Croom and Amakiya Are Human Too

Over an ambient aurora of reverb-drenched snare hits, drowsy synths, darkwave tones, and subconscious piano, Chantell Moody yearns: “I am human, too/ I’m here to be loved by you.”

“Human Too” previews Belladonna, the sixth album by electronic composer Croom, dropping March 1. Adrian Croom’s beat-oriented instrumental project gained traction for its TV/film scoring, which includes Robert Rodriguez’ recent From Dusk Till Dawn series. The Austin native also employs music in his work as a service provider for adults with developmental disabilities.

For Moody, who previously co-fronted the Digital Wild and currently sings in Fort Never, working with Croom proved momentous. Her vocals lead three tracks on Belladonna and the two collaborators are working together on her forthcoming solo output, under new pseudonym Amakiya – pronounced “ah-mah-key-ya.”

“What I’m doing with Adrian resonates in a deep place for me,” says Moody, noting that, for the first time, she’s using a recording set-up in her own home to add vocals to Croom’s compositions. “The cinematic nature of his sound allows me to express different sides of myself while exploring those sides musically.”

Moody adds that “Human Too” is about feeling the need to be loved in the modern world.

“Even with all our devices, we can feel very isolated in some ways and I wanted to express that vulnerability,” she offers. “I haven’t lost touch with that part of me that’s so wide-eyed and open to love.”

Croom’s new 11-track collection also features guest spots from Germany’s Audriana Acuña and Austin’s Allanah Maarteen. Dylan Cameron, preferred producer/engineer in the Holodeck Records nebula, handled most of the mixing for Belladonna.

“I was already a fan of all of my collaborators, so the beats I offered them were designed for their styles and personalities,” explains Croom. “I wanted them to feel as much ownership of this album as I did, which led to a lot of communication shaping the material through multiple perspectives. The process itself also fueled the direction of the album, because I was working with a wide array of artists with different approaches and styles.”

“Human Too,” mixed by Jonas Margraf and mastered by Chris Athens, spins here: