Hypochondriac is the second studio album by American singer-songwriter and rapper Brakence, released on December 2, 2022 through Sony Music and Columbia Records. It was supported by five singles and two tours, a headline tour across America and a second leg tour with support from Gabby Start.
Heavily inspired by the 2020s, the theme follows disconnection between the digital world, introversion. Themes of drug use, social media usage, content with making art opposed to serving a greater societal purpose, and relationships, both serious and hookups, are all prevalent within, Hypochondriac is a hyperpop album containing elements of emo rap and midwest emo.
Hypochondriac was promoted with the Hypochondriac Tour beginning in November 2022. The album's production was handled by Brakence himself and Wyatt Otis. Commercially, Hypochondriac peaked at number thirteen in the United States, where it marked Brakence's highest debut on the Billboard Heatseekers Albums. The album's compact disc (CD) would release in December 2023.
Background and release
Randall Findell a.k.a. Brakence would begin working on his second studio album shortly after the release of his early 2020 debut album Punk2,[1][2] which incorporated pandemic era themes.[1] Brakence revealed the cover art for Hypochondriac on November 14, 2022, and announced that it would be released on December 2 through Columbia Records.[3][4]Hypochondriac's lead single "Argyle", released on October, 8, 2021.[5] He then followed-up and released a second single, "CBD", on January 21, 2022.[3] On July 8, the third single "Venus Fly Trap" would be released.[3] Later, on September 9, the fourth single "Caffeine" would be released. On November 18, the fifth and final single "Bugging!" would be released, aside the album's track listing.[6]
Brakence performing during the Hypochondriac Tour in December 2022.
Brakence embarked on the Hypochondriac Tour to support the album. The tour had begun on November 26, 2022, in Cleveland, Ohio and concluded on December 20 in Brooklyn, New York, it was his first headlining tour, and featured Jane Remover as the opening act. Brakence would eventually embark on a second tour for the album, called the "Hypochondriac (is Still on) Tour," featuring Gabby Start as the opening act.[7] The North American leg of the tour began on October 24, 2023 in Columbus, Ohio and concluded November 22 in San Diego, California.[8][9]
On December 2, 2023, Brakence announced a restock of all of the album's merchandise, as well as a release of the album on CD.[10] The European leg of the "(is Still on)" tour began on January 14, 2024 in Berlin, Germany and concluded on January 19, 2024 in London, England. Brakence would then announce the second leg of the tour, stating that "for the last three years, [he] had a massive fear of flying," and that "after three years, [he] finally decided to face it."[11]
Theme
Hypochondriac's theme follows disconnection between the digital world, introversion.[4] Themes of drug use, social media usage, content with making art opposed to serving a greater societal purpose, and relationships, both serious and hookups, are all prevalent within the album.[3][12] In terms of commentary, the emphasis on social media and the difficulty of maintaining integral social relationships as an artist are clear aftereffects of the quarantine regulations imposed on the United States.[1]
Reveille's Autumn Siharath would write the about album saying "it plays like a neurotic self-journal filled to the brim with media-induced anxiety. The album explores themes of ego, fame, mental illness, love and death and rebirth with sounds that capture most Millennial and Gen Z emotions with sample sounds of screaming, gunshots and video game narratives."[4] H.D. Angel of Pitchfork said Brakence's [new album] plays like an obsessive process document of internet-mediated anxiety.[5] Angel also felt that the album "warps pop structures with gauzy sound design and hair-trigger songwriting."[5]
Track listing
All tracks written and produced by Randy Findell; additional writers and producers are as indicated.
↑ Findell, Randall [@brakence] (November 17, 2022). "tracklist" (Tweet). Archived from the original on November 27, 2024. Retrieved September 11, 2025– via Twitter.
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