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Strascha is set to release her latest single, “Hack,” on September 18th, delivering a chaotic, high-energy collision of industrial pop, alternative pop, pop rock and unapologetic attitude.
Drawing inspiration from artists including Ashnikko, Cobrah, Addison Rae, Charli xcx, Poppy and Grimes, Strascha creates music that embraces the messier sides of being human and transforms difficult emotions into something bold, playful and empowering.
“Hack” was born during a songwriting camp at Sound Ninja Collective in Sofia, Bulgaria, at a particularly difficult point in Strascha’s life. She was processing the end of an important friendship while attempting to balance what felt like thousands of other responsibilities. Sad, angry, overwhelmed and generally not in a good state of mind, she nearly skipped the songwriting session altogether.
On the way to the studio that day, Strascha was sitting on the tram actively considering cancelling her participation in the camp. Instead, she showed up, and “Hack” was born.
“I took all of those negative emotions that I was feeling and I channeled them into the song,” Strascha says.
The track came together at remarkable speed. Strascha entered the session with a clear idea of the sound she wanted, while producer Isaak Enchev quickly transformed that vision into a production. Guitarist Alexander Hristov, whom Strascha met for the first time during the session, contributed the song’s climactic guitar solo, recording it in a single take.
Strascha also recorded her vocals in one take before adding doubles. Within a maximum of six hours, the song was essentially finished.
The final touch came unexpectedly when renowned Bulgarian mix engineer Dimitar Ganchev happened to pass through Sound Ninja that same day. After hearing the track, he suggested adding more noise to the low end through the cymbals. Although the suggestion initially seemed unusual given how loud the track already was, the addition immediately transformed the mix, giving “Hack” the final sense of polish it needed.
For Strascha, the song has remained special ever since.
“Hack became my favorite song from the moment that I wrote it, and I think it still is definitely in my all time favorite songs I’ve written.”
The name Strascha comes from the Bulgarian word strah, meaning “fear.” For Strascha, the name represents a philosophy that sits at the heart of both her music and her creative identity.
Rather than avoiding uncomfortable emotions, Strascha sees them as a source of creative potential. Fear, sadness, insecurity, anger, envy and jealousy are not emotions to be hidden or suppressed. They can be transformed into music, art, humor, beauty and optimism.
“Strascha is basically my way of making friends with fear instead of running away from it.”
That approach is reflected throughout “Hack.” The song takes the emotional chaos surrounding a painful period and turns it into something loud, energetic and alive.
Strascha’s musical world draws from pop, R&B, hip-hop, soul, hyperpop and jazz, with an ambition to eventually explore almost every genre imaginable. She is equally at home making music in her living room, creating beats, performing live or enthusiastically “yapping” in practically every available format.
At its core, Strascha’s project is about feeling everything fully and finding a way to turn it into something.
“Hack” arrives September 18th.
Release Credits
Artist: Strascha
Song: “Hack”
Songwriter: Strascha
Producer: Isaak Enchev
Guitars: Alexander Hristov
Genre: Industrial pop, alternative pop, pop rock, pop
Similar artists: Ashnikko, Cobrah, Addison Rae, Charli xcx, Poppy, Grimes, Slayyyter