audiovisual project?
4ra 4ra: I never really separate it. As a music producer and singer coming from a fine arts background, I’m always in my artistry vibe while making music. It’s like creating my own kind of Gesamtkunstwerk, directing everything. Sometimes it gets exhausting, sitting in almost every chair, but I love it. It’s also levelling me up in how I explain my creative ideas within a team, which is a fire skill.
OSR: Each track represents a chapter in your cybernetic evolution narrative. How did you decide on this structure?
4ra 4ra: The structure came naturally because I didn’t want random tracks; I wanted a storytelling EP that actually grows, more like a cinematic experience.
OSR: ‘CHROME UP’ sets the tone for the EP. What was your vision behind that opening track?
4ra 4ra: A shiny exoskeleton I re-attach every day as a metaphorical shield. It stands for strength, resilience, and not breaking down while pushing through a male-dominated music industry and a judgmental public sphere. Being CHROMEsoME means standing strong and confident in authenticity. So CHROME UP! As a survival mechanism in a world where you need to stay armoured, resilient, and updated daily.
OSR: The title track explores the tension between organic identity and synthetic optimisation. How do you balance these themes musically and visually?
4ra 4ra: ‘”Chrome so me” x “chromosome” merges the organic with the synthetic. Being “awesome in chrome” = not only aesthetic/performance superiority, but also the risk of depersonalization. The cyborg body is efficient, but vulnerable to cyberpsychosis – a pathological disconnect of consciousness from body and reality under sensory overload. I built this level of craziness and repetitive glitched vocals in a ruminated, never-ending loop on melodic phonk cowbell with harsh, raw bass drops.
OSR: How did the collaboration with DIGITAL TEETH on ‘MUGSHOT TYPE’ come about, and what did they bring to the project?
4ra 4ra: We met on TikTok, both kind of amazed by each other’s work. He actually asked me to collab, and when I started working on the EP, he was the first person that came to mind. He brought hyperpop vocals over my techno beat, and I put over it that distorted guitar, and it turned into a pretty unique blend with a bold villain attitude and lyrics as well.
OSR: The closing track, ‘AGI’, features your AI-generated vocals. What was the process like, and how did AI influence your creative decisions?
4ra 4ra: I trained an AI clone to sound like me, with emotion included. It definitely influenced the voice to sound more artificial, but that was exactly the point at that stage of the concept. Then I trained an AI video tool on my editorial photos, so now I basically have my own little factory for animated micro-movies. I’m working with a text-to-speech clone and prompt-based animation tools, but I’m still in the role of a curator/producer – I’m the one shaping it, post-producing, and editing everything into something more complex. AI is honestly a game-changer for me. Even with almost no budget, I can still build this kind of animated content, which accompanies my release.
OSR: Your work often blurs the line between performance and music. How do you think this approach changes the listener’s experience?
4ra 4ra: FR, I feel like it can come off a bit chaotic on the first listen, like an overloaded pop-up website. But maybe that’s exactly what feeds people’s attention span. We live in an accelerated era, so I’m already a step ahead – no wasted time, just showing all my cards at once.
OSR: The EP moves through four stages: Upload, Optimisation, Glitch, and Reprogramming. How did you develop this journey conceptually?
4ra 4ra: I wanted my listeners to experience these 4 emotional stages through my EP. The emotions that paradoxically come with becoming less human. Upload, we transform into this unrealistic confidence and that Optimization drives us so far that it starts destroying who we are. Glitch, we just turn bad… and need a Reprogramming, a recalibration. In short, it’s about embracing the darker sides of our personality, because that’s how we truly get to know ourselves and face our shadows to become better versions of who we are.
OSR: With a remix edition planned later this year, what can fans expect from the next phase of CHROMEsoME?
4ra 4ra: The next phase of CHROMEsoME gets way heavier and more industrial. It’s called CRSM — every track shortened too: CR-UP, CRSM, MGSHT… all remixed with bold techno drums, darker arrangements, and less lyrics. It’s what you’d hear at a rave in 2044.
Many thanks to 4ra 4ra for speaking with us. Find out more about 4ra 4ra on her official website, Instagram, Facebook, and Spotify.
