Can you tell us more about the process of writing “head//heart”?
head//heart happened really quickly. I remember I found the beat first, & instantly fell in love with it, the oaky vocal sample repeating those lyrics did it for me. I came up with the chorus on the spot, and liked the inflictions on my voice. It felt right, with what I was going through at the time, me choosing those words. I had to sit down for the verse though. It was like, 11pm when I started and maybe 1am/2am when I finished the verse. I was realllll careful when I selected certain words as well, not in a safety net sort of context but because I wanted to properly convey my very conflicted thought process.
How has your experiences with mental health influenced your music and creative process?
I draw most, if not all of my creativity on how I’m feeling in real time whenever making music. I don’t know if other artist can relate but I very rarely make something happy when I’m the opposite. Unless a certain sound can pull me in that direction. But on the topic of influences, some of my favourite musicians (Mac Miller, Kendrick Lamar) have used their platform to speak on topics such as mental health, and I can admit, I’ve been depressed & hit brick walls, figuratively. I want to help people with my music the same way other people have helped me with theirs.
Can you share more about the upcoming EP “photodump//exit left”?
The best way for me to describe it would be a snapshot of scattered memories of this one relationship I had that taught me a lot about myself. On the spectrum of toxic masculinity, & vulnerability, I go over that on the project.
Can you talk about the line “dead, I wish I was dead & gone” and what it means to you?
That line is really dark, when I first heard it I think I was so gripped & sold because yeah I talk about mental health a lot but to actually state that you don’t want to be here anymore for your entire audience to hear is a scary thing, but I see it as hopeful, because if you look behind the words you’ll find someone who’s looking & pleading for a reason to hold on, even if it’s just for a little while longer.
How do you see “head//heart” as a step towards bettering yourself and purging old demons?
I actually wrote this song about 3 years ago now! I had to write these songs to understand myself, & to come to terms with my thoughts & actions. So to me, this is me symbolically writing a letter to myself detailing all the things that bother me, everything that is wrong about myself & burning it before it plays on my mind. Old demons have no place in new beginnings.
Can you describe the creative process behind the album “Quincy”?
Almost everything was recorded at a friend’s studio, so I got to really take my time experimenting with arrangements and sounds, and work with some of my best friends. My dog Quincy was by my side through the entire recording process, sometimes leaning against my legs while I tracked vocals.
How did your personal experiences with loss, illness, and recovery shape the content of this album?
I am very inspired by the cycle of nature when it comes to recovery and healing. The natural world is so resilient and adaptable that it’s impossible not to take cues from it when you’re facing down chronic illness and grief. My mom died at 64, while I was recording the album, and her death gave me a sense of urgency and vision around the project. It pushed me to be uncompromising and stay true to my goals.
Can you talk about the significance of the song “Letting Go” and its connection to your mother?
We go to Cape Cod every summer, and every summer for my teen years, I’d have a big fight with my mom. Towards the end of her life, as her illness progressed, I started thinking more about what it would be like to go to the Cape and not have her there to fight with — or even just be with. “Letting Go” holds some of the tension of loving someone and letting them follow their own path.
Do you like the idea of collaborating? Is songwriting a lonely process?
I love collaborating when it comes to recording, but songwriting is a really solo process for me. I’m a slow songwriter and I take my time feeling out melodic lines so they fit my voice perfectly. I love the idea of collaborating on writing in the future, but for now, it’s me on my own.
Favorite music related film?
I love “What Happened, Miss Simone?” as a documentary, and “This is Spinal Tap”
Future plans?
I want to share the songs from Quincy as widely as I can! I’ll be touring all summer and through the fall, and working on new songs from my home studio as well. I’m also writing a book this year — a hybrid memoir on grieving, and I can’t wait to share that with the world in the future.
Tell us a few things about hold on. What is the main idea behind it?
the main idea was to tell the stage of my life when I fell into depression caused by love
Which song of the album reflects you the most?
I would say hold on
Your music blends many different genres under the electronica term. What made you gravitate towards synth driven music?
because in synthesize we can modulate waves rework them until they have that sound and I find it exciting to play with the wave to rework it and make something
Artists and people who have influenced and inspired you?
so since I was little I have been immersed in several influences such as electronics, jazz, RNB, rock etc. for that in my music often in a piece there is a lot of musical genre but it is true that the artists who have made me love the most is AVICII, LMFAO, simple plan
In which state of mind do you imagine people might listen to your music?
thinking that they are stronger because they have already overcome stages in their lives
One last thing we should know about you?
I am a young 19-year-old artist from Lyon who produces these sounds and who will continue as long as he is on this earth
What was the inspiration behind your latest single, “Class Enrollment”?
This was birthed from an uncomfortable text conversation, that made me realize my value and self worth as a woman.
What drew you to the theatrical aspect of music, and how do you incorporate that into your performances?
Ha! Hunty chile I am the product of years of theater training. I attending a performing arts high school in south jersey (SNJPAand I spent many childhood summers in an intense training camp held by Freedom Theater in Philly. It was an all black theater company that trained many greats such as Oprah, Denzel Washington to name a few.
Which is your most personal and honest lyric?
I do this for my grandma who use to work in the fields. Sun up to sundown picking green beans until her hands couldn’t muthafuckin feel” Song: Bernice Album: I’m A Hashole
What is the biggest challenge you have faced as an artist so far?
being an independent artist in the sea of record label giants is tough. But with the blessing of an amazing team, I’m able to navigate through everything.
How do you balance the need to create music that is both commercially viable and artistically authentic?
I’ve stopped worrying about what is commercially viable. Because honestly, what does that even mean anyway? I make music that makes you want to stomp ya foot. The hooks I write are infectious af and will absolutely get stuck in your head. So to me, that’s commercial. But also, I’m still true to me, because who else am I going to be?
When was the last time you danced?
I’m dancing right now during this interview, haha.
We were putting together a track that drew from the early 1990s explosion in acid jazz and also some less noticeable trip hop elements. We also wanted that 1990s production sheen. And we needed to the track to have a bit of drama attached to it. So Alba wrote the lyrics full of angst about gaslighting and betrayal. Its not about anyone in particular, just a bit of angst to work into a dramatic musical vibe.
What first got you into music?
My earliest memories are of going to orchestral performances and standing up to conduct the orchestra from my seat I was so inspired. Bear in mind I was about 4-5 years old. I used to write symphonies in my head which I thought were amazing. They probably weren’t, but the idea of writing music has been with me from an early age.
Favourite album of the past year?
It is probably not what some might expect from me, but I am very impressed by Beyonce’s “Renaissance” album. Innovative, meaningful, and of course she works with the best.
What would you change in the music industry?
Spotify and streaming. And the oligopolistic effects of the concentration of power across the industry. Musicians are not paid enough, and the major record companies are taking too much of a share of industry revenue. I think with the evolution of crypto and decentralisation, I can see this gradually changing. Nothing is forever. I also think AI is a major threat to all the creative businesses but I can’t see what can be done to limit its growth.
In which state of mind do you imagine people might listen to your music?
A range of state of minds. I release music under a range of genres…beats, ambient cinematic, and material such as TREASON and my LearningToDive entity which are both definitely retro. Hopefully it is somehow making a positive difference to their day.
What is the most trouble you’ve ever gotten into?
I have got into plenty of trouble over the years, but less as I have got older. However from a musical perspective there is one moment in time that still gives me the shivers. It was at a gig back in 1985 (yes I’m that old) with all sorts of important people there, including our record company. We stupidly brought in a friend to do sound. And all the audience got was shrieking feedback. It was awful. That was the end of my band’s relationship with our record company.
Can you describe the personal experience that led to the creation of Tell Me (When You’re Gone)?
