Tag: Hype

Trav B Ryan – Nightmare On Elm Street [Interview]

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Is Nightmare On Elm Street based on real life experiences?

Yea definitely. I have some ex’s that I never want to see again because they took a toll on my mental health and my heart. Then I also here stories from people I know that went through the same things. So it’s a mixture of my experiences and others around me.

What is your creative process like?

Well I love finding the right beat first. It has to speak to me and tap into an emotion or memory of mine. Once that happens I just let my soul speak through my pen and create from there. I let the rawness come out and I tweak what needs to be tweaked. But I try to keep it as raw as possible.

What first got you into music?

My older sister actually. I used to see her battle guys she knew around the neighborhood and I was so impressed by the way the crowd reacted and the trance music can put people in. She had everyone’s full attention. I loved that. I fell in love with the whole art form after that.

What do you enjoy most? Writing music or performing your music live?

I love both. The writing process is like therapy for me and it’s a rare time I get to spend time with myself. It’s like medicine for the soul when that happens. Performing live is a drug that breathes new life in the songs I make. Feeding off the energy of the crowd is special too. There is nothing like it in the world.

Is Spotify the music industry’s new Gatekeepers?

I think Spotify plays a part but the true Gatekeepers will always be your fans. If people really love your music they can be more powerful than any streaming company. They will find your songs by any means necessary and spread the word about it.

In which state of mind do you imagine people might listen to your music?

When they are ready to love themselves. Not just the good parts. The flaws too. When they are ready to completely become vulnerable and not be afraid to feel something. Thats when my music fits right in.

What would you say is your biggest vice?

I fall in love with the art too much. When you do that you start to lose track of time and lose valuable moments in life. Finding that balance is hard to do.

Thank you!

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pretty ghetto – INJURY NOGRACE [Interview]

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Describe your sound in 3 words

pretty. mothafuckin. ghetto.

Tell us a few things about INJURY NOGRACE and your creative process in general.

INJURY NOGRACE is really just a collection of songs that i’ve made from the past year and half or so. Matter of fact, the lyrics on second part of ‘pretty like my dior’ dates back as far as december of 2019. My creative process really aint nothing special, i dont think. I’m just going through my day to day and if i feel like i have a melody or some lyrics in my head, i’ll jot it down on my phone. But nothing really materializes out of that right away. I’m always just thinking of concepts, there’s so much happening in my life that might not always be huge but it’s enough to over-analyze and make a song out of. I over-analyze everything and that doesn’t help my well-being. But hey, INJURY NOGRACE is a product of those unhealthy circumstances. Basically what i’m saying is is that if i ever fuck up in my life and i’m just going through it, at least i’ll know a great project will come out of it.

Well done for releasing a full album. But do people listen to full albums nowadays?

I don’t know. I know I do. If I have 1 or 2 dope songs on my album that someone is fucking with heavy, then i know they’ll be like “alright, lemme run through this whole thing real quick”. That’s why I like to switch up the styles on my project, so there’s something in there for anyone and everyone. I think that’s what’s key about making a full-length project; making sure you have enough interesting things to offer the listener so they don’t get bored. If you don’t think you have enough things to say that will keep the listener captivated then don’t release an album. It’s like when I see an anime that has like 70 seasons, I’m like ‘what the fuck’. How can this show have that much of a great story to tell? It’s crazy. But all in all, if people can’t keep up with the full album, then they won’t, but there’s people that can and fuck with it, so it is what it is. Maybe it’s an attention-span thing. That’s actually why I made sure the first half of the album was filled with the hype shit, the bangers.

Freedom, reflection, hype or chilling. How do all these fit together in your music?

i explore all those avenues and styles in my music, especially in INJURY NOGRACE. And I love to just reflect on my own shit that i got going on in my life through my music. And the songs that I make when I’m in that reflective headspace are usually my favorite because that’s like the only way I can express unfiltered emotions and shit. But I love just making songs that are hype and a chill vibe that my homies can just smoke to or something. Thats been like my main goal as of late.

Best rap album ever?

that’s a toss up between ‘Operation: Doomsday’ and ‘Acid Rap’

What was the best film you have watched during the quarantine?

Lars and the Real Girl. Ryan gosling don’t miss.

One last thing we should know about you?

