In this feature, we are thrilled to present an exclusive interview with DPF, a musician whose unique flow and genre-defying sound have captured the attention of audiences around the world.
Throughout the interview, DPF shares personal stories about his creative process, discussing the moments of inspiration that have led to some of his most memorable songs. He talks about his experiences collaborating with other artists and the importance of artistic chemistry in creating something extraordinary.
DPF also opens up about his journey as a musician, discussing the risks he's taken and the unconventional decisions he's made that have led to breakthroughs in his career. He talks about his struggles with finding his sound and deciding whether to rap or sing, and how he has come to combine the two in a way that feels true to himself.
One of the themes that emerges throughout the interview is the importance of staying true to oneself and pursuing one's passions, no matter how unconventional they may seem. DPF encourages readers to take action and not wait to pursue their dreams, reminding them that time waits for no one.
DPF's personal stories and reflections provide inspiration and valuable insights for anyone interested in music or seeking motivation to pursue their own creative endeavors. His unique perspective and captivating sound are sure to leave a lasting impression on anyone who reads this interview.
Overall, this feature offers readers a rare glimpse into the mind of a rising musician who is making waves in the industry. DPF's talent and passion for music are evident throughout the interview, making this a must-read for anyone who loves music or is seeking inspiration to pursue their own creative dreams.
As DPF continues to push the boundaries of what is possible in music, it is clear that he is a rising star to watch. Whether he is rapping, singing, or combining the two in new and innovative ways, DPF's sound is one that is sure to leave a lasting impact on the industry and on the hearts of his fans.
For those wondering, what does the acronym DPF officially stand for?
Simple enough, DPF is just the initials of my real name. Back around my sophomore year of high school when I started all this I tried to think of a name but nothing really came to mind. At the time I remember watching DDG's videos and listening to his music and just took the inspiration from there. Thankfully I feel like DPF works, at some point in the future I may decide to change it up and rebrand to something else but more than likely it will stay the way it is.
Your flow is often described as a sonic rollercoaster, effortlessly flowing on beats with complimentary twists and turns. Can you share a memorable moment during creating a song where your flow took an unexpected detour, and how did it enhance the overall vibe?
One of my most memorable moments where the flow changed drastically in a song has to be in my song called "dangerous" that I released on my 18th birthday. I started the song with a smooth and sort of aggressive flow, and the intro was all I had down before I sent the song to sudbath who added an amazing hook that set the tone. The hook was filled with harmonies and falsettos, something that I wanted to work into my verse one way or another. I started off my verse with the same smooth and in your face flow, then decided to take a step back and really let my vocals shine in the second half. I feel like the switch was a good change on the listener's ears and not something that I really showcased in my discography at the time. To this day dangerous remains one of my favorite songs I've ever released and it's definitely a fan favorite as well.
Can you take us through the process of discovering a beat that felt like a hidden gem and how it inspired you to write lyrics that perfectly complemented its energy?
Finding the beat for my biggest single, "star" was something that definitely hit me as soon as I heard it. The concept of the song hit me right away and I knew I wanted it to be something amazing, which 4cf and tsuyunoshi helped me accomplish. Nowadays though, my process is quite different. For a good 80%+ of my newest songs they were actually recorded on random youtube beats then sent to a producer that worked on the acapella. With this method, the beat is made around the lyrics, instead of the lyrics being written to the beat. This process is just something that works for me, being able to add my input and put my trust into my friends is something amazing. As long as I give them something decent to work with, they will make the song 100x better.
Can you tell us about a time when you took a risk or made an unconventional decision that ultimately led to a breakthrough in your career?
This may not be the biggest risk or the most unconventional decision but joining the Overcast discord at the time back in August of 2021 was the best decision I have ever made. At the time I just released Party Girl, and made a comeback to music after a couple years of just messing around and not taking anything too serious, but still having that drive to be something. When my song came up I joined, introduced myself, and got like 10-15 soundcloud followers off of it and some likes on the song. At the time this was insane to me, but I can never repay Niztopia and Brissdali for the support and confidence they instilled in me that day. I remained consistent, sending new music and showing up to Niztopia streams and building my name within the community that I now cherish and love so much.
