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VAXXO Confronts His Inner Demons on Powerful New Rock Single “Monsters”
Portuguese-born, Canada-based rock artist VAXXO takes listeners into the darker corners of the human mind with his latest single, “Monsters,” an emotionally charged release that explores fear, vulnerability, and the strength required to confront our internal battles.
Blending alternative rock with atmospheric electronic production, “Monsters” builds its identity around the tension between aggression and vulnerability. Heavy guitar work brings urgency to the track, while darker electronic textures reinforce the psychological weight of its subject matter.
Rather than presenting monsters as imaginary creatures, VAXXO uses them as metaphors for anxiety, insecurity, loneliness, and the struggles people often keep hidden. The song examines the exhausting relationship between wanting to escape those feelings and recognizing that confronting them may be the only way forward.
“I want people to understand that they are not alone in their battles,” VAXXO explains. “We all have monsters inside us, fears, pain, doubts, and things we don't always talk about.”
The release also reflects VAXXO's international musical background, featuring Canadian and Portuguese musicians. Produced, engineered, and mixed by Ben Pelchat, “Monsters” features guitars by Cole Geconcillo, drums by Renato Simões, and backing vocals by Emily Peneda. João Carvalho Mastering handled the mastering.
Since releasing original music in 2013, VAXXO has steadily built a catalog rooted in emotionally honest songwriting. His achievements include recognition at the 2023 International Portuguese Music Awards for “Give Me Life” and winning Best of North America in the Rock category at the 2026 InterContinental Music Awards for “Save Me.”
With “Monsters,” VAXXO continues exploring the intersection of traditional rock instrumentation and contemporary electronic production, delivering a message that feels particularly relevant: acknowledging darkness does not mean surrendering to it.
“Monsters” explores the internal battles people rarely discuss openly. Was there a particular experience or realization that inspired you to write this song?
“Monsters” came from a very real place. We all carry things we don’t always talk about—fear, anxiety, doubts, and memories that follow us even when nobody else can see them. I wanted to capture the feeling of fighting something inside yourself and feeling unable to escape it. The song became a way to turn those emotions into something powerful instead of keeping them buried.
The “monsters” aren’t one specific thing; they can represent whatever someone is personally fighting. But I also believe that, without God, we can’t truly face our fears. Faith gives me the strength, hope, and courage to confront what feels bigger than me. That spiritual dimension is central to what “Monsters” means to me.
Your music combines the raw intensity of traditional rock with darker electronic production. How did you approach balancing those two worlds on “Monsters” without compromising its emotional authenticity?
For me, the emotion always comes first. The rock elements give “Monsters” its aggression and energy, while the darker electronics create the atmosphere and tension. I wanted the production to feel like you’re inside someone’s head as they fight their thoughts. We experimented with texture and dynamics, but never wanted the production to overshadow the song’s heart. The goal was to make it modern and powerful while preserving that raw VAXXO feeling.
This release brings together musicians from Canada and Portugal. How have the different musical cultures you’ve experienced influenced your creative identity, and what did each bring to this recording?
Both places are part of who I am as an artist. Portugal gave me my roots and a strong connection to melody, emotion, and storytelling, while Canada exposed me to a diverse music scene and different approaches to rock and production. Bringing those influences together feels natural; they’ve become part of my musical identity.
With “Monsters,” everyone brought their own energy and experience, and you can hear that combination in the final recording. I also want to recognize Ben Pelchat, Renato Simões, Cole Geconcillo, Ricardo Araújo, and Emily Peneda. Their contributions were essential to this Canada-Portugal collaboration.
You’ve been releasing original music since 2013 and recently earned international recognition for “Save Me.” How has your definition of success changed throughout your career, particularly as your songwriting has become more personal?
When I started, success was mainly about numbers, recognition, and reaching listeners. Those things still matter, but my definition has changed. Today, if someone tells me a song connected with them or helped them through something, that’s success to me. Recognition for “Save Me” was an incredible honor, but the most rewarding part is knowing the music reaches people. As my songwriting has become more personal, I’ve learned that honesty matters more than creating something everyone will like.
There’s an interesting contradiction at the heart of “Monsters”: wanting your fears to disappear while understanding that you have to confront them. Has creating this song changed your own relationship with fear or vulnerability?
Absolutely. Writing “Monsters” made me realize that you can’t always run from what scares you; sometimes you have to face it. Vulnerability can feel like weakness, but I’ve learned it can also be a source of strength. Making this song was like turning something dark into something creative and powerful. Music may not make the monsters disappear, but it can help you face them. Faith is essential to that process for me, because without God, I don’t believe we can truly overcome our deepest fears.