I dont know what’s worth knowing about me. INJURY NOGRACE out on all platforms tho.

Thank you!

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AJ LA JOYA – Hallucinate [Interview]

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Describe your sound in 3 words

Versatile, colorful, and unpredictable.

Tell us a few things about your new song. What is the main idea behind it?

Hallucinate is probably one of my favorite songs I’ve recorded thus far into my early career. Over the last few months I’ve been obsessed with retrowave/vaporwave stylized art and I feel like this song personified that audibly. When I first heard the beat, I started humming the chorus and everything sort of fell in place. I built a whole story in my head about the thin lines between love and lust, and how naivety can play a role in it. I think it’s a theme that we all can relate to… that feeling of longing.

Do you like the idea of collaborating? Is songwriting a lonely process?

I certainly do enjoy the process of collaborating with other creatives! It’s fun feeding off of each other’s energy, ideas, and it’s something I want to do more often in the future. My collaboration has mainly been with my audio engineer who’s been AMAZING in helping me get my sound right. But on the flip side, I do want to try and collab with other artists this year. I have a friend in mind to do a song with but the timing just needs to be right.
When it comes to songwriting, I don’t think it’s a lonely process at all. It’s introspective to me and therapeutic. It’s probably my favorite part when creating.

Do you have an artist that you would describe as a hidden gem that we should know about?

Hmmm… hidden gem. I’m not sure that she’s necessarily “hidden” because she’s fairly known but I would say Kelela. I really got into her this year. Her songs and how she began her career in music is so relatable to me.

What is the biggest challenge you have faced as an artist so far?

My biggest challenge is managing everything by myself. As an independent artist, especially at this stage of my career, I wear many hats. I’m my own manager, creative director, marketer/pr, photographer, stylist… the list goes on. Doing all of that on top of songwriting, recording, and managing my day job can be taxing at times, but honestly, it’s all worth it. My love for music powers me through. It’s nothing I can’t handle.

In which state of mind do you imagine people might listen to your music?

I want my music to mirror the listener’s current emotions. If their feeling sad, I want to offer sad music. If they want to party and be happy, I want to provide songs that do just that. This is something I’m conscious of whenever I create new songs.

When was the last time you danced?

Today! I’m always dancing. It’s in my DNA!!! Gotta learn how to breakdance next.

Thank you!

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Quincy Valentine – Daydreams ft. Shamyra [Interview]

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Describe your sound in 3 words

Soulful, Vintage, Warm

Tell us a few things about your new song. What is the story behind it?

The concept for Daydreams was derived from my personality. I’m known as a fairly nonchalant person and some have expressed me bing hard to read. So the song talks about this in regards to developing feelings for someone. Of course looking back now, this song unintentionally describes a particular experience I had with someone I avoided expressing feelings for. I happened to be beta testing a subscription service at the time, Reason +, and most of the sounds I used on this song were part of the sound set for it. Once I finished producing the track, I felt the vibe of mysticism and so the title as well as many of the themes in the verses reflects that from astrology to physics, and mythology.

Which is your most personal and honest lyric?

I have more music that gets a bit more personal on the way, but as of current releases it would likely be in Daydreams. I say “played it off like it ain’t a big deal, but I was just frontin’ like Jay. I’m being Pha-real.” That pretty much sums up the song.

Your music has an old school vibe. Are you into today’s Hip Hop? Or do you prefer to listen to old classics?

I’m definitely a child of the 90’s so today’s Hiphop honestly doesn’t hit the same. There’s some modern songs that still catch my attention though.

What does hip hop symbolize in your opinion?

Hiphop is art. It’s a culture. It’s also an effective means of spreading a message.

In which state of mind do you imagine people might listen to your music?

A lot of my current music tends to lean towards a chill vibe. So I imagine most listeners are in some kind of relaxed mood or even a romantic one considering the content.

You’d give up making music for…

I honestly can’t see me giving up music. It’s been a pat of my life for my entire life from growing up hearing my mother play piano and my uncle dj and rap, to being in a church choir and playing in bands through high school and college. Whether it would be my primary career or not, I think it will always be a large part of my life.

Thank you!

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Kilo Kami ft. Kashcpt & Tembipowers – Dreams (Remix) [Interview]

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Describe your sound in 3 words.

