After more than 20 years of making music, Lexington artist Tres Aurland brings hard-earned perspective and emotional honesty to his new six-track EP, VII-I-XCII.
LEXINGTON, KY, September 2026: Tres Aurland has spent most of his life building a relationship with music, and his latest release finds him drawing directly from that journey. Beginning his creative path before the age of 10 in 2002, the Kentucky artist has remained committed through changing eras, personal challenges and years of independent work. On VII-I-XCII, he turns that history into a focused reflection on endurance and growth.
The six-track EP explores what it means to keep moving when life becomes difficult, touching on pain, uncertainty and the emotional pressure that comes with trying to find a way forward. Instead of presenting struggle in simple terms, Tres approaches it as an ongoing process, allowing the project to sit honestly with the moments when answers are not immediate.
That sense of realism helps give VII-I-XCII its emotional weight. While the material is rooted in Tres Aurland’s own experiences, the project is built around feelings that extend beyond one person’s story. Listeners dealing with setbacks, frustration or personal change can find familiar emotions throughout the EP, giving the music a broader sense of connection.
Tres’ career reflects the same persistence found in the project. Since 2016, he has independently released more than 50 projects, steadily building a catalog that shows both discipline and creative range. Rather than slowing down over time, he has continued developing his sound and adding new chapters to a body of work shaped by consistency and self-belief.
His journey has also included collaborations with notable artists such as Project Pat, Twista, Krayzie Bone, Rittz and Jelly Roll. Those records have placed Tres alongside respected names in Hip-Hop while reinforcing the independent path he has maintained throughout his career. Even with those connections, his own catalog remains the clearest example of how seriously he has approached his craft.
What stands out most is Tres’ ability to continue evolving after more than two decades. Hip-Hop has changed considerably since he first started making music, yet he has adapted without losing the personal foundation behind his work. Versatility, honesty and a strong work ethic continue to define his approach, giving VII-I-XCII the maturity of an artist with years of lived experience behind the music.
Rather than looking backward, VII-I-XCII feels like another step forward for Tres Aurland. The project takes difficult experiences and reshapes them into something reflective and purposeful, emphasizing the idea that progress can still happen even when circumstances feel overwhelming. It is another example of an artist turning real-life pressure into music with meaning.
VII-I-XCII is available now on major streaming platforms and can be heard through Tres Aurland’s Bandcamp at https://tresaurland.bandcamp.com/album/vii-i-xcii-ep. Fans can also follow @therealtresaurland on Instagram at for new releases and updates.
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