In this interview, we get an exclusive look into the mind of $avvy, the rising star who has been making waves in the underground music scene. His new album, "bunny!" is already creating a buzz among music enthusiasts, and in this interview, $avvy shares his thoughts on its themes, production, and the creative process behind it.
$avvy talks about the inspiration behind the album and how he developed the concept of "the bunny," a character that represents the fears and challenges that come with success and fame. He also shares his thoughts on the production process, his collaboration with other producers and engineers, and the unique sound of each track on the album.
"bunny!" is your third project in your growing discography. How do you feel you have evolved as an artist since your first project, and what have you learned along the way? Can you talk about any specific moments or experiences that have shaped your artistic vision over the years?
i feel that i have just lived more life than i did when i made the first album. and with that life comes different experiences , more mature emotions , more well thought out ideas that become things. i think in order for a persons art to grow and evolve , the artist inevitably has too as well.
The album is titled "bunny!" and has a consistent theme throughout. Can you tell us more about the theme and what the bunny represents to you? Why did you choose this theme for the album, and what do you hope people take away from the project as a whole?
i feel that i have just lived more life than i did when i made the first album. and with that life comes different experiences , more mature emotions , more well thought out ideas that become things. i think in order for a persons art to grow and evolve , the artist inevitably has too as well.
The album has a consistent theme and sound throughout. How did you decide on the overall direction of the project? Was the theme and sound something you had in mind from the beginning, or did it develop over time? Can you talk about the process of refining the concept and bringing it to life?
the bunny is a character that basically encompasses all the fears i have of having a successful career and the fame that can often times come with that. the character is a bunny but i wanted people to assume its whatever favorite pop culture rabbit figure they want it to be. the story can be told from the energizer bunny's perspective just the same as it can be told from buggs bunny's perspective. the theme is still the same. often time we chase our wildest dreams and want them to come true but nobody ever prepares you for the other side of what comes with that. like invasion of privacy , constantly being talked about whether good or bad , the expectations from others. and i kinda just want to give my take on that thought through a expressive way.
Can you tell us more about the overall production of the project? How did you approach bringing all the different elements together and what was the collaboration process like with other producers and engineers?
it for sure developed overtime , lol no pun intended. I started working on this body of work last summer and at that point i still had no idea what to call it , but i think when you work at something everyday and sit with it certain ideas just pop up in your mind and you end up scrapping songs and making some last minute changes also. the oldest song is a song that me and my boy rich (enxgmaa) cooked up over quarantine back in 2020 so it just goes to show that sometimes old ideas once given a different ear and palate can become something new again.
Can you walk us through a typical studio session during the making of "bunny!"? How did you and your team work together to bring the album to life, and were there any memorable moments or challenges that came up during the process?
man the production on this album is like the craziest i feel so far with my music. i basically assembled the avengers. we got j.robb who is like a production god in my eyes and has produced some of my favorite songs. we got keem the cipher who has such a crazy bag when he produces. we got lloyd flannel and fauster who are like wizards with their style and of course we have enxgmaa who has been like my main guy i go to with crazy ideas , voice memos of me humming , just random shit but somehow some way we always end up walking away with something that is high quality. i think that the reason its so easy to work with these guys is because of how much i respect their work and how big of a fan i am of all of them.
The production on this album is unique and fitting to each song. How did you select the beats and samples for each track? Can you walk us through your process of finding the right sounds and textures for each song? Were there any challenges or surprises you encountered during the production process?
man the production on this album is like the craziest i feel so far with my music. i basically assembled the avengers. we got j.robb who is like a production god in my eyes and has produced some of my favorite songs. we got keem the cipher who has such a crazy bag when he produces. we got lloyd flannel and fauster who are like wizards with their style and of course we have enxgmaa who has been like my main guy i go to with crazy ideas , voice memos of me humming , just random shit but somehow some way we always end up walking away with something that is high quality. i think that the reason its so easy to work with these guys is because of how much i respect their work and how big of a fan i am of all of them.
"eden" is a standout track on the album. Can you talk about the inspiration behind the lyrics and how you approached writing that song? Were there any personal experiences that influenced the lyrics, or was it a more abstract concept you were exploring? Additionally, can you talk about how the production on that song specifically helped bring the lyrics to life?
for eden it was like as soon as lloyd played me that beat i kinda started humming the chorus and from there it was just a flow that popped in my head. from there i was like yeah this one has to be on the album . i just love how that song makes me feel like im flying in a fast car through the hills or something lol idk.
