Chaz Cardigan’s trip down memory lane unfolds like a futuristic fairy tale in the official video for his new single, “Middle of the Road.” It’s the second in a surrealistic quadrilogy of videos produced by Haoyan of America (Crumb, Cautious Clay) that are based on a 3D model of Chaz. Created using photogrammetry in a virtual environment, the 3D figure was brought to life in the first video, “Everything’s Wrong,” and now continues on his journey in “Middle of the Road.”
The new video underscores the song’s theme of how choices made in the past set one’s future in motion. Chaz has made some bold choices in his life – including the decision to move from his hometown of Elizabethtown, KY to Nashville when he was only 17. He explains, “‘Middle of the Road’ came from ruminating on what my life would’ve been like if I’d stayed in my hometown. I realized I would’ve been miserable, stuck in a cycle of debt and probably addicted to something, pretending to be someone I’m not for the rest of my life.”
With the arrival of his acclaimed EP Vulnerabilia in early 2020, Chaz proved his talent for turning his deepest insecurities into wildly cathartic pop songs. Featuring the smash single “Not OK!” – a top 20 hit at Alternative radio – Vulnerabilia found Chaz opening up about his panic disorder while also building a high-energy but beautifully nuanced sound. His follow-up single, “S.O.S.,” was recently named as one of “The 25 Best Songs By LGBTQ Artists In 2020 (So Far)” by Billboard.
A classically trained pianist who taught himself to play guitar, bass, and drums, he got his start gigging in punk bands at the age of 11, covered classic songs in Louisville bars during his high-school years, and later produced in a Nashville hip-hop collective. After releasing his debut album, I, Chaz put out a series of singles that all ended up on Spotify’s New Music Friday playlist – a triumph that soon earned him the distinction of becoming the first artist jointly signed to Capitol Records and Loud Robot, which is the record label from J.J. Abrams’ production company, Bad Robot.