asteria’s Digital Anarchism: A 19-Year-Old Sonic Rebel Rewrites the Rulebook

New Zealand-born producer based in Warsaw drops debut album asteria VOL. 1, blending chaos and control with collaborations from Hatsune Miku to Odetari

By Eric B. Thornton

 

At just 19 years old, , asteria—born Matthew Joines in New Zealand and now based in Warsaw, Poland—has released his debut album asteria VOL. 1, a bold statement, becoming a trailblazing force in the hyperpop and digicore scenes, with a cult following that spans continents. His debut album asteria VOL. 1, out now marks a bold statement from an artist who refuses to color within the lines.

The 12-track project is a relentless assault of frenetic energy, blending chaotic, energetic beats with a unique visual and auditory aesthetic. Lead single “MOVE YOUR BODY” comes with a provocative music video shot at Warsaw’s The Club No1 gentleman’s club, where asteria plays both male and female leads—a deliberate exploration of androgyny that challenges traditional gender presentation in electronic music. “Self acceptance,” he says simply when asked about the decision to star in both roles, a statement that speaks volumes in its brevity.

The album’s striking visual identity comes courtesy of Hikikomori Neighborhood, an Indonesian designer whose work perfectly captures asteria’s aesthetic of controlled chaos. The name itself—hikikomori, the Japanese term for severe social withdrawal—hints at the internet-native, bedroom-producer origins that define so much of this generation’s music. It’s a fitting collaboration for an artist who seems to embody that tension between isolation and connection, between the digital and physical worlds.

But it’s the collaboration with iconic vocaloid Hatsune Miku on “WHAT YOU WANT!“ that showcases asteria’s willingness to push boundaries into digital surrealism. The track bridges human and synthetic vocals in a way that feels both futuristic and oddly intimate—a fitting aesthetic for an artist whose entire ethos embraces internet culture and its anarchic possibilities.

When asked about his dream festival lineup—a Frank151 tradition—asteria chose Lil Peep, kets4eki, and Osquinn, a selection that reveals the emotional depth beneath the chaos. According to sources close to the artist, asteria is heavily inspired by Osquinn, Jun Inagawa, and artists from the Drain Gang collective including Bladee and Ecco2k, showing the emo-rap and experimental electronic roots that inform his sound.

Inspired by Japanese creative Jun Inagawa’s artwork, he combines chaotic energy with meticulous craftsmanship, creating a visual world that matches the intensity of his sound. The influence of Japanese underground art and anime permeates everything from his album aesthetics to his stage presence, creating a bridge between his New Zealand roots, his Warsaw base, and the digital realm where his music truly thrives.

The album features heavyweight collaborations with Odetari on “TELL ME LIES” and kets4eki on both “TOO MANY LINES” and “DON’T UNDERSTAND IT,” solidifying asteria’s position among the emerging vanguard of a genre that’s still defining itself. These aren’t just features, they’re conversations between artists speaking the same chaotic language, artists who understand the emotional weight hidden beneath layers of distortion and hyperspeed beats.

When asked which track best represents who he is right now, asteria chose “DEAD AGAIN“—a telling selection from an artist whose entire project seems to be about constant reinvention and resurrection. After being part of FabFantasy, asteria founded Anarchist Sanctuary in 2023, creating his own platform to champion the uncompromising sound he’s cultivated. There’s something almost hikikomori about the approach, withdrawing from traditional structures to build something entirely his own in the digital void.

Anarchism here isn’t just a buzzword—it’s genuinely political, rooted in freedom, visual experimentation, and building community beyond traditional industry gatekeepers. The 1.3 million monthly Spotify listeners prove there’s real hunger for music that exists outside the system.

As for whether he’s making music for clubs or the digital realm, the answer seems to be both and neither. asteria exists in that liminal space where internet culture bleeds into physical reality, where the rave exists as much in your headphones at 3 AM as it does on a packed dance floor. It’s music for a generation that doesn’t see a distinction between online and offline life—a generation that understands that sometimes you need to withdraw to truly connect.

asteria VOL. 1 is available now on all streaming platforms. Artwork by Hikikomori Neighborhood. For more information, visit asteria on Instagram, SoundCloud, or check out the “MOVE YOUR BODY” music video on YouTube.