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1.) We’re very excited to have some time today with acclaimed Indian Hip-Hop artist CassXXV; greetings and salutations and thanks for carving time from a very busy schedule to speak with us and our ever-inquisitive readers here at Vents Magazine! Before we dive into the Q&A mosh-pit, how is the New Year finding you and yours?
The New Year has been finding me in a really powerful place — if I’m being honest, probably the strongest I’ve ever felt in my life. I’ve never been this focused before, because the stakes have never been this high for me.
My schedule is honestly insane right now. I spend around 11 hours a day on night shifts, five days a week, and on top of that I’m creating all this music from scratch — not just making songs, but making sure I bring something to the table that’s different, meaningful, and memorable. Trying to balance all of that is difficult, no doubt about it, but somehow I feel stronger than ever through the process.
There are a lot of days where I barely get more than a couple of hours of sleep, but strangely enough, I’ve never been in better shape — physically or mentally. I feel locked in, disciplined, and driven in a way I’ve never experienced before.
So yeah, it’s hectic, it’s demanding, but it’s also the most alive I’ve ever felt — and that’s a powerful way to step into a new year.
2: Major kudos and accolades on your stunning new LP Zodiax I: The Warmonger Way which is lighting up record charts around the ever-loving globe even as we speak! Starting at the very top, can you talk about what inspired the best album release of ‘26?
Actually, it’s funny how this whole thing started. Back in 2024, this project was almost a joke at first. I was planning to run a streak of singles throughout the year, and I was getting attention here and there. I remember chilling with one of my boys and saying, “If I still don’t make it by ’26, instead of dropping twelve singles a year, I’m just going to start dropping an album every month.” We laughed about it back then — but life had other plans.
By mid-2025, things got tough. I’d already been making music for close to a decade, and the most demotivating part was watching people around me — fellow artists I came up with — slowly give up. One by one, they stopped. And suddenly, I felt like I was the only one still standing. I won’t lie, there were a couple of days where I felt like giving up too.
Then something hit me — I realized I still hadn’t given everything I had. I hadn’t pushed myself to my real limits yet. That’s when I decided to go all in, no safety net, no half-measures. That moment became the birth of PROJECT ZODIAX.
ZODIAX I: The Warmonger Way will always be special to me because it’s the opening chapter of that decision. It also represents Aries, which naturally connects to Ares, the Greek god of war — that’s where the title of the first track, “Ares–Aries,” comes from. During the creative process, I wanted to blend the darker psychological traits of human nature with ancient mythology and lore. That fusion led me to shape the album around the idea of war — not just physical battles, but internal ones too.
So in a way, this album wasn’t just inspired by concepts or themes — it was inspired by a turning point in my life. The Warmonger Way marks the moment I stopped wondering what if and finally decided to give this dream everything I had.
3: The ambition of Project Zodiax – of which Zodiax I: The Warmonger Way is the opening first chapter of what will ultimately be no less than twelve full-length albums – is mind-blowing, to say the least! How much of a roadmap do you have constructed in your mind as far as the respective beats in this twelve-part epic goes? Do you have a good sense of the journey ahead and how it ultimately concludes?
Of course I’m not creating this project blindly — I do have a roadmap — but at the same time I have to give the process room to evolve. You can’t force creativity, especially when you’re working with something this intense. Right now, I have a strong sense of where the story is headed up until around album number five, but I already know the project will continue to grow and change as I do.
Let me give you an example. While I was working on The Warmonger Way, I was consuming everything related to war — from ancient history to modern conflicts. I studied how warriors operated, how battles were planned, how strategy and domination worked. That album represents the raw, aggressive, war-driven side of human nature.
Then I moved into the second album, ZODIAX II: The Narcissist, and I’ll be real — that creative process really messed with my head. The music came out amazing, but to write it, I had to go deep into the psychology behind narcissism. I studied things like NPD and HPD, and I realized how these disorders have pushed people to extreme limits in real life. I went through incident files, documentaries, real stories — and no matter how grounded you try to stay, when you surround yourself with that level of darkness for hours every day, it starts affecting you.
Now imagine doing that every month — stepping into a new psychological character, living inside their mindset, then switching again for the next chapter. For me, this whole process has been a psychological roller coaster.
So while I do have a direction and a destination in mind, putting down a rigid, exact roadmap would be almost impossible. This project isn’t just planned — it’s experienced. And that’s what makes it real.
4: We’re tremendous admirers of the gem of a ditty entitled Beyond Surface, which stands proudly front-and-center on the new Zodiax I: The Warmonger Way album! What’s the VH1-Behind the Music origin of this drop-the-mic tune?