When I was in high school, I fell in love with my best friend. Immediately after graduation, I faced a choice to move out of the small town I lived in, and pursue music in a larger metropolitan area. The person this song was written about ended up getting married, and then divorced. Every time I’d go back to visit, we’d always hang out like no time had passed. Because I’m a loveable idiot, my feelings for her would get reignited. I could tell that she felt similarly, but of course, I would have to eventually leave again. We’ve obviously seen other people over the years, but here we are 17 years later still stuck in this dance. This last holiday season, I went back to visit again, but this time, she said she had gotten back with her ex. That hurt, and so I returned home and wrote this song in like 30 minutes. If you’ve ever had a “one that got away” situation, this song is definitely for you. Side note, she’s not with her ex anymore and we’ve been talking a bunch. Timing is a weird thing. Wouldn’t it be wild if it ever worked out?
How did you develop the classic R&B sound and sexy vibe in the production?
Well it started with the hook and some guitar. Always the hook first 🙂 It already seemed to have that classic sound embedded into it. Since that’s what we felt the song wanted to be, we added bass and drums to it which really made it juicy. After that, it’s just a matter of some well placed keys for padding, vocal layers for texture, a couple of sweet guitar solos, and maximum effort mixing out of a home studio. And whiskey.
Which is your most personal and honest lyric?
Probably the beginning of the chorus. ”Tell me how do I forget this feeling when you’re gone? It always seems like dancing in the evening silence all alone.” or that bit in the first verse, “When you’re around it’s like I’ve found my meaning.” Soulmate status you know?
What is the biggest challenge you have faced as an artist so far?
That’s easy, being Asian! Just kidding! The biggest challenge has probably been, honestly, getting more people to hear our music. We put so much into crafting each of our songs that we get burned out by the time the release rolls around. I’m sure thousands of artists can relate.
What advice would you give to your younger self?
Get on things like Vine and TikTok sooner, haha! And I’d probably tell myself to start singing sooner to truly express myself.
What do you hope listeners take away from this song?
Love might not always work out the way that you hoped it would, but love is still a beautiful thing. We’re so lucky to be able to feel all the feelings that we do as human beings. Even if something hurts, it’s okay to feel that. Hopefully it’ll give you more appreciation for when things go well and are feeling good.
Can you tell us about the inspiration behind “One Life”?
Lyrically Ques and I wanted to talk about how difficult it is to sometimes overcome the traumas and tribulations that are passed down from generation to generation. We wanted to find a way to navigate through that, can someone overcome the environment in which they’re raised? I believe so.
What was the creative process like for writing and recording the track, especially with the collaboration with Chris Jennings and Quesmark?
It was definitely one of the most organic songwriting experiences I’ve had so far. I came into the session with an idea, and we followed that one little idea until we got to the end of the song. Chris is such a postive presence in the studio and no idea is off limits, and Ques has this incredible intellect. Workling with him again was educational adn pushed me to bring my best.
How do the different elements of hip-hop and blues rock come together in the song to create a unique sound?
Blending hip-hop and blues sounds has always peaked my interest because they both come from the the roots of all popular music, so bringing those two genres opened up so many avenues for creativity. Initially we had a heavier boom-bap rhythm in the drums, it was a great groove but when our friend Larry came in and laid down the beat on the live kit we knew thast was the sound we needed. It was the perfect blend of the hip-hop and rock rhythms.
Can you talk about the message you hope to convey with “One Life” and how it encourages listeners to rise above their traumas and overcome the doubters? How does the upcoming video for the song complement the message and themes in the lyrics?
“One Life” is a reminder that I am the captain of my own fate. “Stay true to you, and run your race” is a line that jumps out to me. I was inspired by Dr. Viktor Frankl’s book, “Man’s Search For Meaning”. Even in the darkest of times, humans always have control of how they react to a situation and no matter the situation, hope persists. Hope can come from many different places, good firends, good music, a sunny day, etc. The video conveys the importance of finding that hope and postitivity
Can you talk about any challenges you faced during the recording process and how you overcame them?
Well typically I like to have a song ready to go when I go into the studio, this time however I only had a guitar riff and an idea of what I wanted the message to convey. So that was daunting, as we kept digging into where the song was headed. Lyrically, finding the chorus took us a while but we stayed persistent and eventually it presented itself.
What are some musical influences that have shaped your sound and style, and how do you incorporate them into your work?
