Chillwave: A.Y.D. - We're All Afraid to Live (2012)

74 / 100

A.Y.D.’s 2012 EP fuses chillwave, hip-hop, and vaporwave into an “aggressive chill” experience that balance cold atmospheres with restless grooves, offering a snowstorm you can sway to rather than sleep through.

Although At Your Disposal, aka A.Y.D. appears to be no longer active, the project managed to leave behind a commendable legacy through We're All Afraid to Live, a 2012 release consisting of four tracks in an atmospheric chillwave/hip-hop style.

The EP offers a blend of chillwave and hip-hop with touches of vaporwave—most notably in the slow, deep drum beats of the opening track “I am Cursed.” Cold ambient winds reminiscent of vaporwave textures flow through “Low” and “This World is a Cold Place.” Still, the presence of fast-paced drum machine loops prevents the release from being fully “chill,” as A.Y.D. doesn’t shy away from injecting groove into “I Cannot Get Away,” which represents the hip-hop side of the project. The vocals are intentionally kept low in the mix, maintaining the mood without overpowering the atmosphere.

While it isn’t as relaxing as typical chillwave might suggest, A.Y.D. delivers a unique “aggressive chill” sensation—like a snowstorm that compels you to enjoy it, even dance in it, rather than lull you to sleep. Personally, I find the strong ambient influence on “Low” and “This World is a Cold Place” especially appealing, though the busy beat style keeps them from making it into my favorite playlist. Still, these are arguably the standout tracks here.

Once again, We're All Afraid to Live is a worthy listen for fans of chillwave, lo-fi hip-hop, and atmospheric electronic music.

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