Welcome to NS Radio Episode 005! In this episode, we have an exclusive interview with iNTRO, the rising star of the Nashville music scene. iNTRO talks about his latest release "Girls (this is not about you)" and walks us through the creative process behind each of the three songs featured in the single. He discusses how he came up with the distinct sounds and styles for each song and how they came together to form a cohesive single.

We also delve into the personal significance of the title "Girls (this is not about you)" and how it relates to the themes explored in the music. iNTRO shares his thoughts on vulnerability in his music, the role it plays in his songwriting process, and how it allows him to connect with his emotions and experiences on a deeper level.

Moreover, we explore his song selection process for NS RADAR Episode 005 and how he approached the challenge of turning abstract ideas and inspirations into finished songs. Additionally, iNTRO shares his opinions on the music industry's current state and how he sees it changing in the coming years.

We also discuss his collaboration with other musicians and producers, his upcoming projects, and how he navigates social media to promote his music. Finally, iNTRO talks about his approach to live performances, how he connects with his audience in a meaningful way, and what message he hopes to convey to his listeners through his music.

Can you walk us through the creative process behind each of the three songs featured in your latest release, GIRLS (this is not about you)? How did you come up with the distinct sounds and styles for each song, and how did they come together to form a cohesive single?

The process for this was unconventional compared to prior releases I have. When approaching a project I usually schedule and knock out the project over a set amount of time. For “Girls” I made each of the 3 songs in separate sessions, months apart from each other. That being said, it being cohesive was on accident because i didn’t originally plan for them to come out together. 

What inspired the title of your latest single, GIRLS (this is not about you)? Can you tell us more about the story behind the title, and how it relates to the themes explored in the music? Does the title have a personal significance to you, or is it meant to provoke a reaction from your listeners?

The inspiration is right there in the title. The title also came last as far as the process of construction the project goes. I was sitting alone just listening through it over and over until I noticed the common denominator in all of these songs. Women and my relationships have always been something I’ve found easy to talk about in my music but I’ve never been as literal as I am in the songs on this project. That’s also where (This is not about you) comes from. As specific as I am in some lines, I also left a bit of ambiguity so no one’s out here saying “iNTRO made a whole song about me” 

Your music is known for its universal themes. How do you draw from your personal experiences to create music that resonates with such a diverse audience? And how do you hope that your listeners will connect with your songs on a personal level?

I feel like drawing from my own personal experience is the only way I’m able to create. I’m not the kind of artists that will be in the studio 24/7 because i feel as if I’m always in the studio, I’m only going to be able to talk about being in the studio. My experiences in real life, and being able to go through things and express them through my music is what humanizes me to the consumer. In contrast to overly fabricating my life and making something that may be un-relatable to my listeners

Vulnerability is a recurring theme in your music. Can you elaborate on the role that it plays in your songwriting process, and how it allows you to connect with your emotions and experiences on a deeper level?

To me it goes hand-in-hand with how I want to be perceived. Times are for sure changing, but still when you think of a “rapper” a certain image of an artists pops into your head. All that to say I don’t want to be boxed in as a certain “type” of rapper so being vulnerable I feel adds a bit of individuality to my artistry. Also being vulnerable doesn’t have to be a “sad”, or “deep” song, to me it’s just being real with yourself and who you are with your craft. Not everything has to be extreme non-fiction in art either for if that was the case Michael Bay wouldn’t have a movie career. 

Can you walk us through your song selection process for NS RADAR Episode 005? Why did you choose certain songs, and how have they inspired you? What do you hope listeners take away from your playlist?

The songs I chose for this playlist are a mix of songs that have inspired the music I’ve been making as of late. Songs that have sort of been “background music” to me (songs that kind of play in my head as I’m going through everyday life). And just some of my favorite songs I’ve been put on to recently. We all have our music we play when no one’s in the car with us, so this is just a taste of what’s been playing in my speakers lately. 

Songwriting is a complex process that often involves turning abstract ideas and inspirations into finished songs. Can you talk about your own songwriting process, and how you approach this challenge? What techniques do you use to bring your ideas to life?

This is funny because I feel like my process changes given the environment I’m in. For instance, “Dream Girl” was written while I had some down time at my day job and the drums on the instrumental reminded me a lot of “November” by Tyler, The Creator. So I took a bit of inspiration from the cadence he uses during his verse just to catch a groove for me to freestyle into a voice memo on my phone. From that point is where the subject matter came from and the story(lyrics) just kind of told itself once I had that template set. 

The music industry is constantly evolving, and there are many different opinions on its current state. What is your own opinion on the industry, and how do you see it changing in the coming years? How do you think these changes will impact artists and listeners alike?

