chemical

Post Malone returns to his essence with Chemical, a track that blends pop rock with touches of synth-pop and an acoustic nod that brings it closer to his most recognizable sound. What stands out most here is that bright, catchy chorus, almost opposite to the darker tone he usually adopts in his lyrics. The song speaks frankly about that feeling of addiction produced by a toxic relationship, something Malone handles naturally in his narrative style. The official video, directed by Alfred Marroquin, plays with contrasting imagery: from a Post Malone smoking in a car to choreographies against beach, desert, and storm backdrops, all with a retro touch in the lyrical version he released later.

The recording took place at June Audio, in Provo, and aired on April 14, 2023, as a preview of his album Austin. The curious part is that, as he revealed in a 2022 interview with *Billboard* at the start of the year, the artist was aiming to rebuild his artistic vision even if it meant sacrificing commercial success. Chemical was his first release as a lead artist since that album, and a week later it appeared as the closing track of The Diamond Collection, a compilation celebrating him surpassing the record for RIAA-certified diamond singles. Though at the time the song hadn’t yet earned that certification, the gesture reflects his evolution within the industry.