Words By: Bre Offenberger

Alt-pop up-and-comer Rouxx has released his latest single, “Hit Harder.” The track — which is already on its way to mass acclaim and a certified spot on the radio — is a melancholy and highly relatable deep dive on what it’s like to hit your lowest point and not see a light at the end of the tunnel.

The track opens with synths that exude with listlessness, giving off a muffled sound that resembles the last few signs of life you hear before being completely submerged underwater. Though his friends tell him he’s been a stony-hearted person as of late, Rouxx reveals he feels as if he’s lost his purpose, his spark. He wishes people would stop trying to interact with him when he’s clearly in a bad headspace and wants to be left alone. Now, something even worse smacks him upside the head, and he doesn’t know how he’s going to overcome it, especially since he can’t get out of the original rut he’s been boxed in.

He pleads to the skies — and anyone who will listen to him, really — that he needs an outlet or a distraction. A sizzle of a cymbal followed by a trap beat help conclude the last verse, where Rouxx is left not with any sign of hope, but even more questions about how he will trounce the adversity in his way.

Of the single, Rouxx shares: “’Hit Harder’ is an alt-pop song about dealing with a tough situation in life to which you feel you have hit rock bottom, yet something else comes along that hits you harder.”

“Hit Harder” clearly draws influences from the likes of Machine Gun Kelly, Blackbear, Mod Sun, Bazzi and even Justin Bieber. Rouxx, however, is a distinct, eccentric artist who overall cannot be compared to anyone else — something he’s shown since the genesis of his career. The Los Angeles-based artist started out in pop punk bands before winning MTV’s breakout artist award. He sold out his first headline show at the Troubadour in Los Angeles, and his fanbase continues to grow exponentially by the minute. Rouxx teeters on the edge of alternative and pop, generating a gorgeous sound that is not only adored by many, but will soon change the world for the better. As you wait in anticipation for more from Rouxx, stream “Hit Harder” endlessly, and let him know you hear him loud and clear.