I don’t think this describes my sound alone per se, but my goal as Kilo Kami is to be free, limitless and experimental.

How many beats do you listen to before you end up using one? Tell us a few things about your creative process.

I produce my own beats and tracks. I would normally reach out to a specific vocalist that I had in mind to feature on my song and to write with. Similar to artists such as Metro Boomin and Marshmello. They can collaborate with anyone across any genre and that’s what I’ve always wanted to do as a producer and songwriter.

Which is your most personal and honest lyric?

There is a section that Kashcpt wrote that I really like in the hook of “Dreams.” The lyrics are: “Got me in a dream and tripping so far away, I been in a dream and it’s heading in a sorrow way.” This track is about escapism from reality and being stuck in an intoxicated dream state and I really love that part.

Who is your favorite beat maker and which rapper’s flow do you enjoy the most?

In terms of beat makers, I’ve been listening to a lot of artists such as Glaive, Midwxst and Eric Doa and there is a producer, Delta, that worked on many of their songs that I really like. I’m also a massive fan of the “Internet Money” producer crew.

In terms of rappers, that’s such a hard one to answer. I am inspired by so many rappers and singers across so many “genres”. I will always be a fan of the late JuiceWrld, and Drake of course. I watched an interview on Youtube the other day and someone said that Drake is like McDonalds. He serves everyone lol. That is true.

What would be your dream performance venue?

On a holiday to the states a couple of years ago, I went to watch a show at the The Novo in Los Angeles, next to the Staple Center. Speaking about the Staple Center, obviously that’s a big one to play at but I had such a great time at The Novo and that whole holiday had so many great memories, so I definitely want to do my own set at that venue some time.

In which state of mind do you imagine people might listen to your music?

I have received so many kind messages from people who have listened to my music in different state of minds. I really do love it when someone tells me that, when they feel down, they put on my music or it’s the first song they put on in their car, on their way to family and friends, my music makes their day. I just love those personal connections with music. That is all I ever wanted for my songs.

Should we expect an album in the near future?

Yes, definitely. I am working on an EP at the moment but the plan for the album is already laid out. I am very excited.

Thank you!

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JV/ZUU – ‘LEMONADE’ [Interview]

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Loved the groove in Lemonade. What comes first in your music? The beat or the lyrics?

(ZUU) Thanks! On this one, the beat came first. In actual fact, the original demo was very different… It was just me singing on it. The strange vocal sample in the intro is me singing ‘You came here on your own, you lied’ but I ended up just chopping the ‘own’ & ‘lie’ words out. Have a listen and see if you can hear what I’m talking about! Its funny how ideas can transform during the writing process.

What is the main topic of your lyrics?

(JV) My lyrics are about all my experiences, my fantasies, my ups downs smiles and frowns. As of late it’s been about motivation and focus. Scratch that, I’m on some mind bending shit as far as the craft. Man I just be living.

You entered the world of non-fungible tokens. Tell us a few things about it.

(ZUU) Yeah! We’ve been working on this concept for a long time. We really wanted to do something truly unique with our debut E.P. We have 4-tracks on the debut and each one is being released as a single. Each single has its own artwork which we digitized and animated to create an NFT. The NFT also has audio not heard on the single itself. We are selling each NFT for $100 and you get access to the stems so the purchaser can remix our music if they want. The best (and most innovative part) is that whoever buys the NFT gets 10% royalties for the track it relates to. They will be supporting us but also making money in return. Its a win-win!

A korg sampler and an acoustic drum kit. Does this mean that in the question software vs hardware you would pick the latter?

(ZUU) Nah, I’m not a purist. They are all just tools in my opinion. I absolutely love hardware and use it a lot in my writing but it has its downsides. I personally wouldn’t release a track only using software either though. I feel like its not personal enough if you do that. Nothing ‘unexpected’ can happen. I like having a mic on and just hitting stuff in my studio and plugging random noise boxes in and seeing what happens. That helps me feel in the creative zone. Staring at a computer screen the whole time just feels boring to me.

What does hip hop symbolize in your opinion?

(JV) Hiphop or music in general is about innovation. Taking what you would not expect and making it a means of communication, harnessing the unexpected and giving it its just due. Hiphop is the mother of that shit cause we take what we want and do what we want. We give light to the often forgotten artists. It’s about being different, at least the music leg of hiphop (if we getting real about it) cause it’s truly a way of being. The music is a by-product.

