Tell us a few things about your new album What The Hell Is This. What is the main idea behind it?
I created a question for the audience, What the hell am I listening to? I wanted it to be a rollercoaster ride that makes you say to yourself, What did I experience, I kinda wanna do that again because I think I liked it!
Which is your most personal and honest lyric?
I Working all night for that beach front house I need a Large amount I’m Broke
There’s too many personal and honest lyrics to count!
Do you think there is a true underground hip hop sound today?
Yes because the barrier to entry for all entertainment businesses has been lowered due to ease and low cost of equipment. So the Underground sound gets confused for mainstream but it’s still “Underground”. Check out my channel Paradise.Mobile on Youtube. It’s the MTV Jams of Philly.
What does hip hop symbolize in your opinion?
Freedom and expression. The ability to create your own but also the ability to turn you as an individual into a true business. I like to look at my music career as a business I plan on taking to Shark Tank. I feel like hip hop/rap has put a magnifying glass on the business side of the music industry due to hip hop being so translucent. If you study Hip Hop you can see that it’s been able to take people from the basement to the mainstage, but also allowed them to retain that foothold in entertainment acquired by forcing all artists to either learn the business themselves or choose another profession.
What advice would you give to your younger self?
Do It Now, Like Right now, stop being scared, it’ll get better, and easier!
What is the most trouble you’ve ever gotten into?
Well when you’re an african american male and you graduate from a suburban highschool with Straight F’s, but you look like a nerd, no one even cares to monitor you. You tend to get written off. So whatever I did I got away with.
‘Let me know’ blends future bass elements with some trap infused sounds and a pop sensibility. Tell us a few things about it. What is the main idea behind it?
The song tells the story of my frustration when dating someone who wouldn’t make their feelings clear. The lyrics are a bit tongue-in-cheek but it’s an exact description of the situation from my viewpoint!
Sound wise though, I didn’t write the song with a particular idea in mind. I work with my producer (Daniel Bohen) to decide what suits each song and portrays the emotions and mood best. We work in this way drawing together different unique elements and that’s what I love doing the most in my music rather than being confined to a particular subgenre.
What first got you into music?
I started playing instruments as a young child, which gave me a solid foundation to be able to write music and sing. With my interest in pop music, I can’t really pinpoint that to a certain thing: while growing up, I was just surrounded by it in the world around me, intertwined with pop culture, fashion and media in general. I’ve always loved pop music as a genre that’s so accesible to easily enjoy and have fun with but it also can have really deep layers and be a world of stories and emotion to escape to.
Main influences?
I don’t have conscious influences as I just write what I feel at the time. But the main music I listened to was Top 40 (primarily major female pop solo artists, 00s pop bands) and EDM so I guess those would have some influence on my writing.
What would be your dream performance venue?
Glastonbury Festival
Favorite film ever?
The Matrix
What is one message you would give to your fans?
Thank you so much for supporting me on this journey! I appreciate it every time someone takes the time to listen to my music and I hope you will keep enjoying my songs. If you like Let Me Know, be sure to check out my new single Games which was released last week – it’s a hyperpop inspired track with some cool chiptune sounds! I also just filmed the music video which is a super exciting project so keep an eye out for it!
Similar Feeling has a very nice nostalgic vibe. What is the main idea behind it?
This song is the result of a collaborative co-writing session with my good friend and New Zealand producer/songwriter Joel Jones. It’s a journey that dwells on the idea that we sometimes never truly move on, we just search for the comfort of a similar feeling in someone else.
Which is your most personal and honest lyric?
In this single, I honestly find the most personal lyric to be in the line “I found a similar feeling, in someone else”. It’s such a simple lyric but so unspokenly relatable. Not everyone fully moves on from someone they loved – life does go on and we do “move on” but more often than not, that love never really leaves, we just eventually find ourselves finding something similar in a new companion. I don’t know, I just think that line is so beautifully simple. Probably why we made it the name of the song.
Favourite album of the past year?
I’ve been super obsessed with Ryan Beatty’s album “Boy In Jeans” and also unbelievably clutching The Weeknd’s “Dawn FM” so would be between those two.
What would you change in the music industry?
