From “chxuni” to “fallchords” , the story behind charlie from the man himself

If you’ve been tapped into the underground for a minute, you might remember the name chxuni, the alias of Cincinnati artist Charles Helton. But lately, you’ve probably seen him moving under a new name: fallchords. With a fresh sound and a new direction, Charlie’s stepping into a different lane entirely.

We caught up with him to talk about the name change, where “fallchords” came from, and what the switch really means.

Q: So first off—what made you change your name from chxuni to fallchords?

fallchords: I feel like chxuni was more of a hip-hop name, but it didn’t really mean anything. It was just a name, y’know? fallchords feels more personal, more like me. It leans toward the indie side, and it has meaning behind it.

Q: Break that down—what does “fallchords” actually mean to you?

fallchords: It’s a mix of two things I really love. Fall, because that’s when my birthday is—it’s my favorite season too. And chords, because I sing. Music’s been a big part of my life, and the words just felt right.

Keep an eye out for more from fallchords—between his latest EP PINKPINKPINK### and his upcoming album, he’s not slowing down anytime soon.

-rashad