ISOLATION STATION EP 5 - AS WE PROCEED

In this segment we’re giving life to the leagues of music being dropped every week during this trying, yet, interestingly enough, personal time.

We at Nefarious Supply want you guys to always have a new underground project or creator, either on your mind, on your playlist, or on your feed in some way, shape, or form. In this instance, we’re doing this on an episodic basis and deciding to write on all the new music coming in through this station, five tracks at a time.

Our fifth episode shows us the importance of caution and quality in our next steps. “As we proceed” is a saying widely-known, especially throughout the African-American community, it propagates the feeling of hopefulness but also of care and attention to detail, of making silent and careful moves, then showing out with a bang when no one expects. As we proceed, let’s be creative, and committed.

Take a look! 😈

Hatesonny - Damage Control 

We first heard Hatesonny on Serena Isioma’s Sensitive EP, specifically the track, Move, where the artist laid down a groovy and swelling verse, which complimented Serena’s feminine energy on the track almost flawlessly. On his new album, Golden Child, Hatesonny shows us exactly who he is as an artist.

From the piano-driven melody on top to the bass-thumping 808s beneath, Hatesonny delivers on every part of “Damage Control”, the first track off of his third album. Hatesonny comes with a vengeance for that #1 spot. 

Black$tar x Mayal - Jump in the Party

Black$tar and Mayal are back at it again on another piping hot track! The two Calgary natives strike while the iron is hot and make their mark on Jump In The Party. With a nostalgic beast of a beat with a grand production Black$tar gets his point across that he will have fun, no matter what, where, when, or why.

Flexing so much even his ex acknowledges he has it, Black$tar bars are uplifting and also direct and confident, meshing well with Mayal’s masterful use of autotune and melodic synergy with the beat, that he possesses on every track.

Jump in the Party is definitely a feel-good banger that you’ll be singing in the back of your head for a while.

SwaVay - Yaya

DOLO Records’ very own SwaVay features on this episode of the Isolation Station. The opening track “Yaya”, off of his album B4dalbum. Instantly, Kendrick comes to mind as the flute progression and the soft 808-led beat creep along the bottom of the track’s production, the emphasis is focused on SwaVay’s lyrics, and boy are they worth the attention.

Bars comparing Bernie Mac, stu pigeons, big dogs, and cool midgets, as well as thanking God for his Christian roots, not even insinuating, more so telling the listener to the point what he’d do if he wasn’t, these effortless flows as well as the carefully curated production are what put SwaVay ahead of most of his peers.

SAEED - Faded Freestyle

SAEED is back people! With his new freestyle, Faded, the Chicago artist tries to drink away his problems, may have fallen in love, or was it the drink in his hand? He’s confident but also unsure of himself. However, at the end of the day, he’s going to keep it moving and keep working.

This is the underlying theme of the track, however SAEED’s fun take on the overlaying theme of a drunken night in the club, vibing over a heavy-hitting, spacey beat is him in his prime lane and vibe, and we hope his sound only continues to evolve beautifully.

Freddy Leone & Apollo1027 - Freak Show (ft. David Sulky)

Freddy Leone and Apollo1027 team up on a surprise collab de3with their EP, The Third Generation. Their standout track, Freak Show, portrays Leone and Apollo in their prime form, seamlessly switching flows as they trade lyrical blows left-right overtop a beautifully full and brimming production style.

The beat focuses heavily on making the space for both artists to run at their fullest speed, with topics of sexual freedom, lost time, letting go, keeping secrets, promises kept and broken, and of course, having the money to fund the lifestyle that propagates these hazardous, yet intriguing situations.

Featuring artist, David Sulky’s, beautiful finishing verse before the refrain solidifies him as an artist to look out for. Sultry, high-vibrato tones put him on a pedestal for all to listen and love. Overall a standout track from these Orlando giants.

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If you enjoyed this week’s episode of Isolation Station be sure to give the artists featured this week a follow and check out the rest of their discography!

If you want to stay up to date with news and content coming from Nefarious Supply you can find us on Instagram, and Twitter. We also recently opened the Nefarious Supply shop so if you want to support you can show some love here!

Nefarious Underground 3

Black Passionfruit cover art

This week we at Nefarious Supply are gifting you all with another list of vastly talented and woefully underrated artists. From passion-fruit to pre-game, artists such as the DKTM Collectve, mikey, Ashton, TWNTYFOUR, DWN2EARTH, G’avin, Marvin Dolo, Josh Dillon, and LNLYBOY spread their brilliance on track after track and the artistry shows.

