Have you ever met someone that put the ‘toxic’ in ‘intoxicating’? Calling to mind The Weeknd’s dark, brooding energy, 22 year-old Aaryan Shah offers up the headspace of what toxicity feels like on the receiving end in “Intoxicated”. After dropping out of school aged 15 to pursue music, Shah has had tunnel vision ever since then. The artist’s bold move clearly paid off, as his 2018 hit “Renegade” caught the attention of a whole new audience this year – going on to amass billions of views across TikTok and Instagram.

An ‘anti-pop’ anthem, new cut “Intoxicated” diverts from the typical musical conventions we’re used to hearing on the radio. In place of upbeat, ‘feel-good’ pop, artists like Shah are forging their own path – seeking to redefine the genre as we know it. “Intoxicated” does exactly that. Opting for melancholic harmonies, ominous crescendoing synths, and lyrics full of despair – Shah is clearly not interested in appeasing anyone. Its melancholic quality is brought to the surface by a hazy lyric video – lensed almost as if looking through tear-filled eyes. This unapologetic fortitude is exactly what we need in an age where vulnerability is often just smoke and mirrors; we can’t wait to see what Shah cooks up next.

Head below to become “Intoxicated” by Shah’s new single…