ÆTHERYKA

ÆTHERYKA
Birth name	Alex Ziwahatan Chase
Born	January 28, 1990 (age 36); Eugene, Oregon, United States
Origin	Oregon, United States
Genres	Screamo, heavy metal
Occupation(s)	Recording artist, songwriter
Years active	2026–present
Labels	Siuslaw Country Records
Associated acts	ZIWAHATAN

ÆTHERYKA is the screamo and heavy metal musical identity of American recording artist and songwriter Alex Ziwahatan Chase (born January 28, 1990). Established in 2026, ÆTHERYKA was created as a separate project from Chase's multi-genre recording identity ZIWAHATAN (recording artist).

ÆTHERYKA's music is largely autobiographical and draws from Chase's experiences of trauma during childhood and adulthood. Much of the project's material addresses sexual trauma, its long-term effects, and the experiences of male victims of sexual violence.

The project combines screamo and heavy metal influences with screamed vocals, dark subject matter, and a visual identity distinct from Chase's work as ZIWAHATAN.

ÆTHERYKA's first releases were issued in 2026 through Siuslaw Country Records and include the album The Things I Still Carry and the single "Something in My Drink".

History

Formation

Alex Ziwahatan Chase established ÆTHERYKA in 2026 as a separate musical identity for material that differed substantially from the music he had previously released under the name ZIWAHATAN.

Prior to ÆTHERYKA, Chase released music spanning electronic dance music, country, pop, and other styles as ZIWAHATAN. His 2026 ZIWAHATAN albums included Neon Gravity, 250: Red, White, and True, and Siuslaw Country.

As Chase began developing substantially heavier and more personal material, he chose to establish a separate artist identity rather than incorporate the recordings directly into the ZIWAHATAN catalog.

The resulting project was named ÆTHERYKA.

The separation allowed Chase to distinguish the project's darker subject matter, heavier musical style, and visual presentation from his existing work.

Relationship to ZIWAHATAN

ÆTHERYKA and ZIWAHATAN are separate musical identities of the same recording artist.

ZIWAHATAN encompasses Chase's electronic dance music, country, pop, and other genre-crossing recordings.

ÆTHERYKA is dedicated to his screamo and heavy metal material.

Although the projects are publicly connected, each maintains its own musical direction, releases, and visual identity.

The Things I Still Carry

In 2026, ÆTHERYKA released the album The Things I Still Carry through Siuslaw Country Records.

The album is an autobiographical work drawing substantially from Chase's experiences of trauma during childhood and adulthood. Much of its material addresses sexual trauma and the lasting emotional effects of traumatic experiences.

The album explores themes including fear, vulnerability, anger, memory, survival, isolation, and the experience of continuing to carry traumatic memories into adulthood.

The title The Things I Still Carry refers to experiences and emotional burdens from earlier periods of Chase's life that continued to affect him as an adult.

The album also addresses sexual trauma from the perspective of a male survivor. Through the project, Chase sought to increase awareness that men and boys can also be victims of sexual violence and to address a subject that he believed was often difficult for male survivors to discuss publicly.

Musically, The Things I Still Carry uses the heavier sound of ÆTHERYKA, including screamed vocals and screamo and heavy metal influences, to communicate subject matter substantially darker than much of Chase's work as ZIWAHATAN.

"Something in My Drink"

In 2026, ÆTHERYKA released the single "Something in My Drink" through Siuslaw Country Records.

The song is autobiographical and draws from Chase's personal experiences of trauma.

Its subject matter is connected to the broader themes of sexual trauma, vulnerability, fear, survival, and male victimization explored throughout the ÆTHERYKA project.

"Something in My Drink" was among the recordings used to introduce ÆTHERYKA and establish the project's darker musical and visual identity.

The song was promoted through online video and short-form social media content in conjunction with the launch of the ÆTHERYKA project.

Musical style

ÆTHERYKA is primarily associated with screamo and heavy metal.

Musical elements associated with the project include:

Screamed and aggressive vocals
Heavy instrumentation
Heavy metal influences
Screamo influences
Dark and emotionally intense songwriting
Contrasting vulnerable and aggressive passages
Elements of electronic production

The heavier musical approach is used to distinguish ÆTHERYKA from Chase's work as ZIWAHATAN.

