We speak with incredible a cappella artist, hachajah, about his music, his new release, ‘Mind Gag‘, and what inspires him.
What first sparked the idea for ‘Mind Gag’?
I was studying the mass-shooting epidemic in the US and how people who appear to live ordinary lives can suddenly reach a breaking point. It led me to think more broadly about those who struggle with mental health issues and often remain chronically unheard. I wanted to step inside their minds and imagine their world. That curiosity ultimately set the foundation for writing this song.
How did growing up in Sri Lanka shape the emotions behind this song?
Although the initial spark came from my experiences in the US, the song draws heavily from Sri Lankan culture, where mental health is still treated as a taboo subject. Open conversations are rare, and many people carry their struggles in silence. The sense of being chronically unheard is something I’ve seen many people face back home.
What did Ed Boyer and Bill Hare bring to the track?
Ed Boyer and Bill Hare are two of the most influential engineers in modern a cappella. Ed contributed meticulous vocal editing and contemporary creative mixing that shaped the overall sound of ‘Mind Gag’. Bill Hare added world-class mastering, giving the track its polished, radio-ready finish. Together, they brought punch, clarity, and emotional weight that elevated the song.
The video’s dark, basement-like setting is intense. What is the symbolization associated with it?
The basement setting is meant to represent the interior of a troubled mind; dark, disorienting, and echoing with unexpressed thoughts. The artist serves as the embodiment of those thoughts, trapped within that mental space and struggling to be heard.
The butterfly moment is powerful – what does it symbolize to you?
Even though the world in the video feels bleak, the butterfly represents a single positive thought or word. It’s a reminder that, even in the darkest moments, we are capable of producing something beautiful and almost divine.
What do you hope for people who resonate with this song to take away?
I hope the song and video help listeners develop empathy for those who feel unable to express themselves. And for anyone experiencing that struggle, I hope the video encourages them to believe that something meaningful and good can still arise from their struggle.
What made you want to reinvent a cappella into something more layered and cinematic?
I would like to see a cappella rise to sit closer to mainstream music, with richer textures and depth. Traditional a cappella is usually limited by the number of voices available, but since I’m layering everything with my own voice, I’m free from that constraint. That freedom enables me to go big, stacking multiple parts and sampling my own vocals to build dense, cinematic sounds.
8. How does ‘What Lies Within’ differ from your first album, ‘No Place Like’?
‘What Lies Within’ feels like a leap inward from ‘No Place Like’. The first album grounded me by exploring broad, relatable themes, intimate yet familiar. This new EP dives deeper, expressing emotions that often go unspoken. Songs like ‘Mind Gag’ explore mental health, while ‘Desensitized’ examines trauma, topics I believe are vital yet too often overlooked.
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.