I grew up listening to a lot of blues and classic rock music, with my father being a musician several different kinds of music were in the house. As I got older, I started to fall in love with hip-hop artists like Kendrick Lamar, Anderson .Paak, and Public Enemy. The connection between the blues and hip-hop has always attracted my attention, and I wanted to write a song that brings those two sounds together.
How do you stay connected with your fans and engage with them through your music?
One of my New Years Resolutions was to be more consistent with my email newsletter. One way of doing that was by having my mom write the “Message from Ma”. Its been really popular so far. I am also active on Instagram and Facebook. There is a privage group I run on facebook called, The Sugarheads, its a a great place where I can really connect with people who are passionate about my music.
What are your thoughts on the phrase “You got one life, it’s yours to waste”?
All we have is our days, we need to make the most of them. With the traumas and difficulties that are being passed down through generations, its a reminder that we can rise above if we believe we can.
Girondolini is the Soloproject of a drummer who played for a variety of bands and finally started to go his own ways. The idea is to follow my own intentions. Finding Loops and sounds I can play drums to. Finding something that catches me not only for a few minutes. When I really want to jump behind the drumkit while startin with a sample or synth loop, I know it’s leading somewhere.
How has your background as a drummer and producer influenced your hip hop style and sound?
The Groove and Beats. When I am working on a new track it’s always about the drums. Sometimes I just want to find a nice loop to groove to. When playing to a loop I sometimes stay with a groove for quite a long time to not only play the right beat but catch the feeling that makes the tune special. When I am not 100% happy with the drums, the track’s not done.
What are some of your biggest musical influences and how have they shaped your work?
I would say it’s a mixture of influences. From BigBeat – Alternative Hip Hop – to more experimental Electronic and pop. When I was younger I was a huge fan of Rage against the machine and The Prodigy. I think the big and timeless Sound of The Prodigys “The Fat of the Land” and the crazy Energy, Groove and Sound- aestethic of RATMs “Evil Empire” could be described as my biggest influence for start playing drums and making music in general. The DIY idea of Punkrock always fascinated me since my teenage years and the musical freedom of Jazz inspires me everyday.
What do you believe sets your hip hop music apart from others, and what do you hope people take away from listening to your work?
I think because it is a mixture of styles. I wouldn’t describe the record as a hip hop only Album. Of course there’s a lot of hip hop influence but I would also say there’s a lot of BigBeat from the early 00’s in it as also electronic and experimental sounds. I am trying to stay with my idea of sound and music. Doing what i like first – as it’s my Soloproject. Of course I am happy if people like it.
What advice would you give to your younger self?
Don’t stress yourself. Enjoy what you’re doing and be thankful.
Haley: A) Soulful B) Reminiscent C) Americana Craig: A) infectious B) Eclectic C) OG Soul
What inspired the concept for “Records Back”?
C&H: Life events and revelations that force us to stand up for ourselves and take back what has been stolen from us. Not about just physical belongings, it’s about getting back time, love and dignity.
How did you achieve the 90’s hip-hop plus jazz sound in the engineering process?
C&H: our producer Chris Collins at Crimson Road Studio, without question. His pedigree included playing 90s EDM, Ska, and later he owned a jazz club in New Orleans. Absolutely reached in our heads and laid down what we were hearing.
Favourite album of the past year?
H: Older than 2022 but discovered in 2022, Maddie Zahn “You Might Not Like Her” C: Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats “The Future”
What is the biggest challenge you have faced as an artist so far?
H:Artist challenge: letting people see the deep things so I can forge a connection C: Exposure. The effort of trying to be visible and promote on social media and to events, festivals and venues.
What advice would you give to your younger self?
H: I don’t care what anyone else says, LISTEN TO ME. You are the most important being in your life. Get rid of the ones that say otherwise. Get rid of them NOW. C: Ditto. Pursue your dreams against all odds and against the well-meaning advice of people who will settle for your mediocrity.
You’d give up making music for…
H: NOTHING. Music has always been my soul language, and I will be thinking of songs with my last breath. C: Ditto. Nothing and no one. Music is me. Your Message
HipHop Paranoia 