Personally I think the industry is in a strange sort of sweet spot when it comes to artists. Being so that, everyone has a chance compared to how it was in the past. In the earlier years, if you were in some rural community, there was really no way for you to be heard unless you got a chance to play at a venue in the biggest city closest to you. But nowadays I’m almost positive there’s some kid in his room in a tiny town making Kanye level beats that just needs one viral TikTok to start getting placements. And some may say the industry is too saturated, which I could see how one comes to that conclusion. To me, good dope is always gonna sell itself and you can easily find a diamond in a pile of shit. 

As an artist, you have likely created many different songs and projects over the years. Can you tell us about one particular song or project that you are especially proud of, and why it is meaningful to you? What makes this project stand out from the others?

My debut album “Welcome To Next Year” will always be special to me for a number of reasons. One of the top being it’s a piece of art I created exactly how I wanted and will be proud of as long as I’m alive. Up until that point I always would say “man I want to make something that my mom could listen to and show her friends” and WTNY did exactly that. She heard it, then she took it to my grandmother and she called me back telling me how proud she was. So for that alone, I could perform it in a stadium and it still wouldn’t mean as much as hearing that from them. 

Balancing your artistic vision with commercial success can be a challenge for many artists. How do you approach this challenge, and what techniques do you use to ensure that your music remains true to your vision while also connecting with a wider audience?

I’m forever a student of the game. When I go to larger, more mainstream artists concert, I can’t help but to take notes and try and take something I can apply to my own artistry. Whether it be how they’ve transposed their songs for live performance, or control the crowd. More specifically though, I think my craft is so “purpose driven” there’s not really anything that can compromise my vision I have for myself. And I feel like people can FEEL when someone is doing something for a reason or bigger picture, rather than just doing it to do it. 

As an artist, growth and evolution are key components of your creative process. How do you see yourself growing and evolving in the coming years, and what do you hope to achieve with your music? What new themes and ideas do you hope to explore?

This project I just released gave me an extreme amount of confidence in the subject matter I choose to explore. So as far as growth, I think I will become more unapologetic about what I may choose to write about. At the end of the day my art is MINE and for a while I was making things with the opinions of others mattering WAY too much. Not to say I’m against criticism, but I was critiquing myself in a way that was hindering my process because of how I THOUGHT I’d be perceived. For the future I hope to just walk more securely in this purpose and have that empower the listener to do the same. 

Collaboration is an important aspect of the music industry, and many artists work with other musicians and producers to create their music. Can you tell us about any upcoming collaborations or projects that you are particularly excited about, and how they fit into your overall creative vision?

I have a joint project coming soon with another one of my favorite rappers from the city (Nashville, TN). I only have about 2 features on songs of mine in my entire catalog so this was new for me but, a very iron-sharpens-iron experience. I plan to lock in with the “From Your Man” producer $hrames for a project as well early 2024. 

Social media has become an important tool for promoting and sharing music. What is your own opinion on the role that social media plays in the industry, and how do you navigate this aspect of your career? What techniques do you use to connect with your fans and promote your music online?

I think this goes with what I was saying about everyone has the same opportunities now with the world of social media. Most of the music I discover comes from a screenshot on someone’s story. So word of mouth still is one of the biggest promotion tactics in my opinion. At the same time, a well thought out and executed rollout for a project is my favorite form of promotion. Building up hype for something, even if it’s just a single, you treat it like it’s the biggest thing in the world and people have no choice but to at least wonder what you’re so excited about. 

Live performances are an important part of your career as a musician. How do you approach the challenge of connecting with your audience in a meaningful way, and what techniques do you use to create a memorable live show?

If the resources are there I mostly always recruit my band to perform shows with me. I grew up playing live music and most can agree that hearing a band performance in comparison to tracks is more memorable. But to go even further, being able to manipulate songs, and make renditions of them when performing them live is something I like to do to keep everything fresh and give the audience an experience different then when they go back and play it in their car. 

Finally, your music has the power to inspire and move people in profound ways. What message do you hope to convey to your listeners through your music, and how do you hope that your music will impact their lives? What do you hope your legacy will be as an artist?

As I feel myself growing as an artist I definitely understand the power behind my words, and my ability to convey a message through song. That’s honestly the whole reason I started making music in the first place. I feel like my souls purpose in this life is to spread a message. Ironically, I don’t quite know what that message is yet, but that alone is what keeps me going. You don’t have to make a crazy conscious song to get people to FEEL what you have to say. I just saw a video of 60k people losing their minds to Travis Scott saying “Fein” 10 times in a row. Art to me is someone making something that other people FEEL, and it doesn’t matter what that feeling is, if I can make something that someone sees or hears and they feel some type of chemical reaction go off after they’ve witnessed it then I’ve done my job.