One thing that has always baffled me and I’m not really sure how I or anyone could change, is that to be a musician/artist almost always requires you having another one or two sources of income to afford it alone. Like when you think of it, people become teachers, nurses, business workers etc which is their sole occupation/income, but to be a musician, it’s so rare to have just that as your main job. I don’t know, to me I’ve always hated that because it truly does suck a lot of the craft out of a musician to juggle more than one job just to survive. Not sure how I could change that, it’s just more of a rant I guess haha.
Which book should we read while listening to your music?
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
What is one message you would give to your fans?
Thank you for letting me into your lives through music – even if you only listen to one of my songs. I know how important music and my go-to artists to listen to are to me, so I strive to be that for someone. Keep streaming my music & keep spreading love.
Facelift has a very nice melodic flow uppon a classic trap beat. Tell us a few things about it.
It’s a collaboration between me and my good friend Jaheem, featuring the always talented Jay Coast. Jaheem and I are on production while Jay lays down his dreamy vocals. It’s an ode 4/20; one of our favorite unofficial holidays. Not just is it a celebration of a holiday, but a testament to our work, how far we’ve come and how far we will continue to go. This is also our first collaboration with Jay, and the videographer Blunt Lung.
Which is your most personal and honest lyric?
Honestly the amalgamation of all the lyrics are my favorite. No one bar can do justice to the joy the entire song brings.
Do you think there is a true underground hip hop sound today?
In all honesty no. There are too many sounds circulating through the hip hop stratosphere to solidify on one underground sound.
What does hip hop symbolize in your opinion?
Every emotion that can be brought out of you. Hip Hop is my beating heart. The reason I’m still alive. Hip Hop isn’t a symbol but apart of reality; of life.
What is the best advice you’ve been given?
“Only the best performers get nervous.”
One last thing we should know about you?
I’m working on a lot of music right now.. soon I will be flooding the world with my name. I can’t wait to show you.
Cold World has very chill organic sound. What is the story behind it?
I created the song using a sample from the song “mélange” by the Casual Brothers and Alya. I was excited because after I upgraded to Cubase Artist, I discovered a method to separate the instruments from the vocals. I decided to use that method on the sample to make it fit in to my song, and I was pleased with the results. Then to make the music more interesting, I included a sax solo near the end of the song as an excellent way to fade out along with the music. I decided to base the theme of this song on my feelings and everyone else’s when we are bombarded 24/7 with bad news from our news outlets. With so much going on in the world, it causes many people including myself to retreat from the world and try to find solace in whatever calms us down. To add a visual emotion that represents the song, I added a picture a I drew years ago of a beautiful woman shedding a tear. The picture combined with the song was a response to the events that occurred in 2020 with the Covid pandemic and the race-riots but interestingly, this single came out around the same time the Russia-Ukraine thing was becoming an issue. I didn’t plan on it, but the situation really reinforced the theme of the song.
Is it an extra challenge to promote instrumental music?
I think that promoting instrumental music is starting to become less of a challenge thanks to the internet and streaming services. Back then, it would really be a challenge to promote instrumental Hip Hop music because Hip Hop has always been associated with rap. I don’t think I can remember any Hip Hop producer that has acquired fame from their instrumental pieces unless they were J Dilla or Madlib. Nowadays with streaming services becoming more available, it opens the floodgates for upcoming producers like myself to get our songs played on different streaming services. Lo-Fi Hip Hop is the perfect subgenre to listen to for simple tasks like working a desk job, doing chores, or just relaxing. Since these tasks happen almost every day, it increases the likelihood of someone playing a lo-fi track while they are doing these activities. A friend of mine told me that he always plays my music whenever he’s working because it helps with his concentration because the songs are instrumental, and he doesn’t have to be distracted by the lyrics.
What is your favorite (analog or digital) synth?
The Roland FA-08 synthesizer workstation is my favorite analog synth because it is my primary tool of creating music. It has 2,000 sounds installed and many more when I connect it to my laptop as a MIDI controller. It also has a list of other cool features like sampling pads, a solo synth that acts like a theremin and an arpeggio and chord option that leads you create your own ideas.
Favourite album of the past year?
Djesse Vol. 3 by Jacob Collier was my favorite album this past year. I admire Jacob Collier as a musician because he is innovating as a jazz artist. He finds a way to make Jazz listenable to the mainstream audience by collaborating with rappers and other artist who don’t have a similar background as him. Despite that, they blend really well to his music, and I think it might create more possibilities for Hip Hop/Jazz fusion in the future.
