Brand new single from Xeno Ray JNB

Xeno Ray JNB’s story started in a space that feels familiar for a certain generation of artists, uploading rough ideas to the internet and letting instinct lead the way. Back in 2017, under the name Lil Ray JNB, he started out on SoundCloud, testing the waters with early material that carried more curiosity than calculation. Those first steps were all about exploration, the initial showcase of an adventurous sonic vision that would take shape over time.

Between 2018 and 2020, that vision began to shift; expanding onto wider platforms, he moved toward a more focused relationship with his sound, treating each release as a deliberate statement but by the next year, everything reset. Following a spiritual crisis, he stepped away from the identity he had been building and returned under a new name, Xeno Ray JNB. That shift carried into his first project under the new name in 2022, setting off a period of consistent artistic development.

Since then, his output has ventured further into experimentation with projects like the 2024 EP Wav and 2025’s the StaRteR pack taking his sound into a more abstract sphere, where structure becomes more fluid and sonic texture takes on a central role. These releases positioned him as an artist primarily interested in building something that reflects his own perspective, both visually and thematically. At the centre of it all sits his steadfast faith, shaping his direction and amplifying his aim to inspire as he continues to move into new creative areas.

Now, with the upcoming album Mono Modern dropping next month, Xeno Ray JNB moves into his most defined chapter to date. The project brings in collaborations with Jaydee Great and Dashawn Marvelle, adding new sonic flair to a body of work that remains fully human-made. That emphasis feels intentional, particularly given the themes the album explores, such as questions around technological anxiety, the role of AI in creativity and the pressures faced by Black Americans and independent artists.

Ahead of the album’s release, the lead single titled “Everything is Chrome” lands as an epic slice of industrial funk, operating within a tension that mirrors its subject matter. There’s a rhythmic sharpness that recalls the snap of Prince’s “Pop Life,” while a more abrasive edge connects to the art pop grit of Blur’s “Girls & Boys,” resulting in a sound that feels at once accessible and experimental.

Drifting into focus with misty background noise, the steady punch of percussion ushers in Xeno’s chanted vocalisations as the pulse of warm bass notes accents the rhythmic flow. Dashed with warbling synth tones and capped by laid back vocal delivery, the track rolls with smooth groove and hypnotic vocal delivery which progresses with looped lines as woozy instrumentation swirls around his voice.

The single arrives as part of the Chrome Pack, which includes multiple versions of the track like the radio edit, a full-length album version and a slowed and reverb variation, each presenting a different angle, shifting the mood without altering the core sound. Memorable, transportive and fiercely original all at once, “Everything is Chrome” puts Xeno Ray JNB’s highly unique sonic vision on full display while building the hype for his forthcoming full-length record.

Listen to Everything is Chrome below

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