It’s amazing you asked about that song, because “Beyond Surface” actually has a really special place in this album. Even though it was the first song I wrote for The Warmonger Way, I never wanted it to be the track that carried all the spotlight. I structured this album in a way where not every song has to be the main character — some songs exist to play a supporting role, and “Beyond Surface” is one of those.
That track was my way of speaking on how the industry treats artists. The industry thrives on our art, but it rarely shows respect to the ones who are just starting out. I used “Beyond Surface” as the backbone for what I later address more directly in my diss “Running Outta Ideas” — especially toward Naam Sujal and Lushcurry. Not out of personal hatred, but out of competition.
They used platforms and marketing narratives to position themselves as “the future,” and I don’t have a problem with promotion — that’s been going on for centuries. Only the channels change, the methods stay the same. My only issue is this: if you’re going to claim something like that, you better be ready to prove it. Bring your A-game. Protect the crown you say you wear.
I tried to be strategic for a long time. But it took me years to realize I didn’t have the resources to pull that off efficiently. So this time, I chose a different path. I stopped overthinking and started moving with conviction.
Some people might see this as aggressive, but to me it’s just honest competition. I’m not here to make friends — I’m here to raise the bar. God gave me a task too, and I’m not stopping.
So I wrote “Beyond Surface” to remind people that what they see is only the surface. The real battle happens underneath. And the only way I know how to fight now is this:
“Now I’m going to unleash a brute force so immense that no strategy will work against it.”
5: In your humble opinion, what differentiates Zodiax I: The Warmonger Way from the Distinguished Competition on the current day music landscape?
In my most honest and humble opinion, ZODIAX I: The Warmonger Way is extremely different from what a lot of my competition is doing right now. And I’ll say this straight — a lot of artists today look miserable. Not because the music is bad — the music is often great — but because the art is dying. You can feel when someone is creating out of fear instead of freedom.
These days, people are chasing stable careers more than they’re chasing legacy. They’re so scared to fail that they stop experimenting altogether. And that’s the moment art starts losing its soul.
I could’ve easily made The Warmonger Way a more commercial album. I could’ve added club records, trend-driven songs, things that would’ve boosted streams and numbers. But that wasn’t my goal. I wanted to portray war, not package it. That’s why the album feels more like a ritual than a playlist.
Take a track like “Cycnus Paradox.” Nobody’s really done something like that before — it’s a perfect blend of cinematic storytelling and music, almost like a skit and a song fused together. It might not pull in massive numbers, but everyone who heard it, had goosebumps. And for me, that matters more than streams, hype, or buzz ever could.
I knew from the start that The Warmonger Way wouldn’t be a background album. I made it to be a one-time experience — something you go through, not just replay. And honestly, I’m happy to sacrifice repeat listens if it means giving someone a feeling they’ve never felt before. That’s my responsibility as an artist.
At the end of the day, I’m not here to repeat what’s already working — I’m here to do something remarkable. I want my work to honor the greatest creator of all time — God — by creating with courage, originality, and purpose. And that’s why I’ll always choose impact over imitation.
6: In the wake of the January 1 release of Zodiax I: The Warmonger Way, can fans look forward to catching you on the touring/performing circuit?
Right now, my main focus is fully on building PROJECT ZODIAX the right way — making sure each chapter gets the time, energy, and depth it deserves. With the kind of schedule I’m on, balancing a full-time work life and creating this twelve-album series, touring isn’t my top priority at this exact moment.
Also, I think a lot of people are still trying to figure me out right now — whether I’m the hero or the villain in this story. On The Warmonger Way I went straight to war, even dissed a couple of fan-favorite artists upfront. Some people loved that raw aggression, others hated it — and honestly, I understand both sides. But that tension is part of what I’m trying to bring. I’m here to give the scene something new — a stronger narrative, a different kind of storyline than what we’re used to right now.
Once that picture becomes clearer, and if I’m able to carve out some space from this intense creative process, we can definitely plan a few shows. But a full tour isn’t the priority at the moment. When I do step onto the stage, I want it to be done properly — with the right concept, visuals, and experience to match the world of ZODIAX.
7: Who are some of the folks both in and out of the world of music who have inspired your own indelible musical pathway?
I’ll make this completely clear — I’m only a fan of God. Apart from Him, I’m a fan of no one. Sometimes people take that as arrogance, but that’s not what it is at all. I used to be a fan. Now, I’m an admirer of skill. There’s a difference.
The one artist who truly made a deep impact on me was NF. I was a teenager when I discovered his music, and at that time I was going through some dark phases — getting bullied for being weak, dealing with the early stages of anger issues. His music gave me hope. It showed me that pain could be transformed into purpose. That’s when I decided I could channel everything I was feeling into music, just like he did. Back then, I was a fan.
