In the spotlight today is Aftrr, a musical virtuoso whose talents defy categorization. Known for his almost velvety soft flow, Aftrr effortlessly glides across beats while delivering lyrics that cut through with pinpoint precision. But that's just the tip of the iceberg. As a producer, his versatility knows no bounds, allowing him to seamlessly transition from crafting irresistible pop hits to dropping earth-shattering 808s. Join us in this exclusive interview as we delve into the world of this upcoming artist, a true boundary-pusher, who constantly reinvents himself with each new release.
Can you share a bit about your journey as an artist and producer? What led you to pursue music, and how has your style evolved over time?
I started out making beats back in 2018 but I was really on-and-off with it and didn’t try vocals until late 2019 when I got a Blue Snowball mic. It was just a hobby at first but I think watching beat cookup videos and those Genius Deconstructed videos really pushed me to download FL Studio for the first time. I think over time my style has just gotten more and more experimental for me, from pulling out pop elements to house and EDM.
I’ve been tapped into underground rap and SoundCloud in general since 2016, so early influences included Playboi Carti, Mexikodro, Pierre Bourne, and then as I got deeper into more niche corners I listened to a lot of Hella Sketchy, Koi, Weiland, etc.
I was there as a fan for pretty much every "arc" of the underground, so it's cool that kinda now I'm contributing to it myself.
Many artists draw inspiration from various sources. Are there any specific life experiences or moments that have had a profound impact on your music?
When I first started making music it was really just all for fun, but I really found motivation when quarantine ended and I started going to concerts for the first time. I saw Midwxst perform in front of 40 people at the end of 2021 and after that I was more certain than ever that this is what I want to do.
Your music showcases a wide range of styles, from laid-back vibes to heavy-hitting beats. How do you approach the creative process when switching between different musical genres?
It really just depends on how I’m feeling at the time and what I’m listening to. I constantly change what genres and artists I’m listening to at a time so my influences are really always changing. I also honestly just don’t care what anyone thinks of my music, so the creative direction is 100% me and I think that’s important for any artist.
Are there any collaborations you've particularly enjoyed, and what do you believe makes for a successful musical partnership?
It’s been fun collaborating with any of the people featured on my page, whether they’re other artists or producers, but the standout is definitely Reef. I don’t talk much to most people in the scene but he and I are really close and I think a friendship like that and having real human connections are what makes a successful partnership in music.
As an artist, what role do you think technology and digital platforms play in connecting with your audience and sharing your music?
I think that these platforms we use are the most important thing, even more so as an internet artist where most of what we do and how we connect is entirely online and not local. Of course, social media allows us to promote music but it’s also how audiences get to know who we are and be able to talk to us.
Platforms like Discord enable that even further and it really just makes that gap between the artist and listener much smaller.
Can you describe your creative workspace and process? Do you have any routines or rituals that help you get into the creative flow?
When I make music I’ll just hop on my PC at any given time because that inspiration just has to hit me randomly. I never force myself to make music because I know I’ll just get stuck and I feel like the best music is made when the ideas just come naturally.
Usually, I’ll first be inspired by something, from other music to movies, games, etc., and then make a beat but usually, I don’t end up recording vocals until days or sometimes weeks later. It doesn’t take me long to actually make a song but I only get down to do it when I really get that feeling.
What do you hope listeners take away from your music, both in terms of emotions and the messages you convey through your lyrics and sound?
I just want to make anybody’s day a little bit better, whether it’s through an emotional song that helped someone get through a rough time or even just an upbeat, ignorant song that made someone’s mood better. Typically my lyrics aren’t always serious but when they are, it’s coming from the heart so I hope people can find relatability. I want folks to just know that they’re not alone in feeling what they feel.
We’re all human.
Musicians often face challenges in their careers. Can you share a moment when you encountered a creative or professional obstacle and how you overcame it?
My biggest challenge that I honestly face almost every time I make music is actual music theory. I really don’t know much about the technical stuff and everything I know has been self-taught, so usually I’ll struggle with making chords and beats and all that.
I just stick through it and keep trying until it sounds good to me because that’s really all that matters at the end of the day.
The music industry is known for its constant evolution. How do you stay adaptable and relevant in a fast-changing musical landscape?
I think it’s important to keep up as a fan first, listening to all the music and basically just studying and keeping track of trends and what successful artists are doing. I do that but on the contrary it also comes down to originality and making whatever you wanna truly make.
It’s good to draw inspiration from a lot of different places but I never want to just clone somebody because I feel like that’s where you start to hit a wall. I like to just make anything and try not to listen too hard to what anyone is telling me because ultimately my music is my vision and no one else’s.
Looking ahead, are there any upcoming projects or artistic goals you'd like to share with your fans and the broader music community?
I have nothing set in stone yet because I kind of just go with the flow of everything but I definitely want to put out an EP or album before the end of the year or at least within the next several months. It just depends on how things go in these next months and when I feel like the time is right.
But regardless I’ll keep putting music out and I’ll keep proving to everyone that I’m here to stay.