CortexUS

CortexUS is an independent industrial metal and cinematic storytelling project created and operated by Steven Basford. I built CortexUS as a place to turn imagination and human emotion into music and visual worlds. The songs explore pain, isolation, resilience, rebellion, and the need for connection—feelings many of us carry but struggle to express. I guide each project from its initial concept through its final edit, developing lyrics, shaping musical direction, designing characters, building storyboards, writing prompts, and selecting and arranging the material. I use AI-assisted tools as part of that creative process, with my decisions and personal vision guiding the finished work. The sound brings together heavy riffs, industrial textures, powerful rhythms, and emotional vocals. The videos extend those ideas into dark cinematic worlds, recurring characters, and stories that give the music another dimension. You may not see my face in every video, but there is a person behind this project. CortexUS is where I put my experiences, imagination, and the things I sometimes find easier to express through music than conversation. —Steven Basford, creator of CortexUS