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Nosaj Thing

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Nosaj Thing
Birth nameJason W. Chung
Born (1985-01-27) January 27, 1985 (age 40)
OriginLos Angeles, California, U.S.
Genres
Occupations
  • Artist
  • Record producer
  • Sound designer
  • DJ
  • Media artist
Years active2006–present
Labels
Websitewww.nosajthing.com

Jason W. Chung (born January 27, 1985[2]), better known as Nosaj Thing, is an American artist, record producer, and DJ based in Los Angeles, California.[3] He has produced tracks for Kendrick Lamar,[4] Chance the Rapper,[5] Kid Cudi,[6] Tinashe, Toro Y Moi, serpentwithfeet, Kučka, Julianna Barwick,[6][7] and is the founder of Timetable Records.[8]

Biography

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Jason W. Chung, known professionally as Nosaj Thing, is an American artist, record producer, and DJ. Born in Los Angeles, California.[9] He is of Korean descent[10] and began making music using computers and synthesizers at the age of 12.

Chung emerged from the vibrant DIY culture of downtown Los Angeles, particularly the experimental venue The Smell, developing a reputation for blending intricate soundscapes with emotive, crisp production. He self-released the debut EP, Views/Octopus, in 2006.[11] His first studio album, Drift, was released on Alpha Pup Records in 2009,[12] followed by a remix version, Drift Remixed, in 2010, curated by Chung and featuring contributions from artists such as Jamie xx and Jon Hopkins.[13]

In 2012, he released a single, "Eclipse/Blue", which featured vocalist Kazu Makino.[14] His second studio album, Home, was released in 2013.[15] His third studio album, Fated, was released in 2015.[16] In 2016, he released an EP, No Reality.[17] His fourth studio album, Parallels, was released in 2017.[18] His fifth studio album, Continua, was released in 2022.[19]

In 2013, Chung founded the independent label Timetable Records, which serves as a platform for forward-thinking music and multimedia projects. The label has released work by a variety of artists including Whoarei and Nosaj Thing himself.

Nosaj Thing has collaborated with artists across genres and generations, including Kendrick Lamar, and has produced official remixes for artists such as Flying Lotus and Philip Glass. His creative output also extends to film scores, fashion presentations, and art installations, including multimedia collaborations with Tokyo-based audiovisual artist Daito Manabe.

Recent collaborators include Hyukoh, Toro y Moi, Kazu Makino, Panda Bear, Pink Siifu, and Jacques Greene. In 2023, Chung and Greene released the collaborative single "Too Close," featuring Canadian singer Ouri. This was followed by "RB3" in 2024, marking the second release in their ongoing collaborative project. The duo is currently working on a new dance-oriented project, slated for release in fall 2025.

Career

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Views/Octopus

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His earliest performances were at Los Angeles' DIY avant-garde music venue The Smell and experimental hip hop club night Low End Theory where he became part of a community of beat makers including Samiyam and Flying Lotus.[20] He went on to self-release the debut EP, Views/Octopus, in 2006 featuring beats made throughout this early period.[11]

Drift

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His first studio album, Drift, was released on Alpha Pup Records in 2009.[12] A remix version of the album, titled Drift Remixed, was released in 2010.[13]

Subsequent Releases

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Between 2012 and 2017, Thing released a further three full-length studio albums, an EP, and a single. In 2013, he founded the record label Timetable Records, featuring artists such as D Tiberio, Holodec, Gerry Read, Whoarei, 4THSEX, and Daito Manabe on the roster.[21]

In 2020, Thing announced he had signed to LuckyMe Records, releasing the EP No Mind[22] and the single "For The Light" with an accompanying music video.[23]

In 2022, he released his fifth studio album Continua, featuring collaborations with Hyukoh, Toro y Moi, Kazu Makino, Serpentwithfeet, Sam Gendel, Coby Sey, Julianna Barwick, Mike Andrews, Slauson Malone, Pink Siifu, Panda Bear, and Eyedress.[24]

Between 2023 and 2024, he began a collaborative dance-focused project with Jacques Greene. Their first single, "Too Close", featuring Canadian singer Ouri, was released in 2023,[25]