"2nice" featuring David H is another standout track on the album. Can you talk about the collaboration process and how you worked with David to create that song? Were there any challenges or surprises that came up during the collaboration, and how did you overcome them? Additionally, can you talk about how the production helped bring David's voice and style into the song?
for eden it was like as soon as lloyd played me that beat i kinda started humming the chorus and from there it was just a flow that popped in my head. from there i was like yeah this one has to be on the album . i just love how that song makes me feel like im flying in a fast car through the hills or something lol idk.
"jetplane" featuring Tisa Korean is a unique collaboration on the album. Can you talk about how that collaboration came to be and what inspired the song? Were there any challenges or surprises that came up during the collaboration, and how did you work through them? Can you also talk about how the production helped bring Tisa's voice and style into the song?
so for jetplane i was like i wanna get someone who has a big personality to do the intro of the song and i had just done a show w tisa on his silly tour. he just has so much genuine energy and such a great guy , i called him on the phone and told him i wanted him to just be him and bless the track and the rest is history. for sure want to work more with him in the future.
Many of your songs have a message or theme that relates to your personal experiences or struggles. How do you balance being vulnerable in your music while also maintaining your privacy as a person? Can you talk about any specific songs on the album that were particularly personal for you, and how you approached writing and performing them?
i think thats always been a ideology that iv’e struggled to grasp . the concept of like being venerable enough to translate your emotions but also being able to relate and connect with the listener. i think that i went through so many different situations with people in my personal life that it for sure bled more into my music and the music on this project specifically therefore making it my most venerable work to date.
Your previous album "POOR" showcased a different sound compared to your first album "Boys Wear Pearls” and this new project is considerably different then “POOR”. How do you approach experimenting with new sounds and styles while still staying true to your overall artistic vision? Can you talk about the creative process behind refining your sound and style over the years, and how you decide which new directions to explore?
like i was saying previously i think it just comes with evolving as a person. theres a bunch of things that im so in to music , art , tv , style wise that i would've never been into when i was making POOR or BWP . and i think that with time your palate and taste for things just change and in tern your art is going to change with you. at least thats how its happened for me. you are what you're inspired by.
Can you talk about the process of putting the album together and any challenges you faced during that process? Were there any songs or moments in the album that required more attention or tweaking than others, and how did you approach refining those elements?
oh yea for sure , like i wanted to release it back in april but certain songs you listen to over and over again might be missing one single element that im like damn i need to change this whole section or i need to tweak this or tweak that. and that can take days or weeks or even months. i guess im just a perfectionist in that manner but a-lot of times honestly i be so excited to just share with the world and my audience what ive been working on that i have to make sure that everything is good before you get it. kinda on some lemme light the candle in my room before my girl comes over type deal lol.
Your fan base has grown with each project you release. How do you approach connecting with your fans and building your audience? Can you talk about any specific strategies or techniques you use to engage with your listeners and build a community around your music?
thus far a-lot of it has been in person at shows or at pop ups or events and what not, but i have tons of internet friends that support and have been supporting since the bag/purse days and its all still so mind blowing to me that i even have a fan base. to know that there are a thousand people out there that are tuning into to the world of $avvy makes 15 year old me so proud and im so thankful to be in a time and space where i can connect with those people who consider themselves fans of mine. so shoutout to all of you who have ever bumped my shit , i love you and thank you.
The underground music scene is known for being innovative and experimental. How do you stay inspired and motivated to create music that stands out in that scene? Can you talk about any specific sources of inspiration or creative challenges that have helped push your music in new directions?
i think my biggest motivation and inspirations stems from the people i surround myself with , all the people who i consider friends and family continually put me on to things that spark my interest or even conversations about whatever can spark the smallest idea that eventually turns into a song , video , album , film etc. and when you surround yourself around like minded individuals in the medium you create in its rare that you wont be inspired throughout time .
What can fans expect from you in the future and what projects are you currently working on? Can you give us any hints about what you have planned next and how you hope to continue evolving as an artist?
im gearing up to experience some big changes in my life pretty soon so right now im preparing myself by allowing whatever comes next to come next. this album took me a minute to make because i had to live it first and i think that when you're living first and creating second , thats when your best creations start to take shape. so i have ideas of things i want to do next but whatever will come next will be after i have lived a little bit more life. and im totally fine with that.