Today, I see it differently. Now I’m an admirer — because I’ve reached a point where I’m writing my own story. I don’t feel like I’m standing below my idols anymore. I feel like I can stand neck to neck with them creatively. That doesn’t remove respect — it deepens it. I’ll always admire people for their skill, their discipline, and their courage to express themselves honestly.
But when it comes to God, that’s different. I’m not just an admirer — I’m a huge fan. We look at existence like it’s normal, but think about it — He created everything out of nothing. We can’t even begin to process that level of imagination, power, and design. And honestly, I’m working on something right now that touches on that idea — something that’s going to surprise people — but I’ll leave that for later.
So yes, I admire artists. I respect greatness. But my faith is what truly inspires me — because no matter how far I go creatively, I know I’ll never match the depth of the greatest Creator of all time. And that keeps me grounded.
8: As a noted and respected producer in your own right, is it a safe wager that you handled the producing honors yourself on Zodiax I: The Warmonger Way? And, if so, what are the pros to serving as your own producer versus outsourcing the task to a Rick Rubin or a Phil Spector-type?
Yes, I handled the entire production myself on ZODIAX I: The Warmonger Way, and I’ve always done it that way — and I’ll continue to do so throughout the rest of the project.
The first reason is simple: I promised myself and my audience that PROJECT ZODIAX would be created as a true solo vision. I wanted to set a benchmark for what’s possible when you really give something your all — creatively, mentally, and emotionally. This project exists the way it does because I chose to carry every part of it myself.
I have nothing but respect for legendary producers like Rick Rubin and Phil Spector — truly, nothing but admiration. But personally, I don’t like outsourcing my production, because that’s where the real challenge lies for me. The biggest dopamine rush I get isn’t from finishing a song — it’s from surprising myself with what I was able to create. That feeling is addictive in the best way.
I don’t even come from a heavy technical background. I don’t know deep music theory — I still use MIDI scales to this day. I just trust my ears. And somehow, whether it’s instinct or grace, I usually end up in the right place sonically.
The biggest pro of producing your own work is that your vision comes through your own lens, unfiltered. You’re not constantly chasing approval or revisions — when it’s done, it feels complete because it’s truly yours. And practically speaking, it also saves a lot of time. For example, on “Ares–Aries,” before I locked the final instrumental, I had already created 23 different versions of the beat — constantly tweaking, reshaping, refining. If I had outsourced that process, it would’ve taken months instead of moments.
Of course, there are cons. You can limit yourself by your own knowledge. But in my case, I don’t really see that as a weakness — because my style is already so different. Even my “limited” version has its own value, since I’m not trying to sound like anyone else. And after almost a decade of doing this, that individuality has become my greatest strength.
Now, if someone struggles to translate their vision into sound, then dedicated producers are absolutely the way to go — they bring incredible value. And I’d be honored to collaborate one day. But for PROJECT ZODIAX, I needed to see this vision through my own eyes.
Because at the end of the day, this isn’t just music to me — it’s proof of what’s possible when you choose to carry the weight yourself.
9: When working on new material, what does your creative process generally tend to look like? Is there rhyme and reason to the creative chaos, or is it a bit more freeform than all that?
For me, it all comes down to freedom. I can’t force creativity — if I try to, it just doesn’t work. There are times when I can create something highly complex, both lyrically and musically, in just a few hours if I’m in the right space. And then there are times when I can’t finish even a single song for weeks. I’ve learned to respect that rhythm instead of fighting it.
That’s the freedom I’ve given myself. If I need a break, I take it — no matter the consequences of being absent for a while. Because I’ve realized that listening to your heart is essential if you want to create something real. And I’ll be honest, listening to my heart has gotten me into tough situations more than once. But when I look back at those decisions in the long run, they usually turn out to be the right ones.
I really let the moment guide me. For example, when I was creating “Ares–Aries,” I had no idea I even had the ability to do opera-style vocals. That discovery shocked me. And that’s when something shifted in me — I started giving God the credit. Before, I used to tell myself, I worked hard, I earned this. Now I slowly realize that there’s someone above me who has His hand on my journey. Because I’m pulling off things that honestly shouldn’t feel this natural.
So at the end of the day, my creative process is built on instinct and faith. I trust the moment, I trust my gut, and I trust that I’m being guided where I need to go. That’s the real method behind my madness.
10: At the end of the day, what do you hope listeners walk away with after giving many-a-listen to your opening chapter of Project Zodiax, Zodiax I: The Warmonger Way?
Impact.
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