PITTSBURGH - s4story -- Pittsburgh hip-hop artist and producer RansomXX is back, this time with his debut album, Star Command. We spoke with the artist about the vision, sound, and drive behind the project.

Q: What does the title Star Command mean to you?
RansomXX: It's the energy I've been on — feeling alone, drifting in space, seeing the Earth as a somewhat trivial place. That emotion shows up in the music. It also fits the futuristic sound and mix.

Q: How would you describe the sound of the album?
RansomXX: Cold, spacey, and direct. Deep bass, shimmering synths, distorted vocals — it's meant to feel like you're floating but fully locked in.

Q: Which track hits the hardest for you?
RansomXX: Fall Apart for sure. It's my first metalcore track, and I produced it myself like everything else. It took guts, but it's gotten real love from people who matter to me. That one definitely opened new doors creatively.

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Q: How do you stay focused and not get caught up in trends?
RansomXX: I'm tapped into my own signal. I don't care what's hot — I care about what inspires me and the people around me. If it's already trending, so what? I do what makes me happy. Everyone should.

Q: What do you hope people feel when they press play?
RansomXX: I just want people to hear it. If it hits them or makes them feel like they've got their own world to rule, even better. I'm just thankful anyone's listening.

Q: What's next after Star Command?
RansomXX: Always more. Always working. Stay tuned.

Star Command is available now on all streaming platforms:

Spotify
Apple Music
YouTube Music
Amazon Music
TIDAL
Audiomack
Deezer