What is the biggest challenge you have faced as an artist so far?
My biggest challenge as an artist has been promoting my music. Right now, as I answer this question, I grew up to 1000 followers on Spotify. Before that, it wasn’t easy because I was a new artist and I had little experience on how to promote music. After I’ve uploaded my first album “My Quiet Room”, they only advice I was given was to submit my music to different curators. While I was submitting my music, I’ve also learned the other challenge I had as a new Lo-Fi artist was that I had little experience with the subgenre. I guess that is why not many curators accepted my album because I would get lots of feedbacks stating that the tracks were too long, the mix was below average, and the music didn’t exactly sound like Lo-Fi. Although it didn’t affect my goals, it did make me consider if I should continue producing. Rather than calling it quits, I took a curator’s advice and found different ways to make my music sound better as I continue to grow as an artist. It paid off because after the release of my second album, I’ve been receiving a lot more attention which increased my followers.
What advice would you give to your younger self?
Always hold on to Jesus and persevere no matter what. You won’t see success when you first put your mind into your passions but overtime you will learn how to improve and then you will get better and better. As that happens, a lot of people will notice and will reach out to you to help you along your journey. As they do, you will help them out in return and inspire others along the way.
One last thing we should know about you?
I offer my talents voluntary at my local church. I always love to provide assistance in music whenever I can.
In the end, is it easy to recognize the patterns and change for the better?Tell us a few things about Patterns and the main idea behind it.
It’s never easy when it comes to self reflection. It takes a lot of discipline. When I created patterns I was at a time where I felt that I needed to make a change in my life. I began to notice the loop that I was in and the patterns that I stuck with out of comfort. So I decided to make a change and love myself more. There are so many issues that I’m still dealing with but I learned to take it one step at a time.
Which is your most personal and honest lyric?
Definitely from patterns it was “I’m always stressing thinkin bout life and sh*t my job don’t work for me I think it’s time to quit.”
Favourite rapper, lyricist and producer?
I have so many but my top three in no order would be Kendrick Lamar, Kanye, and Tyler, The Creator
What does hip hop symbolize in your opinion?
Symbolizes the art of expression. Some people see it differently I look at it as an art form and people just expressing their lives. There’s so many artists that are putting these bodies of work out. Most People don’t understand that as an artist to put a song out is probably one of the most vulnerable things that we can do because that song is a piece of us that were showing the world.
In which state of mind do you imagine people might listen to your music?
When they need a little bit of motivation and just knowing that there’s someone else out there that understands how they feel when it comes to certain issues or situations. Maybe the listener is needing that extra reassurance about life. That’s where my music comes in.
One last thing we should know about you?
i’m someone who loves learning and creating. i’m not a big fan of school. Not saying that school isn’t beneficial for others it’s just not for me. what I mean by learning is learning new skills whether it’s learning how to mix & master music, graphic design, or even learning color palettes.
Life In The Background has very cool soundscapes. Tell us a few things about the EP, the story behind it.
Matt: We’re bursting with ideas so for this EP we tried to tame ourselves down and focus on some of our mellower and more lofi sounds. That was in part to fit the aesthetic of our label OAKHI. The EP is short and sweet and less intense than some of our previous work. I’m really content with how it came out, which I can’t say about everything I work on. To me it hangs together really well. Brett: Matt typically works out the ‘one of a kind’ names for our songs after we have gone back and forth through the first few versions of a song idea. After that I try to lean into the descriptive parts of those names to find inspiration, refine the details and also try to form a loosely connected narrative journey between various songs we are working on. To me Life in the Background sounds like it feels; from the outside looking in, a window into life from the background.
Do you like the idea of collaborating? Is songwriting a lonely process?
Brett: Oneo Fakind is mostly remote collaboration in which we send ideas back and forth. Although it can be lonely working on new parts, receiving a revision is like having a musical conversation by email. It is not the same as jamming but it is definitely a social experience. Matt: The best part is when I get stuck on something I can send it off and what comes back has moved forward in a new direction I never would have dreamed of.
Favourite album of the past decade?