Lucy Mourn and BLKLEXX from Maryland’s own DKTM Collective come together on the politically charged track “Black Passionfruit”, speaking on topics of their pride in black culture and how far the African American community has come in this day and age.

mikey’s track “my ways” is a reminiscent track in which the artist recollects the times when he used to be overlooked and under-booked by those who didn’t believe in his vision. However, now that he’s at the point where he is now, he still hasn’t changed what makes him him, and won’t ever switch up for anyone or anything.

Ashton and FRVRFRIDAY come together on the track “After Sunset”, with beautifully strung together 808s overtop a consistent hi-hat addition. Ashton raps about a girl that seems to always be on his mind. He expresses to her that, after sunset, he’ll try to not only figure out how deep this connection with her is, but also how to navigate through this precarious industry. FRVRFRIDAY appeals for patience and understanding, also questioning the girl in question’s trust in those around her.

TWNTYFOUR’s “Like she used to” tells a tale of a girl who seems to have lost the ability to love due to heartbreak, excessive drug use, and even instances of insomnia. As it always with with TWNTYFOUR, the production quality is outstanding and the storytelling is just as immaculate. This track is one of three on this list.

His next track, “Caribbean Devil”, is a more upbeat and Antillean anthem. The track is boastful and charismatic, whilst retaining the TWNTYFOUR standard that has persisted throughout the artist’s discography.

DWN2EARTH makes a solid appearance with his track “MUTOMBO”. The artist croons over a smooth, kicked back instrumental. DWN2EARTH croons over topics of wealth, busy schedules, and fake relationships with those who didn’t believe in his passion. The instrumental bleeds into a beat switch that adds a very pleasing finish to the superb chorale.

ALONE cover art

Gavin’s “Ashanti” samples SWV’s classic “You’re Always on My Mind”. He attributes the woman in question to Ashanti. With how she stays on his mind and how he will always be there when she needs him, Gavin swoons over her and dreams of treating her to the finest things life and give, and the love that only he can provide.

“pre game” by Marvin Dolo is a deep and confident melody, speaking on his attraction to a girl who came to the pre game of party. The track goes through the motions of him thinking of things he can do and experience with her. Dolo states he’ll take his time with it, making sure she knows who she’s dealing with and what can happen if the two of them take things to the next level.

TWNTYFOUR’s final track “Maria” takes on a latin vibe overtop a heavy hitting bassline. The song sounds faintly reminiscent of Travis Scott’s “Maria, I’m Drunk”, whilst adding the artist’s unique takes on love and heartbreak. The chorus becomes immediately infectious after the second time hearing it and TWNTYFOUR uses autotune masterfully to convey his message.

“Solecalibur” is a verbal play on the popular game, Soulcalibur, and Josh Dillon shines with beautiful vocal runs and smooth hitting lyrics overtop a groovy laidback instrumental. The artist gets vulnerable with his own insecurities, while also playing to his strengths when it comes to the girl who plagues him day in and day out. He expresses his confusion with his own feelings but comes to terms with the fact that even though he doesn’t want to, he needs her.

The final track on this list comes from our very own LNLYBOY. “ALONE” is a self-reflective track contemplating on feelings of loneliness and the grind of coming up in the music industry, as well as LNLY’s changed behavior after reaching the heights of recognition he’s achieved. It is a short track but heavy with the subject matter at hand, wrapping a beautiful bow on our underground episode.

Big shout out to all of our rising artists for their outstanding music. If you want to stay up to date with new music coming from any of them, you can find all of their social media and discography in the links as well as listen to the new underground playlist above!

If you enjoyed this interview please feel free to leave a comment and share on your social media. And to stay up to date with content coming from Nefarious Supply you can sign up for our newsletter below and follow us on Instagram and Twitter, and like us on Facebook.

Omari Night

Q. Give us a general description of you as an artist. What cultures and experiences cultivate this persona or identity of yours?

A. When it comes to creating music Iʼm really honest about what I say. The goal is to make you feel every word that comes through your speaker. I tend to lean more towards melodic sounds that really hit like a Trap/Soul sound. Iʼve always been a night person & really intrigued by the moon & owls lol. So those things kinda tied into the creation of my persona.

Q. Where does your music come from? What is the main category it would fit I nto?

A. It comes from Cleveland, Ohio. I played different instruments since I was a kid so I always had an ear for music. Then when I was 15 I started recording, engineering & producing everything myself. My main genre would be R&B.

Q. How would you describe your music to somebody?

Damn idk lol. Iʼve heard my sound is like Bryson Tiller, Tyus & of course OVO.