Collaboration is a dance of artistic chemistry, where two minds merge to create something extraordinary. If you could teleport to any time and place in music history to collaborate with an artist, who would it be and what kind of musical fusion do you imagine would emerge?
This might sound crazy but I don't think there's any other time period I would travel to besides the one I'm in right now. With everybody that I know and have worked with, everything just feels so genuine. I really mean it when I say this but my friends are the future. If I really decided on one person to work with though I think it would have to be my near dear friend from across the whole globe, lyrah. We have a few songs released, a couple that have been scrapped, and one more that's almost ready for release but I'm just really lazy and need to finish it up. Everything we work on though comes out amazing, and I think this next one might be the best yet, which includes production from Will Rhead, another one of my favorites that I have met through all this. The goal is to get a collaborative project with will and lyrah hopefully, we tend to make some popstar music but who knows what we may have up our sleeve.
Share a story behind one of your lyrics that holds a significant personal connection or captures a moment of profound inspiration?
Honestly, there are a few lyrics that could definitely be mentioned here but for this one i'm going to head into my song Party Girl 2. At the end of my verse I said, "Took time to work on myself, trying to gain some confidence. Feels good people like my music, 8th grade self be proud I do it." To my friends I'm definitely a troll and someone who likes to mess around, but to others I come off as reserved and sort of shy. I remember growing up I would always say I wanted to be a producer not an artist because I was afraid of the connotation around it, but eventually I mustered up enough courage to finally record and release stuff. Looking back in time I wish I never hesitated to start putting myself out there but in some way I'm grateful I waited as well.
Can you describe a memorable moment during a live show when the energy in the room reached an electrifying peak, and what made that moment so unforgettable for you?
I've only done one live performance so far, and as you can imagine my nerves were through the roof the days leading up to it. My music isn't something I even bring up to people, so I was stepping out of my comfort zone for this but I knew this is something that I have wanted for a while now. My nerves went away during sound check when I saw people enjoying the stuff I was practicing, but when it was time to actually perform, just seeing all my friends in the crowd really helped me out and brought the energy. My first song I performed, target, I just remember jumping into the crowd with them and just having a blast throughout my whole set. I'm so thankful for everyone I knew that decided to pull up, it made my night and it's something that I will always remember for sure.
The community you’re within thrives on innovation and experimentation, like a sonic laboratory pushing the boundaries of musical possibilities. Can you reveal a technique or sonic element you've incorporated in your music that surprised you and brought a fresh perspective to your sound?
Since I've entered the community that I currently reside in, my biggest struggle has been deciding do I want to rap, or do I want to sing? There have been periods of time where I dropped a rap song, and then dropped a pop song and went back and forth for a while but I'm finally at the point where I can combine them in the way that I want. With my newer releases, and just any upcoming music in the future this is something that is going to become prevalent and might even be something I'm known for. At the end of the day it really comes down to the producers I work with and all that they do for me. I can share little ideas and concepts but truly they are the ones who make it happen, they help make me who I am.
Looking into the future, imagine a dream project where you have no limits or constraints. What kind of artistic endeavor would you embark on, whether it's a concept album, multimedia collaboration, or any other creative vision that sets your imagination on fire?
A concept album is something that I will absolutely love to accomplish and put out when the time is right. Hopefully I still have the same team and friends around me that I do now, but incorporating some new pieces into it would be dope aswell. In the future, who knows where my mind will be set and what my sound may be but at the end of the day I'll just be doing what I love, making music. None of this is easy, but the struggle and grind is worth it. Albums can really do alot for you, and leave an impact for others to always look back upon. When the time is right hopefully I can prove to not only others, but myself as well that I'm meant for what I have earned and put out a piece of work that people will love even as time passes.
Any last words you’d like to leave for anyone reading? (this could be promo or just a thought or two if you’d like)
For anyone reading this honestly if there's something you want to get done, don't wait to do it, time doesn't stop for anyone. For anyone that supports me already I appreciate you so much and for any new faces let me know some of your favorites when you get the chance! Lots of new music is coming that I'm excited to show the world.