— Multi-GRAMMY Award-nominated Dreamville artist Bas and London-based duo The Hics unveil their long-awaited collaborative album, Melanchronica, out now via Dreamville/FIENDS.
Nearly a decade in the making, the project is a genre-defying, emotionally rich meditation on the complexities of modern life, crafted across five cities and born from years of creative evolution and mutual respect, with collaborations from Ab-Soul, Saba, and Domani.
With a soundscape that is both nostalgic and future-facing, Melanchronica embodies expansive textures of 1970s progressive rock, glossy synths of 1980s pop, and the raw soul of 1990s hip-hop and R&B. The album moves fluidly through grief, longing, burnout, and self-reflection, all the quiet, internal weight we rarely name but deeply feel. Bas is writing from a more introspective, grounded place, while The Hics push their production into new territory. Bas calls Melanchronica a soundtrack to the “downtrodden modern human condition,” capturing the overstimulated, emotionally maxed-out person grasping for connection, clarity, and peace in a world that won’t slow down. For Sam, it’s a sonic snapshot of where his head’s been the past decade. Roxane sees it as a nostalgic haze where melancholy meets the chronic, resulting in something reflective, cinematic, and raw.
The focus track, “Four Walls,” is the central pulse of Melanchronica, a stripped-down, soul-baring contemplation on love unraveling in real time. Bas and The Hics write from a place of quiet devastation, circling feelings of regret, isolation, and the ache of still wanting someone who’s drifting away — capturing that haunting in-between space where memory lingers but the future feels out of reach.
In speaking to the album’s themes and emotional landscape, Bas and The Hics reveal their personal connection to Melanchronica:
“To me personally, Melanchronica speaks to our modern human condition, the longing for genuine emotional connection in an overstimulated, ultra-technologically connected, apathetic, and increasingly individualistic society. It’s the thoughts that linger when we detach from it all and take an honest look at ourselves and our surroundings. There’s a range of emotions expressed faithfully. I want the listener to experience them all on this journey. To connect to the music in a meaningful, honest, and vulnerable way. The albums that evoked that from me are the ones I revisit most and occupy a very special place. I want this album to take its place in that pantheon.” — Bas
“To me, the album defines chronic melancholy and intense awareness of the yin and yang of life. As I look back now, I realize this album is kinda me learning to express myself without fear of judgment — judgment of myself and judgment from others. So because of that, I hope it inspires people to also do that through art, movement, or whatever gets you closer to your true self. I hope people will hear the album and feel moved to speak what’s in their hearts and, without fear, be able to express love and support for one another.” — Roxane Barker, lead vocalist of The Hics.
“For me, Melanchronica means a case of ‘chronic melancholy.’ It could also represent a new genre of music. When we hit that 10-track mark, I was looking for something to define the general mood of the project. I loved how simply being in a state of chronic melancholy, forming Melanchronica, summarized that perspective. For those who’ve followed the journey of how Bas and The Hics came together, this project is a testament to the true power of collaboration, communication, and friendship.” — Sam Paul Evans, The Hics
From the soulful weight of “Norbit” featuring Ab-Soul, to the wistful, ambient textures of “Everyday Ppl,” to the genre-blurring meditation on presence and escape of “Erewhon” featuring Saba, the singles serve as resonant anchor points within the album’s broader narrative of duality, yearning, lust, and the existential push-and-pull of ambition, responsibility, and happiness.
Initially announced during their standout set at the final Dreamville Festival, Melanchronica captures the depth of a partnership that began in 2015 when Bas discovered The Hics’ “Cold Air” on GTA V’s Worldwide FM. What started as a cold DM has grown into a musical dialogue rooted in trust, openness, and shared vision. The album threads additional themes of solitude and ambition through immersive soundscapes, showcasing Bas’ most soul-searching songwriting to date and The Hics’ textured, cinematic production.
Melanchronica isn’t just an album, it’s an exploration of emotional tension and growth, a sonic musing for those navigating the in-between. With its cohesive arc and deeply human storytelling, the project finds stillness in chaos and beauty in contradiction. Honest, immersive, and timeless, Melanchronica marks a bold new chapter for Bas and a powerful evolution in The Hics’ creative journey.
Listen to the entire album here and stay tuned for more from Bas and The Hics.