Brett: All Melody by Nils Frahm Matt: The Catastrophist by Tortoise
What would you change in the music industry?
Matt: I’d like to write soundtracks to books. That would be cool. I dunno if maybe that’s already a thing or gonna be a thing with ebooks.
If you were asked to rescore a film, which one would you choose?
Brett: Either of the Fantasia films. I think both movies are perfect as they are but also that it could be a fun challenge to create new sounds to match those visuals which were precisely designed to work with something else. Matt: Stalker by Andrei Tarkovsky. Very minimal atmospheric gem of a movie from the late 70s. Would be fun to make soundscapes for I think.
What is the most useless talent you have?
Matt: I can cross four of my five toes on each foot without using my fingers.
LOL. has a lovely atmospheric vibe. Where did you draw inspiration from?
I drew inspiration from my trips to Florida in 2021, I would fly there to work every month or so. It’s something about that Florida water, southern swang and Jamaican food just brings a different vibe out of me!
For which lyric you are most proud of?
I say a lot of cool things but recently my favorite has been “Even war zones have sunsets” – speaking to the silver lining. No matter how much chaos lies on earth, through all the smoke the sun will still shine.
Do you have an artist that you would describe as a hidden gem that we should know about?
The artist that I’m into right now is “My Favorite Color,” a super dope rapper from LA.
What does hip hop symbolize in your opinion?
Hip hop represents freedom of expression.Its not just music….its a way of life, nonconforming to the normal standards society tries to put on us and being yourself. Speaking the truth.Its the voice of the streets.
In which state of mind do you imagine people might listen to your music?
I hope people relate to my music as an outlet. An expression of the things they feel but can’t exactly put into words. Whether it’s love, anger, bliss, comfort whatever I may be expressing at the time, I know God is using me as a vessel to show people they can be themselves and be unashamed. Just stay true, have faith and be fearless.
What is the most trouble you’ve ever gotten into?
I got kicked out of school for throwing too many parties in my apartment
Tell us a few things about your new song ‘Calm’ . What is the main idea behind it?
‘I don’t want to run for another day’ is a feeling everyone has already experienced at least once in their life. If calm is able to make you relax and chill out when listening to it, then it has achieved its intended goal.
What first got you into music?
I was born in a musical family. My father played the violin, my mother the organ and my brother plays guitar. There was always music in our house. What really got me hooked on synthesizers was the album „Switched on Bach“ by Wendy Carlos.
Favourite ambient album of the past decade?
Still for me a masterpiece is the album ‘Zeitreise’ be the project Schiller
What would you change in the music industry?
Clearly the payout scheme of the streaming services. Tidal made a good start and the others should follow. Spotify is really the worst in my opinion. They make a fortune on us musicians and give back only breadcrumbs.
What advice would you give to your younger self?
Learn to read and write sheet music (laughs). All I do is purely based on intuition and my mood when writing a song. There‘s nothing wrong with that of course, but I admire musicians who can readily play of sheet music.
What is the one habit/thing you cannot live without?
GAS or Gear Acquisition Syndrome (laughs)! When there is a new synth coming out I need to check it out.
Winnin’ (feat. King Los) is very melodic but also has a trap infused bass heavy beat. Tell us a few things about it.
Honestly that’s what we were going for. I gravitate towards beats that have melodic overtones in terms of synths and what not, but also with that kind of timbaland hit hard heavy percussion. When I first wrote this single I knew that it was meant for the club and I wanted people to go hard to this. That’s been the goal all along.
Which is your most personal and honest lyric?
One of them is “Is it bad that I hate you with me if that means your friends show up”
When I’m dating, sometimes that girl I’m with has friends who are NOT for the relationship and it messes up the whole situation. So literally I’d rather not hang out with the girl I’m with sometimes if her friends decide pull up. Personal but true.
Favourite album of all time?
Confessions, Usher
What is the biggest challenge you have faced as an artist so far?
You never know how close you are or far away from making it big, and that’s always the exciting yet nerve racking part. So I’ve learned to not worry about that and let my music speak to my audience and keep hustling all the way through.
When not writing music, how do you spend your time?
Well, I’m a BEAST at ping-pong, so i do that. And at times i’ll just lock myself in a movie theater for a day and watch every movie.
What is the one habit/thing you cannot live without?
HipHop Paranoia 