Cousteau Christopher of Djentrified on going viral and confronting injustice

Episode 002 – Cousteau Christopher | MAKE // BREAK

Cousteau Christopher is the Santa Barbara musician behind Djentrified, a project fusing djent, metalcore, and deathcore with cinematic and political storytelling. His breakout single “This Song Shouldn’t Exist” went viral as a fundraiser for Palestinian relief, followed quickly by “Welcome to the Abyss” and “Harbinger.” With chart placements on Metal Contraband and NACC Heavy, Djentrified proved that independent heavy music can still cut through the noise. Yet, just as momentum built, TikTok banned Christopher’s account without explanation, cutting off 16,000 followers overnight. On MAKE // BREAK, he talks about resilience in the face of digital gatekeeping, the realities of DIY promotion, and why his music is designed as both warning and call to action. It is an honest account of what happens when heavy riffs collide with systemic resistance, and why artists must keep creating even when platforms try to silence them

👀 What you’ll hear

• Explain how a viral TikTok campaign built 16,000 followers in just two months
• Break down why his debut single “This Song Shouldn’t Exist” became a protest anthem
• Explore the tension between using Spotify and critiquing its CEO’s investments
• Share how burnout from social media is the biggest bottleneck for independent artists
• Reveal horror inspirations and how layered lyrics deliver political and personal impact

🕰️ Chapters
00:00 Introduction and name pronunciation
01:00 Building a real fan base with empathy and morality
03:30 TikTok blow-up and “This Song Shouldn’t Exist” fundraiser for Palestine
07:00 Crossing into mainstream listeners outside of metal
10:00 Genre talk: djent, metalcore, and the evolution of heavy music
16:00 Challenges of being a solo project in Santa Barbara
18:30 Choosing values over comfort: the cost of empathy and morality
25:00 Spotify, ethical dilemmas, and no-win situations under capitalism
34:00 Wearing every hat: where burnout really strikes
37:00 The importance of email lists vs fragile social media platforms
43:00 Framing Djentrified as a movement, not just a band
53:00 Childhood medical trauma, hallucinations, and horror influence
59:00 Jordan Peele, false neutrality, and political commentary in art
01:13:00 Layered lyrics, Genius annotations, and musical Easter eggs
01:16:00 Closing thoughts and future directions

🔗 Guest Links
https://linktr.ee/djentrified.official
https://djentrified.substack.com/
https://www.youtube.com/@CousteauOfficial
https://www.instagram.com/djentrified.official/
https://open.spotify.com/artist/2QUUobR8FRqVwnhCvUWrIx?si=D2AHqIMEQJe9LbdXrKACdQ

🔗 MAKE // BREAK & Host Links
https://open.spotify.com/show/5GDOUd909p7ir2W74M9teg?si=cbc7e01e13ba4a20
https://instagram.com/lowkeyhellish
https://tiktok.com/@lowkeyhellish

🔗 V13 Media Links
https://v13.net

Tell us in the comments: would you choose comfort or conscience in today’s music business?

(audio glitch in parts, explicit language)

#MakeBreak #Djentrified #MusicIndustry