Favorite album of the past decade?

(JV) Earl sweatshirt – ‘Some rap songs’
(ZUU) Isaiah Rashad – ‘The Sun’s Tirade’

Future plans?

(JV) Africa and acid.

Thank you!

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Gold Frames on Brown Skin – Anti-Naruto (No Simp) [Interview]

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Describe your sound in 3 words

Storytelling, Vibe, Insightful

How many beats do you listen to before you end up using one? Tell us a few things about your creative process.

Hundreds, I remember I didn’t write any new music for about 2 years when I couldn’t find a beat.

Which is your most personal and honest lyric?

What’s realer than a nigga with a 9 to 5/ With a family to provide he don’t shuck and jive/ What’s realer than a bitch getting over her pride/ To reapply for them food stamps she got denied.

Do you think there is a true underground hip hop sound today?

I believe so.

Is Spotify the music industry’s new Gatekeepers?

Yes, I feel like Spotify is like the IRS for music. They will not tell you what you need to do to be successful on their platform, but they will tell you when you are doing things wrong and penalize you for it.

What was the best film you have watched during the quarantine?

Sonic The Hedgehog Movie. I am a hug Sonic fan.

One last thing we should know about you?

For the most part everything I do I write myself. Unless you see a feature listed on the song, it is safe to say I wrote everything on the music I am on. Be on the look out for my show “The Gold Frames on Brown Skin Show” and podcast “Anti-Naruto” coming soon to Youtube.

Thank you!

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me4u – a mixtape from me4u [Interview]

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Describe your sound in 3 words

bow/viral/movie

Tell us a few things about your new work “A Mixtape From Me4u”.

the album is really just a product of quarantine and the winter. i hadn’t written any songs in a few years, but a snowy winter plus lockdown gave me the time to mess around again. i’ve always made music as a hobby since high school, but never had things click creatively like they did this time. most of the album was produced in a week in mid february where i didn’t sleep since i was just in the fucking zone. i knew I had some great songs, but i’m not a great singer, so recording finished towards the end of may as i re-trained my voice to deliver better performances and lear how to stack harmonies. over that time period, it morphed into a whole conceptual art project with the visuals.

Which song of the Mixtape is your favorite?

“romcom” is my personal fave since it’s just fuckin weird with the Abba backing vocals and big arps, but “mr lovesick” will always be special for me, since that was the one that really unlocked the entire mindset for the album during that crazy week in february.

Artists and people who have influenced and inspired you?

Kanye has a huge influence on this record clearly, but I think my biggest inspirations as a songwriter are The-Dream and Taylor Swift. Daft Punk’s “Discovery” shaped the sonic texture of the album. Blackpink played a huge role in my approach to production and song structure and also visually with the videos i’ve made to accompany the record. DJ Lucas and Arthur Jafa were also huge influences for the visuals as well.

What would you change in the music industry?

my one hope for artists both big and small is that everyone takes their time on their projects. with streaming and tiktok, i feel like a lot of people feel pressure to make music specifically to fit into a Spotify playlist or for someone to make a dance on tiktok. if that’s what u wanna make, go fo it but make sure that’s actually what u wanna do. make your art for u, not for anyone’s attention or approval. take risks!

What was the best film you have watched during the quarantine?

sound of metal. a really important film for any musician or just creative person in general. shoutout to my old colleagues who worked on that.

What would you be doing right now, if it wasn’t for your music career?

i’m a video editor primarily for commercials and that will continue to be my main source of income. this album is purely a labor of love. i don’t ever expect to live off of music since inspiration comes and goes. the biggest lie musicians and creative people in general tell ourselves is that we ought to make a living pursuing our passion. unfortunately capitalism makes that near impossible and art suffers, which is why we have problems like i mentioned before with music being tailored to playlists. i’ve been fortunate to make a good career editing and with that bedrock i’ve been able to make this project without having to worry whether or not it’s going to make money. i enjoy editing, but it doesn’t always fulfill me creatively and that’s ok, it pays the bills! i don’t think I would’ve been able to create as freely as i did with this album when i was younger with a different attitude towards the relationship between money and art. i doubt that’ll i’ll make the money back on the album that I put into it, but it doesn’t matter. i was inspired, made it and thought it was good enough that i felt i had to share it with the world. if inspiration strikes again in the future musically, i’ll do it again.

