New York City's Chad Post shares his latest single, "Beautiful Thing," which was co-written and produced by his longtime collaborator, Aria Jay. The track is from his forthcoming 20-song full-length album, Off The Record, which is scheduled to release in spring 2025. It follows his EP STATIC from earlier this year.
We were thrilled to chat with him and learn about the new music.
Check out the interview below!
"Beautiful Thing" is described as a love letter to a past relationship. How did your experiences and emotions from that time shape the writing and production of this track? What message do you hope listeners take away from it?"
I held onto a lot of loss and hurt for a long time that I didn't realize I internalized. I had worked through so much of it and really thought that I was fully healed for a very long time. And then signs would come up where I would be like, 'Hmm, maybe that's something to look at. Maybe I'm not as worked through as I thought I was.'
I don't think you ever truly get over certain levels of heartbreak, but I started to really face it head-on and dove pretty deep into healing myself. When I did that and moved past it instead of avoiding it, I found so much more love than anger or hurt — just genuine gratitude and happiness.
Cheeky, I know. I don't want to tell anyone how to digest anything I create, but I think people will feel hope, love, and nostalgia in the writing and production. I hope the song makes them happy.
Your artistic journey spans from writing poetry and novels to crafting music that blends pop, R&B, and soul. How has your background as a writer influenced your songwriting process and the stories you tell through your music?
I have always said that I am a writer first and foremost. Most of the mediums that I express myself in are just a different form of writing. I have written story ideas, poetry, and lines to songs since I was a child. As I grew up, that shifted into screenplay writing, novels, and songs.
What I love about songwriting is that you can—and sort of have to—tell an entire story in a very concise and short body to convey a full emotion. Even poetry doesn't have to finish the story; it can be a fragment of one. But most songs give you an entire lens or landscape on what happened or is occurring.
I love how tight and secure that feels. It's like a present tied with a bow if you get it right. Versus screenplays and novels that I could edit until the end of time.
You mentioned that your EP STATIC was a departure from your previous work. Can you elaborate on how "Beautiful Thing" fits into your artistic evolution and what listeners can expect from your upcoming album, Off The Record?
I would most describe 'Beautiful Thing' as an exhale. 'STATIC' was holding a lot in and then gently exploding—but in a (I guess) pretty way. I felt trapped in that emotion and very stagnant. This is why the title was chosen. Just couldn't move; everything was gray, and I was holding onto so much for so long.
Writing all of that music helped relieve that tension. It wasn't lost on me that the first single after that was 'Snap! Crackle! Pop! Music!' and the imagery for that single was bubblegum popping. It had to be done. Once that bubble burst, out came a 'Beautiful Thing.' And no, that was not all planned out like that, but it is very serendipitous how it all happened.
The order, I mean. 'Off The Record' is going to be such a large culmination pop album. It will be such a kaleidoscope of emotion (and a full story arc, which I always do with my full-lengths).
You’ve said you want your art to evoke a feeling rather than just be about a single piece of work. What emotions or connections do you hope fans experience when they listen to "Beautiful Thing" and engage with your broader discography?
I really do feel that way. When I first began putting out music, I was so afraid people would see me as, 'Oh, you make THIS kind of music.' (insert any genre depending on what single I put out that time), so I was very, very strategic about which singles to release, which sounds I used, when, the order of singles, and the range of styles.
I want to tell stories and evoke emotion. I want people swept into a feeling and my world rather than a 'single.' Now that I have a pretty large discography and a lot of visual art out, I hope people are able to become a part of that larger vision and immerse themselves in it.
Specifically, with 'Beautiful Thing,' I do hope people feel an exhale from the previous works. I think it's time for that for me in the story.
Growing up in Connecticut and later moving to NYC, how have your surroundings influenced your music? Are there aspects of those environments reflected in the themes or aesthetics of "Beautiful Thing" and your upcoming album?
I absolutely love the dichotomy of city and country, which I'm sure, based on the question, you have realized that! I love big worlds, large nature, picturesque landscapes, retro buildings, and waterfalls juxtaposed with the gritty, gray, flashing lights and heartbeat of a city like New York. I was in Vermont shooting for 'Beautiful Thing' because it felt like the perfect vibe for the sound. Vast, open, and clean. Very nostalgic and introspective.
I think when there is so little around, you are forced to resign yourself to yourself and your feelings and let thoughts that don't serve you go. Let some of the stuff you've been holding onto have some relief.
I'm also very excited to explore it more for the album. I have teased some of the album aesthetic here and there without people knowing. The vision board has been done for like a year and a half, though. You have to wait and see!
What's next for you?
Stoked to be performing again in New York. Been headlining some gigs and some of my own shows, which is obviously so fun. I've been in the studio so much; it's nice to get out and connect with people face-to-face again.
I'm also still in the studio and finishing up the final songs of the album, which will be out in March. The songs after this album have already been recorded. I'll sleep in another dimension.