Known for soaring melodies and spellbinding synthesizers, Nashville-born electropop duo Chaos Emeralds pair feather-light falsetto with driving, electronic beats to conjure the woozy energy of summer love, glittering dance parties, and modern, existential freedom. There’s a captivating cleanliness to their sound, reminiscent of European electropop acts like Phoenix and M83, but distorted and enriched by the combined virtuosity of Ellsworth’s classical piano and Andrews’s slick production. Chaos Emeralds music feels both hyper-familiar and brand-spanking-new: pure pop melodies made sleek and surprising, cinematic swells that just keep expanding, and a pure intensity that’s hard to shake, even long after the tracks fade. With the July release of their sophomore album II, Chaos Emeralds solidify their standing as lovable, hyper-creative hitmakers at the forefront of the indie-electropop scene.
Chaos Emeralds formed in 2015, when Nashville neighbors Daniel Ellsworth and Kyle Andrews decided to experiment with some of Ellsworth’s unfinished songs. That spirit of friendship and playful experimentation continues to inform the band’s creative process. “Dan and I are similar in that we refuse to struggle through an idea that’s not working,” says Andrews, who makes beats, arranges, produces, and mixes the band’s tracks in addition to contributing lyrics, vocals, and guitar. “We both try to find whatever moves us in the moment and say yes to it.” A sought-after producer and prolific artist in his own right, Andrews has released five full-length solo albums and several EPs since 2006, earning over 10 million Spotify plays and multiple NPR features for his characteristic mix of electronic synth-pop and bedroom rock. As a producer, Andrews has worked in a range of styles, from electropop to Americana releases, including recent Billboard-charting Mal Blums EP Ain’t It Nice. “After years organizing and fronting an ambitious four-piece rock band, working with Kyle felt effortless and free,” says Ellsworth, the lead singer, co-writer, co-producer, and keys player of Chaos Emeralds. “There was no struggle. It was what it was from the beginning.” Ellsworth cut his teeth in Nashville producing, co-writing, and fronting Daniel Ellsworth & The Great Lakes, who released three acclaimed full-length indie-rock albums as well as singles and EPs praised by Billboard, Esquire, Earmilk, Parade, and Paste. Now an indie artist and composer based in LA, he’s amassed a following for his idiosyncratic pop style, developing hooks and cross-genre anthems across multiple projects (including DE+TGL, hip-hop-infused duo DARKMINDS, and a variety of solo piano-pop and synth-pop releases as Daniel Ellsworth).
Chaos Emeralds released their debut self-titled album in 2016, the natural result of a random, friendly collaboration that went extremely well. The album’s snappy, electronic sound is pure pop at heart, with celebratory lyrics about love and lust, irresistible melodic hooks, and a crisp, vibrant energy that feels both polished and carefree. That same year, Chaos Emeralds opened for Tanlines and joined the lineup for Daytrotter’s Raggedtrotter Festival, then played Nahsville’s TedX conference and opened for Why? at Third Man Records in 2017. They next released a series of well-received singles, including “Better Than a Dream” in 2019 (featured in Netflix comedy-drama series Insatiable) and “Purple” in 2020. Chaos Emeralds tracks have also been featured in HBO cult-hit Search Party and the CW reboot of Dynasty.
With the July 2022 release of their second full-length album II, Chaos Emeralds extend their gaze to a broader world—without losing the signature sense of play that makes their music sparkle. Co-written and co-produced by Andrews and Ellsworth and mastered by Jett Galindo (Barbra Streisand, Weezer, Neil Young, Pink Floyd), the album presents a compelling mix of self-discovery, party anthems, playful observations, and songs about modern humanity. What starts as a shimmering, upbeat party album slowly evolves into heavier territory, backed by increasingly cinematic arrangements of synthesizers, keyboards, layered guitars, and electronic drums. “This one’s for people who like to dance AND cry,” says Ellsworth. II is more diverse in subject matter and more complex in its musicality, perhaps because the majority of the album was created long-distance, with Ellsworth in California and Andrews in Wisconsin. But the sense of celebration and ease that put Chaos Emeralds on the map is still intensely present, especially in details like the joyful, distant “WHOOP!” that repeats throughout opening track “No Pressure” and the flashy synth infrastructure that lights up the single “Losing My Cool.” The songs on II increase in both drama and scope from beginning to end, with intricate, thoughtful middle tracks like “Monolith” leading to the pining, expansive final track “Ignite,” which moves through a range of dynamic and emotional soundscapes before ending with a stunning, delicate piano solo. The collaboration between Andrews and Ellsworth continues to evolve from its easy, neighborly origins into a more dynamic, purposeful trajectory, but the abiding essence of Chaos Emeralds remains the same: This is the sound of shared joy.