Once again, Chase Hudson (aka Huddy), proves why he belongs at the top of all of the alternative rock charts. After pausing to tackle some obstacles behind the scenes, the release of his latest single, "Cheap" serves as the kick off to his journey as an independent artist. This single is his most blatantly honest, empowering track to date.
Huddy explains, "'Cheap' is a song that embodies freeing yourself from negativity - looking at the things that have affected you and telling them they have no power over you anymore. Throughout my life, I've let names, rumors, and hate bring me down, and this song flips all of that."
Following the singles' release, Huddy has also announced that his sophomore album, Somebody to Hate, will be released on September 18th.
The first thing that I noticed and admired about this track was its blatant honesty; Huddy is ready to fight back. While many of Huddy's previous tracks shared his experiences through symbolism ("Fragile" is still a masterpiece), "Cheap" leaves very little room for misinterpretation. Everything about this single and its accompanying music video feels less polished; in the best ways possible.
The universal message is clear in this track. The lyrics are proof that Huddy had something to say, and he said it. Huddy takes what he has experienced and flips it into an empowering reminder that "We all got different pain // But it always looks the same // And you know it cuts both ways // It’s easy to break". The relatability to this is reinforced through personal touches like, "I can feel the world surround me // Wanting me to break myself // Calling me a loser softly".
For me, music videos are just as important as the rest of the music. They bring the music to life. This music video is just as raw as the song. It wasn't over the top in design, but was a clear reminder of Huddy's comfort in front of the camera. From TikTok to "Cheap", Huddy hits the mark with his creativity. The raw, rough edges of this track and music video are exactly what makes it stand out as the pinnacle of his new era as an independent artist.
