In a follow-up piece to my review of CHAII’s “Ride or Die“, CHAII was gracious enough to answer a couple of questions about the song.
These are her responses. Dig in and enjoy.
1) “Ride Or Die” is built around a simple but powerful repeated phrase. At what point did you realise repetition was the song’s strength rather than something that needed to be expanded with more lyrics?
I felt the repetition suits the beginning of a new chapter. As the first song release since my last album I wanted to have a re-introduction and dedicate the song to my listeners who’ve been on this ride with me or anyone new about to go on this ride with me.
2) The phrase “ride or die” can mean different things to different people – friendship, romance, family, culture, or community. What does the phrase personally mean to you, and who were you thinking about while writing the song?
Yes, I love that it can mean different things to different people. For me, “Ride or Die” is about stepping into this era together with my listeners and creating a whole new world that people can immerse themselves in. It represents becoming a stronger, more evolved version of yourself, someone who’s all in and ready to be a ride or die. This song is dedicated to my listeners, who I genuinely care about and want to bring along for the journey, while also opening the door to anyone discovering my world for the first time.
3) One of the things I enjoy about your music is how it balances Persian influences with contemporary hip-hop and electronic production. How do you approach that balance today compared to when you first started releasing music as CHAII?
It feels like a forever evolving thing. Sometimes more Persian, sometimes less, sometimes I struggle to place my music in a single genre. Frank Keys has been producing my music for a very long time and has great depth and knowledge in both Persian and Hip-hop electronic too. We both have fun when it comes to writing a new project, I always want to hold onto the complete freedom I felt when I first started making music. Depending on how we’re feeling and what stage of life we are in, that’s what defines what the balance of the music styles will be.
4) There is a strong sense of movement throughout the track, almost like a late-night drive or a journey with someone you trust. Did you have a particular setting, memory, or visual in mind when creating the song?
It’s interesting you say this, I had a car in mind the whole time I was writing the song. I love driving and it’s where I consume the most music outside of making music. So while making ‘Ride or die’ I wanted it to transport me into the car during a drive. I’m on this journey for me and my listeners, and I also imagine taking my listeners on a car ride with me. I hope people enjoy this song most while driving around.
5) Looking back at songs like “Drippin’ In Gold”, which focused on ambition and staying focused on your goals, “Ride Or Die” feels more centred on connection and shared experiences. Do you see this track as a natural evolution of the themes you’ve explored throughout your career?
I’m glad it comes across that way as that’s exactly how I feel. I feel like I’ve been on a mission for years, sometimes that focus on your goals can make you closed off in some ways, but now more than ever I genuinely want to stay connected with my listeners and people who have supported me during the times I was focused on moving. I feel like that was the journey and now we are at the destination and can have fun together. There’s a world I hope to share and invite people into with this era, I will be present and I hope to go on the ride together.
