Although he is now based in Boston, Massachusetts, hachajah grew up in Colombo, Sri Lanka, where his childhood experience was formed in the shadow of war and violence. He brings this into his new single and music video, ‘Mind Gag’.
Drawing on his memories, which were marked by conflict and resilience, hachajah’s sound is used not just as a means of expression, but also as a way in which he is able to take back possession of his own story.
Music has always been a part of hachajah’s life, but he set out in 2023 to redefine a cappella, bringing the genre to mainstream audiences, and along the way, giving it a whole new dimension. His sound comprises not just energetic pop-rock melodies, but also multi-layered vocal effects, all entwined with a powerful South Asian narrative and beat.
hachajah’s debut album, ‘No Place Like’, was released in August 2024, and was nominated 8 times at the Contemporary A Cappella Recording Awards (CARAs). He ended up winning awards for Best Song By A Solo Performer, and Best Semi-Professional/Post-Collegiate Album Or EP. Now, with his latest EP, ‘What Lies Within’, he goes deeper into his raw emotions and truth, bringing to the world those complex narratives which have long lurked beneath the surface. The result is an artist who isn’t just defining what his craft is, but also showing us where he comes from, all while forging a new path, with unswerving dedication and clarity.
‘Mind Gag’, mixed by a cappella virtuoso, Ed Boyer, known for his work in the Pitch Perfect franchise, as well as on The Voice, and mastered by Grammy Award winner, Bill Hare, sees hachajah delivering lines that are as stark as they are emotionally charged. He tells the story of the constant struggle, which sees some people constrained by the shadows of their own minds, a “mind gag”, that is suffocating in the extreme. Each part of the song sees hachajah attempt to capture the efforts of these people, desperate to free themselves from those chains which bind them. Along the way, the tension is heightened, ensuring an intense listening experience.
Speaking of the song, hachajah says,“Mind Gag is a song that empathizes with people who suffer from being chronically unheard, with thoughts and feelings left unexpressed, which have led to deep-seated frustration”.
Joining forces with director Nayip Ramos and a team of like-minded creatives, hachajah has ensured that the music video for ‘Mind Gag’ captures the inner workings of the human mind. The result is a gritty, desolate reality, which has been smeared and covered with dirt, grime, doom, and gloom. Such was the beauty and effectiveness of the clip, it was awarded by the International Music Video Awards (IMVAs) as the Best Drama Music Video of 2025.
In the video we see hachajah, in an empty room save for one chair, upon which he sits, chained. He stares straight to the camera, giving viewers a direct view as to the exact moment he reaches his breaking point. Meanwhile, we are shown flashes of the world outside, but they are really images from his own mind, that he is unable to fully access. He sings about his mind having a gag in it, and he’s got to get his words out; what’s the point of it all if he can’t express himself. He’s fighting against the chains his own psyche have imposed on him. He pulls against it, using everything he has within him, and, just as it seems it’s all over, he opens his mouth, only for a beautiful butterfly to make its escape. The struggle has been worth it.
Watch the stunning music video for ‘Mind Gag’ below, and find out more about hachajah and his music online on his official website, YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram.