Q. What keeps your current audience listening and why should people start listening?

If you have consistently good content, are relatable & a good image people will gravitate towards you & stick around. If you like music you can ride to, vibe to or have a one on one night with bae, Iʼm your guy.

Q. Who inspires you for your sound?

A. I would say a lot of 90ʼs & 2000 R&B. Partynextdoor, Frank Ocean, Drake, Tory Lanez, Chris Brown, The Weeknd & Usher.

Q. Who do you listen to on a regular basis?

Iʼve been listening to a bunch of different artists lately. Recently Roddy Rich, Tyus, Vory & Kehlaniʼs recent project has been on rotation .

Q. Do you have any artists that youʼve been working with? Is there anybody you would have as a feature or collaborate with on a future project?

A. Yeah my go too producers I work with closely such as Addy!, Sample, BVLVM & Santino. Iʼve been workingwith a rapper named Cargo Xan a lot, heʼs from Cleveland as well. I wanna work with more Cleveland artist & also other artist I mess with like DazeOnEast, Majilla & Jxdy Hill.

Q. What platform can people reach your content on themost conveniently?

A. My SoundCloud has all of my music & links to everything until I put my website back up.

Q. What albums and songs do you already have out thatpeople should listen to?

A. Just Fine is the first project I put out back in 2016, then Just Fine 2 in 2017. So I would say In that order & then all my singles.

Q. Is there any one song that youʼve made that stands out from the rest?

A.Control & Love Me Crazy are waves of mine. I produced both. Love Me Crazy I tried to get to Chris Brown for his album Heartbreak on a Full Moon, but someone who I wonʼt name who wasnʼt Chris Brown was being difficult. But itʼs all love weʼll work in the future.

Q. How has your experience in the industry been thus far?

A. Pretty good. Iʼve been given a few opportunities for writing work & have been incontact with label A&Rʼs.

Q. Tell us a bit about your newest project and what we can expect from it.

Iʼm finishing up a EP to drop right after the Big Racks Video & then either an album or another EP after that. I think both projects will speak for themselves.Expect good music you can really feel & relate to.

Q. Do you have any last thoughts before the end of the interview? Any message you really want to get out to the people and your fans?

I just wanna thank every single person who supports what I do whether you know me personally or not. That shit means a lot foreal! No matter what anyone tells you always believe in yourself first! Iʼve been through the self doubt & depression. Always remember to keep your head up & keep pushing for what you want in life!

A big thank you to Omari Night from Nefarious Supply for agreeing to interview with us and be featured on our platform. You can check out Omari Night’s music via his SoundCloud above as well as follow him on Instagram to stay up to date with new music or just simple show him some love. if you enjoyed this interview please give us a big like and comment. To keep up with content coming from Nefarious Supply you can find us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook, and be sure to check out our Youtube for hot music from underground and emerging artists daily.

Yuko Yokio

Q. Give us a general description of you as an artist. What cultures and experiences cultivate this persona or identity of yours? 

A. I guess I would describe myself as a visionary. The words I say and the aura that comes off me reflects in my songs and is put onto the listeners. I’ve often had people, sometimes total strangers, tell me that the energy I give off is something they can’t ignore. I feel as though me and the art I create are very vehement. I like to utilize different genres, sounds and words to create my own genre that I call “cosmic sound”.

Ever since I was younger I’ve always been surrounded by music and art. My mother specifically, has created my passion for music. I often have dreams and visions of certain out of body experiences. I also have spoken and interacted with entities in my dreams and I often talk about that in my songs.

Q. How has your experience in the industry been thus far? 

A. It’s been really good! I’ve been soaking and enjoying the moments. I started with no followers on Instagram or SoundCloud, and I started to gain traffic. It’s been really nice to see all the people that support me and share this journey with me. 

Q. Do you have an outstanding moment since you got into the music industry that makes you realize how important it is to make music like this? If so what would that be? 

A. The most impactful moment that showed me that music is my true passion is when a girl on Instagram did a guitar cover of my song “Superman”. It literally brought me to tears to see her post. Me and my friend Evan watched in awe as she played the notes to my song. Another really big moment was when my song “Aphrodite” hit 10k on SoundCloud. That seriously hit home for me and made me motivated to put out more and to keep going strong.

Q. What do you think personally sets you apart from the rest of your peers in the music industry? What do you bring to the industry that you believe no one else has the ability to bring? 