While ZIWAHATAN encompasses Chase's EDM, country, pop, and genre-crossing recordings, ÆTHERYKA provides a dedicated identity for material built around heavier instrumentation, screamed vocals, and substantially darker subject matter.

Themes and subject matter

ÆTHERYKA's music is largely autobiographical and draws from Chase's personal experiences of trauma during childhood and adulthood.

Much of the project's material addresses sexual trauma and its long-term emotional effects.

Recurring themes include:

Sexual trauma
Childhood trauma
Adult trauma
Fear
Vulnerability
Anger
Memory
Isolation
Survival
The lasting effects of traumatic experiences

Rather than presenting these subjects primarily through fictional narratives, much of ÆTHERYKA's material is drawn from Chase's own experiences.

A central theme of the project is the experience of male victims of sexual violence.

Through ÆTHERYKA, Chase addresses sexual trauma from the perspective of a male survivor and seeks to increase visibility of the fact that men and boys can also be victims of sexual crimes.

The project also explores barriers that can make male experiences of sexual victimization difficult to acknowledge or discuss publicly.

The title The Things I Still Carry reflects the project's broader focus on the lasting effects of traumatic experiences and the memories and emotional consequences that can remain long after the events themselves.

The intensity of ÆTHERYKA's music, including screamed vocals and heavy instrumentation, functions as part of the project's expression of anger, fear, vulnerability, pain, and survival.

Because of its subject matter, ÆTHERYKA's music and accompanying visual material may address themes that some listeners find disturbing or emotionally difficult.

Visual identity

ÆTHERYKA maintains a visual identity distinct from ZIWAHATAN.

A mask is a central element of the ÆTHERYKA persona and appears in promotional photography, cover artwork, social media content, and other visual representations of the project.

The project's visual presentation generally uses dark, ominous, and horror-influenced imagery that reflects the emotional intensity of its music.

Recurring visual elements include:

Masks
Dark environments
Dramatic lighting
Distressed typography
Horror-influenced imagery
Images depicting fear or vulnerability
Dark and desaturated visual environments

The imagery accompanying ÆTHERYKA's music is intended to complement its themes of trauma, fear, vulnerability, survival, and emotional confrontation.

The mask also provides a visual distinction between ÆTHERYKA and ZIWAHATAN.

Name

The artist name is stylized ÆTHERYKA, beginning with the letter Æ.

The name is rendered as AETHERYKA when used on websites, usernames, or other services that do not support the Æ character.

ÆTHERYKA remains the project's primary and official stylization.

Siuslaw Country Records

ÆTHERYKA releases music through Siuslaw Country Records, an independent record label established by Chase in 2026.

The label is also associated with releases under the ZIWAHATAN name.

ÆTHERYKA's 2026 album The Things I Still Carry and single "Something in My Drink" were released through Siuslaw Country Records.

Discography

Albums

Year	Title	Label
2026	The Things I Still Carry	Siuslaw Country Records

Singles

Year	Title	Label
2026	"Something in My Drink"	Siuslaw Country Records

ZIWAHATAN and ÆTHERYKA

Artist identity	Primary musical styles	Label
ZIWAHATAN	EDM, country, pop	Emerald Shire Records; Siuslaw Country Records
ÆTHERYKA	Screamo, heavy metal	Siuslaw Country Records

The two identities allow Chase to maintain distinct catalogs for substantially different styles of music while publicly acknowledging that both are performed by the same recording artist.

ZIWAHATAN represents Chase's broader multi-genre work, while ÆTHERYKA provides a separate creative space for heavier and more autobiographical material.

Personal life

Alex Ziwahatan Chase, who is gay, is married to Joshua Chase, who creates and edits music under the name Nowbodhi.

Ziwahatan Chase lives on the Oregon Coast.

Associated artists and projects

ZIWAHATAN – Chase's EDM, country, pop, and multi-genre recording identity
Nowbodhi – musician and collaborator
Siuslaw Country Records – independent record label associated with ÆTHERYKA releases

External links