Live

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Throughout 2009 and 2010 he toured a live audiovisual show, featuring large scale video projections of live manipulated graphics, with showcase performances at Sónar Festival, Pop Montreal and São Paulo Museum of Image and Sound.[26][27]

In 2016 Thing collaborated with Japanese artist Daito Manabe to create a touring show featuring real-time augmented reality visuals using multiple Kinect cameras on stage.[28] The debut performance at Coachella Festival was described by Pitchfork Magazine as "runaway winner for best visual production"[29] and was billed by Sónar Festival as "extremely captivating, technologically advanced, show of inordinate beauty".[30]

Discography

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Studio albums

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Remix albums

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  • Drift Remixed (2010)[13]

EPs

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  • Views/Octopus (2006)[11]
  • No Reality (2016)[17]
  • No Mind (2020)[31]

Singles

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Productions

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Remixes

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References

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  1. ^ Hudson, Alex (October 8, 2015). "Nosaj Thing "Cold Stares" (ft. Chance the Rapper) (video)". Exclaim!. Retrieved January 7, 2019.
  2. ^ Hoffman, K. Ross. "Nosaj Thing - Biography". AllMusic. Archived from the original on October 22, 2018. Retrieved October 21, 2018.
  3. ^ Martins, Chris (May 13, 2009). "Rattling the Underground With Nosaj Thing and Low End Theory". LA Weekly. Retrieved October 21, 2018.
  4. ^ a b Zeichner, Naomi (October 4, 2011). "Kendrick Lamar, "Cloud 10" (prod. by Nosaj Thing)". The Fader. Retrieved October 21, 2018.
  5. ^ a b Martins, Chris (May 6, 2013). "Watch Chance the Rapper and Nosaj Thing Craft 'Acid Rap' Standout 'Paranoia'". Spin. Retrieved October 22, 2018.
  6. ^ a b c "Nosaj Thing - Credits - AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved January 22, 2021.
  7. ^ "Julianna Barwick returns with new album, Healing Is A Miracle, on Ninja Tune · News ⟋ RA". Resident Advisor. Retrieved January 22, 2021.
  8. ^ "Timetable Records feat. Nosaj Thing and 4THSEX in The Lab LA". Mixmag. Retrieved January 22, 2021.
  9. ^ Weiss, Jeff (February 7, 2013). "Nosaj Thing Is Back". LA Weekly. Retrieved October 22, 2018.
  10. ^ Holslin, Peter (May 12, 2015). "After Losing His Gear and Beats to Thieves, Nosaj Thing Tries to Move On". LA Weekly. Retrieved October 21, 2018.
  11. ^ a b c Matos, Michaelangelo (February 17, 2010). "A Smell of His Own:Nosaj Thing finds his place in the new IDM". Baltimore City Paper. Archived from the original on June 3, 2012. Retrieved July 28, 2010.
  12. ^ a b c Greene, Jayson (July 8, 2009). "Nosaj Thing: Drift". Pitchfork. Retrieved October 21, 2018.
  13. ^ a b c Ryce, Andrew (November 3, 2010). "Nosaj Thing – Drift Remixed". Resident Advisor. Retrieved October 21, 2018.
  14. ^ a b Fitzmaurice, Larry (September 20, 2012). "Nosaj Thing: "Eclipse/Blue" (ft. Kazu Makino)". Pitchfork. Retrieved October 21, 2018.
  15. ^ a b Fallon, Patric (September 20, 2012). "Nosaj Thing Announces Long-Awaited Second LP, Streams First Single". XLR8R. Retrieved October 21, 2018.
  16. ^ a b Kokiousis, Chris (March 4, 2015). "Nosaj Thing Details New LP; Hear a Track Now". XLR8R. Retrieved October 21, 2018.
