If alt-rock had a black hole, Thurtythree might just be the voice echoing from its event horizon. With the release of their much-anticipated debut album ‘Cetamology’, the enigmatic artist cements their place as one of the most uncompromising and thought-provoking figures in modern rock. A 15-track descent into the cyclical nature of meaning and meaninglessness, ‘Cetamology’ is a raw, sonically aggressive record that doesn’t just confront chaos, it thrives in it.
So with the new LP out now, we sat down with Thurtythree to explore the origins of ‘Cetamology’, the philosophical framework behind the chaos, and how they translate personal disarray into anthems that cut through the noise.
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Can you tell us a bit about your background and how you got started in music?
I grew up in San Francisco, Hong Kong, New Delhi and New York. With all the constant moving one thing that stayed with me was music. I started playing music when I was five, with the Violin and then learned and gave up a multitude of instruments over the years. Finally, after settling on the guitar, I played in several bands, including regular gigs in Brooklyn, New York. Yet, it never quite felt right. At one point on a whim, I took a singing class in 2017 and everything just fell into place, it made sense in a completely different way. I felt that this was exactly what I was meant to do. There was no looking back after that.
Who are your biggest musical influences and how have they shaped your sound?
I have an array of influences–some of the bigger ones include Linkin Park, Bring me the Horizon, Guns N Roses, Fall Out Boy, Simple Plan, among others. When I first started out, I wanted my music to be more explorative, combining other genres into rock, to make different blends,. Eventually, my own style emerged, evolving into the heavier side of alternative rock, nu-metal and past the different genres of rock and roll.
Was there a specific moment or experience that made you decide to pursue music seriously?
While I was juggling jobs, and recording music I fell very sick and close to death following Covid. I realized I didn’t want to waste my time doing anything that didn’t give me joy. At that time, all I could think was being on stage and performing, or in the studio recording. I realized that whatever work I was doing just paled in the light of limited mortality. So, it was mostly just the timing. Covid coincidentally became a great take-off point. Since I was at home anyway, I recorded both EPs “Access Revoked” and “Infinite Chaos” at home while waiting for the world to open up again. They were very well received.
Can you walk us through your typical songwriting process?
There’s no set process. Inspiration often strikes unexpectedly, sometimes at three in the morning as my eyes are closing when an image pops into my head, sometimes it’s while traveling; at others it is simply inspired by listening to other music. Generally, an idea for a riff or a lyric emerges, and that’s usually what drives the rest of the process, building one upon the other. Earlier, I used to lean more on the instruments-first-vocals-after approach but have switched that up, so that the instruments fit the lyrics. It’s much more freeing.
How do you find inspiration for your music and lyrics?
The most important part of it personally is just not to force it, the ideas come when they need to, usually through personal strife, when I am faced with difficult life-situations. Sometimes it is inspired by films or music. There are ways to speed up the inspiration when it’s needed, just to stimulate the brain into a creator mode and I am consumed with the thought and the image. It’s a journey with every new song though, and it tends to take time to get to the final form, so patience is the biggest key.
What themes or messages do you hope listeners take away from your music?
For a lot of the lyrics the idea is that no one is alone, that you have someone else going through many of the challenges and situations presented. It’s that — no matter how things might be, there is light at the end of the tunnel. Strife doesn’t define who you are and who you have to be, and that learning and growing from the past and the loops of life can help ascend toward being better and finding a way forward.
What challenges have you faced as an emerging artist in the music industry?
The greatest challenge has been posting regularly on social media and marketing myself after a certain period. After releases, I usually start working on the next piece of work and songs and the attention to marketing the already released material always tends to take a hit.
What has been the most rewarding aspect of your musical journey so far?
Releasing my full album after a long, hard journey as well as landing a Japan tour later this year have been some of the biggest rewards. Though I think the best has been seeing my friends and family singing some of my songs and choosing to listen to my music. There’s no better feeling of your people appreciating your creation.
How do you stay true to yourself and your artistry in a constantly evolving industry?
Well, I believe in what I am creating and already know what I want to put out into the world, it’s not based on appealing to the industry but appealing to what I want and what listeners would want and if people follow and enjoy it, that’s great. If not, I’m not really bothered, I make music that I believe in and to enjoy every part of it. I know that factoring in marketing is always important, but it doesn’t play a part in creation, and I believe that creativity itself is the soul of music. Everything else follows.
What can fans expect from you in the near future? Any upcoming projects or tours?
There is going to be a tour in Japan in October this year with the dates dropping soon. I’m also working on new music between this album and the next, which is aimed at a year-end release-plan at the moment.
Where do you see yourself and your music career in the next five years?
Hopefully sharing the stage or getting a feature with one of my favourite artists. Besides that, touring the world and continuing to release more albums. Standing on stage singing is where I want to be for as long as I possibly can.
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Listen to Thurtythree’s new album ‘Cetamology’ below.
