pax. Releases new single, “jealous” about ADHD Superpowers with Mikayla Lane
At only 17, Canadian indie pop artist pax. is already known for his creative style and distinct voice. Pairing ambient tones with ethereal strings, flowing melodies, and moving lyrics, his music blends layered soundscapes with catchy hooks for a contemporary dream pop sound reminiscent of artists like JVKE, Novo Amor, and Phoebe Bridgers
Following his debut release “sunshine & rainbows,” his new single “jealous” explores how people view and experience ADHD. A relatable theme for those discovering and exploring their neurodivergence in 2024, “jealous” suggests that ADHD can be a superpower. “Research has found that people with ADHD have more creativity and are better at idea generation than people without the disorder” (Burch, 2023).
“jealous” is a reflection of how ADHD impacts both pax. and Mikayla‘s daily lives. The lyrics express how they sometimes feel like people would rather pull them down because of their neurodivergence than support them. In the second verse, Mikayla refers to the ADHD brain as a disastrous masterpiece stemmed through the combination of hyperfocusing and overthinking – something she considers a potentially beautiful aspect of experiencing ADHD. From a production standpoint, pax. made the decision to mirror his emotions as someone with ADHD by making the instrumentation calm and collected until the second chorus, where it all becomes more layered and chaotic. This is an experience some people with ADHD have – they struggle with emotional regulation holding in their emotions down until they are too much to handle and everything explodes.
First off, care to introduce yourself to our readers?
Hi! My name is “pax.”! I’m a 17-year-old artist currently living in Waterloo, Ontario, writing, recording, and producing music in my bedroom. I’d describe my music as somewhere in the realms of Dream Pop, Indie Pop, and Cinematic Pop. I’ve always been into singing and music, but over the pandemic, I developed a strong passion for writing songs. I am constantly jotting down lyrics or recording little melody ideas that pop into my head. I’ve taught myself to produce and it’s something I’m continually working on to elevate my skills.
Can you tell us about the inspiration behind your single “jealous” and how the collaboration with Mikayla Lane came about?
Mikayla and I are connected through a pop group in our hometown of Kitchener Waterloo. We both love to write and eventually, I started sharing some demos with her. She heard the first draft of “Jealous,” which only contained a verse and chorus, and she began pitching ideas for a sort of build-up, with a massive drop to finish it off. However, the moment “Jealous” truly became the song it is now, was when Mikayla sent me a video of her singing the first four bars of her verse as just an idea for my second verse. I insisted that she should join me on the song instead, and the rest is history!
“jealous” explores how people view and experience ADHD. Can you elaborate on the theme and message of the song in relation to ADHD?
Everyone who has ADHD experiences it in different ways. It’s not always defined by hyperactivity or trouble focusing. Although I do have to manage those sides of it, I thought it was important to bring the emotional component of it to light. The song touches on how ADHD causes many other things such as overthinking and anxiety, but also hyperfocusing and enhanced creativity, which can be great things. Beyond the lyrics, the production reflects the emotional struggle people experience – the song stays calm and fluid down until eventually explodes with movement and energy. Since both Mikayla and I know ADHD deeply impacts our emotions, we thought it was important to reflect on it in a song.
“jealous” seems to challenge stereotypes and misconceptions surrounding ADHD. How important do you think it is for artists to use their platform to break down societal stigmas and promote understanding?
I deeply respect artists who use their platforms to bring attention to societal stigmas, especially if it involves opening up about their personal struggles or feelings. Bringing awareness to misconceptions about a community or ideas about things that lack understanding is important. I want people to understand the emotional side of ADHD and the positive parts of it. ADHD helps me be really creative at times. Some days it feels like a superpower. I embrace that part of me as a good thing.
Looking ahead, what can fans expect from you in terms of future projects, collaborations, or musical directions?
I am continuing to learn about myself as a singer and producer. I get better and better with each song that I write and produce. My goal is to put out music consistently this year. My next single “fly (featuring GIE)” comes out on February 16. Thanks everyone for listening.