A.I would say my lyrics and sense of style that I bring. Everyone can say some words but it’s about how it’s said and the delivery and I feel my sense of catering to songs sets me apart. Also my choice of instrumentals. Me being influenced by artists from a multitude of different genres, it has allowed me to fuse and mesh those into something unique. Anyone can see my lyrics and rap then or sing them, but no one can do it like Yuko.

Q. Is there any one song that you’ve made that stands out from the rest? Any songs that people should listen to that will get people hooked? 

A. Music that has been released I would say my song “Superman” or  “Palestine”. But a lot of my unreleased music that I have made are mind grabbing in their own unique ways.

Q. What keeps your current audience listening and why should people start listening? 

I think my personality is refreshing. Seeing a kid that is their age and goes through the same emotions and experiences, I feel they can relate to me. What keeps them even more is the fact that my unique way of showcasing myself makes them feel like they know me on a personal level. The music I make and the things I say create a relationship with my listeners. 

Q. Who do you listen to on a regular basis? Are these the same people who inspire your sound? Or are there other factors that come into play? 

My biggest influencers and role models are the people I listen to and observe everyday. All of them are creators but not all of them are musicians. People like Frank Ocean, Tyler the Creator, Kanye West, Jaden Smith, Billie Eillish, Kid Cudi, Childish Gambino; are just a few musical artists that inspire me. Some other ones are Virgil Abloh,  Takashi Murakami, Elon Musk, Daisuke Ichiba, My mom; are some influencers who aren’t musically gifted but still impact me and help me create songs. 

Q.What do you think is the most important aspect of music as a concept, personally and objectively? 

A. One, which is the most important one be your own creator. Don’t do something because it’s trending or popular, create what you want, be you. If someone doesn’t fuck with you being you who cares, your biggest critic is yourself. You’re your biggest hater and lover. If it feels good to you than 10/10 do it. Every single creator who has created something unique to the universe was once judged because it was unique to the universe. 

Q. Lastly, what advice or experiences would you like to share with your peers or anyone else who is up and coming in this industry? 

This is cliche, very very cliche, but don’t stop. No matter what your numbers look like, no matter what people say, don’t stop. If this is your passion and you believe in it and put your blood in it, it will pop. Trust me.

Bonus; I would like to give a huge thanks to NefariousSupply for giving me the opportunity to give this interview! I’m eternally grateful. Much love <3

Big shout to Yuko Yokio for the Interview with Nefarious Supply. You can find out more about him via his Instagram and for new music you can check his SoundCloud above. If you enjoyed this interview be sure to leave a like and comment, and to keep up with content coming from Nefarious Supply you can find us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook, and be sure to check out our Youtube for hot music from underground and emerging artists.

Dutcho!

Q. Who is Dutcho, and what experiences have molded you into the artist you are today?

Dutcho is like a conglomerate of several musical and cultural influences. I was born and raised in Chicago and moved around ALOT. My parents were separated so I always had two sides of the coin in life. I experienced life in poverty with both of them and I was always living in the hood with my OG so I was influenced by my surroundings. As for musical influence; Keef, Kurt Cobain, System of a Down, Michael Jackson, and a lot of Wayne. I was into lyricism and melodies so rock and rap I fell in love with.  

Q. How has your experience in the industry been thus far? 

Shitty as FUCK! Nah I’m joking. Shits been crazy. Almost been dropping for two years now.  I want to be the best but the journey don’t intimidate me.

Q. Do you have an outstanding moment since you got into the music industry that makes you realize how important it is to make music like this? If so what would that be? 

That would have to be all the people who’ve reached out to me telling me they use my music to cope with their hard times. Like depression, angst, just not feeling like you belong but still wanting to be loved.

That shit means a lot to me considering, ya know, I listen to my favorite artist to cope. Makes me realize there are actually people out there I do this for. I’m tryna heal souls.

Q. What do you think personally sets you apart from the rest of your peers in the music industry? What do you bring to the industry that you believe no one else has the ability to bring?

I’m mad. Like not angry. I’m crazy. At my core, if you know me, I’m really a silly ass mofocker! A loving person just tryna have fun and see everybody happy, no wierd shit sits right with my spirit. I put aside all the pain when I’m in a social environment sometimes and this energy just comes out. But some small shit be setting me off. I will thrash someone if I have too. I wanna be a symbol for spreading positivity, bringing mad energy to any situation, and not tolerating no fuck shit.

Q. Is there any one song that you’ve made that stands out from the rest? Any songs that people should listen to that will get people hooked? 

A couple. Some fan favorites are Save Me, U Aint, New World Order,and Vices. My personal opinion is Save Me, Full Clip, and Inhalent Abuse will have you hooked. Shoutout Luke Almighty and Darko on the production.

