‘Helio’ begins in warmth and gradually reveals something far less comfortable underneath. The new single from San Fernando Valley band Chatrooms takes its name from the Greek word for “sun”, and that brightness is reflected in the song’s opening character. Melodic, reassuring and relatively open, it initially feels closer to the indie side of the band’s sound before the final stretch turns heavier and more aggressive.
Chatrooms have spent years developing a style that brings bright melodies into contact with the post-hardcore influences they grew up on, and ‘Helio’ makes that contrast feel structural rather than merely decorative. The song doesn’t simply alternate between soft and heavy sections; it uses that change in intensity to mirror the emotional progression in the lyrics.
The band have described ‘Helio’ as pushing them towards more direct writing, and that openness helps prevent the track from relying entirely on dynamics. The heavier conclusion lands well because something has changed emotionally, not just sonically.
Recorded in Massachusetts with Alan Day of Four Year Strong, the track draws from both indie-rock and post-hardcore without allowing either side to dominate completely. The production appears to preserve the contrast between those influences, giving the brighter passages enough room to breathe before the final section changes the atmosphere.
The all-Latino five-piece have already demonstrated their ability to connect with listeners through ‘It’s Alright’, which has already passed one million Spotify streams, but ‘Helio’ suggests a band still interested in pushing its own emotional and sonic range.
Its strongest idea is ultimately a simple one. Light can be comforting, but sometimes seeing something clearly is exactly what makes it harder to live with.