The songs of midwxst feel like beacons in a tempest, a blend of rap, rock and whatever else he needs to bottle up the exact feeling in his heart. The Indiana artist developed his chameleonic style in the pandemic-era hyperpop scene, emphasizing sincerity and transparency in songs like his grungy hit “Trying.” Whether he is rapping over rage beats or penning sweet ballads, midwxst wants to provide listeners a path forward through relationships, identity formation and the internet. He wants to be the voice he wished he had in school, where he was bullied and faced depression and anxiety. Growing up in a military family, midwxst learned to adapt to any situation, whether it was prepping a stage for a theater performance or making music with kids on the internet. He’s emerged from the latter scene as one of its most promising and ambitious voices. And his upcoming album E3 suggests a real desire to expand his sound into something resembling a superstar’s. Co-executive produced by midwxst and Sophie Gray, it’s a tightly-wound concept record and an intricate painting of love and relationships that midwxst hopes will guide listeners in a deeper way than anything he’s done before. “I just want people to understand that I went through a lot of the shit I am expressing on this album,” midwxst says. “And yeah I went through it, and yeah it hurt, but it made me grow and become who I am today. And I wouldn’t trade any of that pain or any of that loss for anything.”