Thank you!

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Jozie_ramone – Starscream [Interview]

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Describe your sound in 3 words

enigmatic, defiant, uncanny

How many beats do you listen to before you end up using one? Tell us a few things about your creative process.

I produce all my stuff. Typically if I like what im making I write to it after freestyling a bit. if I don’t feel it I don’t force it. I show up every day to put in the work but im okay with not having a certain outcome. Its about having fun for me. I do this to leave society behind. Its boring, bland and life sucking and music is my escape.

For which lyric you are most proud of?

All of them. Its a privilege to have a the gift of musicianship. I’m more proud of those who chant like my lyrics and listen to me unconditionally.

Favourite rapper, lyricist and producer?

Favorite rapper is eazy e, he was my intro to hiphop. Lyricist is Eminem. He totally made it okay to say whatever you’re feeling and proved to be stronger than those taking him down. Favorite producer ties between Tyler the creator and Kanye. They’re true producers. they arrange and put thought into the music. anyone can loop shit.

Trap music came to rule the world, but at the moment the genre feels stagnant. What does the future hold for hip hop in general?

There will be no future if people continue to cosign clones. yes great artist steal but it doesn’t even feel original. I’m not taking jabs at those that are successful but any artist should always be themselves without shame.

In which state of mind do you imagine people might listen to your music?

Any state of mind, I do not require a ‘Mood’ or or mindset to make music I just do it. So anyone in any state can listen to me. You just have to dig through my catalog and match your own mood.

Should we expect an album in the near future?

The album is dead, but if you stick around you’ll get a song or two a month out of me. I value quality over quantity but I love to share music so id rather drop frequently.

Thank you!

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Y. SAMUEL – BLUE FERRARI [Interview]

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Describe your sound in 3 words

Introspective, Genre-breaking, Unique

How many beats do you listen to before you end up using one? Tell us a few things about your creative process.

I make the majority of my own beats, so if I make a beat I like, I start writing to it before I move on to another track. Typically, I only finish songs I like. I make a ton of music and I make music fast so if a song grabs my attention long enough to write an entire song, it’s usually going to be one that I put out. When I’m getting beats from other producers, I know within the first 10-20 seconds if I’m going to use it or not. I never force songs over beats that I don’t like.

What is the main topic of your lyrics?

Honestly just me. I write from the heart about experiences I’ve had or want to have. In early days, I used to tell very specific stories about my life. I realized that no one could really relate to that, so I started using those stories to create more broad, relatable lyrics that everyone can resonate with. I never “cap in my rap”, but I definitely write about situations that haven’t happened. They just haven’t happened YET.

Artists and people who have influenced and inspired you?#

I could list 1000 people, but my first favorite artists were Kid Cudi, Kanye West, The Beatles, Linkin Park, My Chemical Romance, Eminem and Fall Out Boy. I think my music reflects that wide variety because you couldn’t say “Oh, he’s 100% a rapper” or “He’s 100% a singer”. Both my vocal styles and my production styles vary a lot from song to song.

What does hip hop symbolize in your opinion?

Hip hop as a concept gives an incredibly loud voice to people who have consistently been silenced. There’s no denying it’s a Black genre. It’s Black culture. That’s not to say other races can’t participate or contribute, but to be in the space is to accept, recognize, and celebrate its roots.

What advice would you give to your younger self?

“Young sammy, you deserve everything in life” When I was younger I was dealing (and still do deal) with a lot of anxiety, depression, and self-doubt. I had it in my head that anything good to happen to me was a facade for something terrible to happen. I wasn’t confident in the fact that I was making great music and great strides as a person. I still struggle with knowing that sometimes now, but I’m lightyears ahead of where I was then. That’s what Blue Ferrari is about.

Should we expect an album in the near future?

You should expect an album VERY soon. I’ve dropped 3 EP’s this year titled, “Y.” “DOT” and “SAMUEL” respectively. This was intentional, leading up to my album coming out in the next month titled, “YDOTSAMUEL”.

Thank you!

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