ericdoa: Dead on Arrival Tour is coming to DC at Union Stage!

By: Ava Rowse

In the words of my younger brother who has introduced me to all sorts of music like this, "ericdoa makes infectious musical arrangements with digital overtones for the same internet-raised teenagers he still plays Valorant with." Until I heard sad4whattt in an episode of Euphoria, my experience with hyper-pop was limited to Charli XCX, Caroline Polachek, and 100 Gecs. While fans of these hyper-pop classics might not necessarily translate into ericdoa fans, if they also like trap music, chances are they’ll be pleasantly surprised.

ericdoa will be performing at Union Stage on February 13, touring his new album Dead on Arrival, which is also what "doa" stands for in his name. Combining the whimsical elements of traditional hyper-pop with the rightfully disillusioned sentiments of emo-rap, Eric’s music is made for a palette attuned to the sounds of new-age internet culture. Growing up in a very musical family, he was raised on raw pop artists like Earth Wind & Fire, Rick James, and Teena Marie. Eric spent much of his teenage years on the internet, as there wasn’t much of a creative community in his small town in Connecticut. The influences of these pop artists in addition to the music of the internet gave him a unique sound he developed at only 14 years old. He taught himself how to record and produce his music in his bedroom, initially finding a small but loyal fanbase on Soundcloud.

He’s released several projects such as Public Target in 2020, which gained recognition from music critics wondering if this new style of hyper-pop would last longer than a fad. His next project, which was released shortly after he turned 18, was titled COA, standing for ‘coming of age.’ This project received tremendous praise for redefining hyper-pop as we know it, linking it directly to young internet culture. Mano Sundaresan wrote in a Pitchfork review of COA that ericdoa was "vaulted into an unmissable presence in the glitchy, amorphous wave of online rap that Spotify curators want to call hyper-pop."

The ability to masterfully chop soundbites and vocals, which makes hyper-pop distinct as a genre, is an unmistakable talent. Like many young producers, Eric taught himself everything he knows. I listen to his music in headphones or through a booming speaker so I don’t miss a single sound, letting each song fill a room. If this unique sound seems intriguing, get over to Union Stage on February 13th to see this magic live.

By tickets here!