  17. ^ a b Monroe, Jazz (March 30, 2016). "Nosaj Thing Announces New EP NO REALITY, Shares "N R 2": Listen". Pitchfork. Retrieved October 21, 2018.
  18. ^ a b Ryce, Andrew (June 15, 2017). "Nosaj Thing announces fourth album, Parallels". Resident Advisor. Retrieved October 21, 2018.
  19. ^ Thompson, Shy (October 31, 2022). "Nosaj Thing: Continua Album Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved April 1, 2025.
  20. ^ "Nosaj Thing". loop.ableton.com. 2017. Retrieved January 22, 2021. Low End Theory club
  21. ^ "Nosaj Thing Launches Label Timetable". The Fader. September 10, 2015. Retrieved April 1, 2025.
  22. ^ "Nosaj Thing – No Mind". LuckyMe. Retrieved April 1, 2025.
  23. ^ "Nosaj Thing - For The Light (Official Video)". YouTube. May 6, 2020. Retrieved April 1, 2025.
  24. ^ Thompson, Shy (October 31, 2022). "Nosaj Thing: Continua Album Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved April 1, 2025.
  25. ^ "Song You Need: Nosaj Thing and Jacques Greene's moody collaboration". The FADER. August 23, 2023.
  26. ^ August Brown (December 11, 2009). "Nosaj Thing brings new visual show to L.A. Be sitting down for this". latimesblogs.latimes.com. Retrieved January 22, 2021. Pop Montreal
  27. ^ Terence Teh (October 18, 2010). "Nosaj Thing Launches his AV Spectacular". Dazed. Retrieved January 22, 2021. Museum of Image and Sound in Brasil
  28. ^ Davis Huynh (June 14, 2016). "The Evolution of Sound and Visual With Nosaj Thing & Daito Manabe". HYPEBEAST. Retrieved January 22, 2021. Kinect
  29. ^ Paul A. Thompson (April 18, 2016). "Coachella 2016: Winners and Losers | Pitchfork". pitchfork.com. Retrieved January 22, 2021. runaway winner for best visual production
  30. ^ "Nosaj Thing + Daito Manabe - Sónar Barlcelona 2017". Sónar Barcelona. Retrieved January 22, 2021. extremely captivating, technologically advanced, show of inordinate beauty
  31. ^ "Nosaj Thing Releases New EP 'No Thing' - Magnetic Magazine". www.magneticmag.com. Retrieved October 22, 2020.
  32. ^ Rachel Reynolds (April 12, 2010). "LA Collection Exclusives: Rainbow Arabia & Nosaj Thing". KCRW. Retrieved January 22, 2021.
  33. ^ "Nosaj Thing releases new single on LuckyMe". theransomnote.com. Retrieved January 22, 2021.
  34. ^ Patrick Lyons (March 4, 2015). "Indie-Cud: A Timeline Of Kid Cudi's Indie Collabs & Samples". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved January 22, 2021.
  35. ^ "Kid Cudi - A Kid Named Cudi". Discogs. Retrieved January 22, 2021.
  36. ^ Thompson, Paul (May 13, 2015). "The Life of a Nosaj Thing: "It's Like a One-Hour High, Then 23 Hours of Discomfort"". Noisey. Retrieved October 22, 2018.
  37. ^ Krystal Rodriguez (November 20, 2019). "KUČKA shares shimmering new single, 'Real'". Fact Magazine. Retrieved January 22, 2021.
  38. ^ Nyshka Chandran (December 9, 2020). "Park Hye Jin and Nosaj Thing join forces on new single, Clouds · News ⟋ RA". Resident Advisor. Retrieved January 22, 2021.
  39. ^ "Credits / Man on the Moon III: The Chosen / Kid Cudi". Tidal. Retrieved December 13, 2020.
  40. ^ Minsker, Evan (December 11, 2020). "Kid Cudi Releases New Album Man on the Moon III: Listen and Read the Full Credits". Pitchfork. Retrieved December 11, 2020.
  41. ^ Luciano Belete (February 11, 2020). "Jamie Isaac & Nosaj Thing - 3 [Stream] — The Pit London". The Pit London. Retrieved January 22, 2021.
  42. ^ brian coney (July 17, 2020). "The Quietus | Reviews | Julianna Barwick". The Quietus. Retrieved January 22, 2021.
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