Chasing Time (song)

In 2011, it was reported that Banks was working on her debut studio album with British producer Paul Epworth, despite not having signed to a record label at the time.[2] In January 2012, Banks signed a record deal with Interscope and Polydor Records to work on new music, and a month later, she announced the title of the album as Broke with Expensive Taste.[3] Approximately a year later, she submitted the complete version of Broke with Expensive Taste to her labels. Banks initially thought it would receive favorable reception from the labels, but the representatives informed Banks that she had not recorded a "hit" single for the album. Ultimately, Banks ended the record deal with Interscope/Polydor in July 2014. She later approached Jeff Kwatinetz and signed a contract with his company, Prospect Park.[4] Banks eventually released the album on November 7, 2014.[5]

Throughout December 2014, Banks released a series of videos in which she broke down tracks from Broke with Expensive Taste and revealed how each song came to be, dubbed the '16 Days of Azealia'.[6] During the breakdown video for "Chasing Time", Banks revealed that the song was conceived after the aforementioned occasion of her handing a completed version of the album in to her labels. In response to their request that Banks created something more current, she produced "Chasing Time".[7] This was further confirmed in an interview with Pitchfork Media's Jeremy Gordon, in which Banks said "it got to a point where they were like, 'Azealia, we get it, you’re cool, but we've spent $2 million on this record, can you just give us one [hit]?' So then I did 'Chasing Time', and I was just like, 'You know, this isn't gonna work out.'"[8]

"Chasing Time" is a song that runs for a duration of three minutes and thirty seconds. Jon Dolan from Rolling Stone described the song as "diva house music", going on to commend the tracks instrumental and Banks' vocal surge.[9] In a later Rolling Stone article, Jon Blistein said that the song balanced an "eclectic" mix of influences, from Banks' fast rapping technique over the electronic-inspired beat to the "pop-diva" hook she performs on top of house production.[10] Colin Stutz from Billboard described the song as a "hook heavy pseudo-sung track that rides the line with hip-hop and pop over some crisp house production", going on to label the track as seapunk.[11] Elias Leight, also from Billboard, described the song's production as a mix of hip-hop, pop and dance beats, going on to describe how the track boldly shifts in genres throughout its duration, and that the track could be aimed at a man, or her former labels.[12] Consequence of Sound's Dusty Henry noted that Banks "spends most of the time showing off her singing chops by wailing over booming, dance club beats".[13]

Banks describes the track as genre-specific, citing pop-crossover and UK garage. On the song's lyrical content, she explained, "It's about the journey, the breakup is a part of it, but it's really about the journey". She went on to describe how the song fits into a larger puzzle of the album in which the album's opening track, "Idle Deliah", is the metaphorical morning, and later tracks on the album, including "Chasing Time" are representative of later in the evening.[7]

"Chasing Time" received generally positive reviews from critics. Rolling Stone's Jon Dolan gave the song three-and-a-half stars, commenting that Banks was "delivering a splashy anthem of resilience and determination in the face of romantic collapse".[9] Mike Wass from Idolator concluded that Banks "genuinely shines in the soaring chorus", while observing the difference in style she displayed on the song compared to her earlier singles.[1] While reviewing the music video of the single, Melissa Locker from Time commented that "Chasing Time" was "one of the more noteworthy songs" from Broke with Expensive Taste.[14] Pitchfork Media's Tim Finney ranked the song as the 70th best track released in 2014.[15]

"Chasing Time" first appeared on charts on December 27, 2014, debuting on the US Dance Club Songs chart at number 39. Over the duration of seven weeks, the song steadily climbed the chart, eventually peaking at number 12, remaining on the chart for a total of twelve weeks.[16] Internationally, the song peaked at number 48 on the Japan Hot 100, as reported by Billboard.[17]

Credits adapted from Broke with Expensive Taste liner notes.[27]

Locations

• Recorded at Mason Sound and Glenwood Place studios (North Hollywood, California)
• Mixed at The Fortress of Amplitude studios (Los Angeles, California)

Personnel

• Vocals – Azealia Banks
• Songwriting – Azealia Banks, Ronnie Colson, Warren "Oak" Felder, Jonathan Harris, Steve Mostyn, Kelly Sheehan, Andrew "Pop" Wansel
• Production – Pop Wansel
• Mixing – Rob Kinelski
• Mixing assistant – David Baker

• Official music video on YouTube