Q. What keeps your current audience listening and why should people start listening? 

My consistency. I’m always dropping music and it’s always GOOD. Always something different. I make something for everybody so I’d say that’s why people should start listening.

Q. Who do you listen to on a regular basis? Are these the same people who inspire your sound? Or are there other factors that come into play? 

Lil Peep, Frank Ocean, Kid Cudi, Lil Uzi, Carti, and some rock tracks are in heavy rotation. Everybody is inspired to a degree by any art they appreciate. But I listen to these guys because it’s good music plain and simple. Also the emotion Cudi, Peep, and Frank bring to a track is what gets me through some shit.

Q. What do you think is the most important aspect of music as a concept, personally and objectively? 

Shit. The concept that I’m fire and need to be heard, I be complaining in my songs not gonna lie. The fact that I’m self destructive and falling apart while still wanting  others to feel I think is alluring to people.

Q.Lastly, what advice or experiences would you like to share with your peers or anyone else who is up and coming in this industry? 

Never give up. That’s the only thing that got me here I wanted to so many times. 

Q. Also, is there anything you'd like for us to promote?

Go check out my Blackhouse Forever niggas, my nigga Iggyboyslash, Liam al ghul, Marzo xyx, nosmoke allem hoe ass Biggs’s yadig! Oh and check out my last video “Full Clip” shot by Evan McKnight!

Big shout out to Dutcho for interviewing with Nefarious Supply you definitely check out his music which can be found on SoundCloud and to stay up to date you can find him on Instagram. To stay up to date with content coming out of Nefarious Supply you can follow us on Instagram, Apple News, as well as Twitter, like our Facebook Page, and to hear new music constantly from underground and emerging artists be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel.

Natalie

Q:

Let us know about yourself, as an artist and person.  

A:

Hey y' all my name is Natalie! I am a producer, artist, and songwriter. I'm from Houston Texas, I lived in Chicago for a bit and am currently based in New York City. I'm a Latina and Lebanese habibi from the south just trying to make it.

Q:

What cultures and experiences cultivate this persona or identity of yours? 

A:

I pull from a lot of experiences and places I've lived. Big things that have resonated with me are breakups and just relationships in general. I also talk a lot about my experiences with partying. Everything I've written about is something that I've personally experienced or dealt with. I pull all of my content from my actual life so it's all really genuine.

Q:

What keeps your current audience listening and why should people start listening?  

A:

I think my versatility in genre keeps people listening to my music. One release might be a heavy trap beat with crazy auto-tuned vocals and the next drop might be a piano ballad or dancehall. You never know what's coming next. I also think the fact that I try to bend genres is a reason why people should start listening and that I sing about my authentic life. I think most people can relate to tracks that I have like Do You? or Mine.

Q:

What platform can people reach your content on the most conveniently? What albums and songs do you already have out that people should listen to?  

A:

I'm on every platform you can stream music, but I would definitely suggest following me on Spotify and Soundcloud. I have a playlist featuring my entire discography on Spotify and you can get notified when I drop a track. I also release exclusive songs to Soundcloud so I would suggest the two!

Q:

How has your experience in the industry been thus far?

A:

It's been mixed. As a female "artist", I've had more luck with representation for my work, as a female producer, it's been tough. I actually started in this industry strictly producing so when I moved on to singing on my own tracks, a lot of people didn't realize that a majority of my work was self-produced.

When I started going to actual sessions for my own music, I would want to work with a lot of the producers to create something unique together, and a lot of them didn't understand that the songs they liked of mine, were tracks I also produced so they wouldn't let me hop on the tracks. They wouldn't give me a chance, I think in part because women are underrepresented within music production. Now I only work with other producers that understand my vision and treat me as an equal.

Q:

Do you have an outstanding moment since you got into the music industry that makes you realize how important it is to make music like this? If so what would that be?  

A:

Yea definitely, when I dropped Do You? I had a ton of people that I never knew DM me stories of similar situations they went through. It was really inspiring.

Q:

Is there any one song that you’ve made that stands out from the rest? Any songs that people should listen to that will get people hooked?

A:

Definitely listen to Blue Jungle. It's the one song on my first EP that I actually wasn't sure about releasing. I'm super glad I did because shockingly it was the one that blew up.

Q:

Walk us through the steps you take to create a track. What is your creative process? Do you happen to just walk into the studio and throw some beats on until one sticks? Or is there a more delicate process involved?

A:

So It almost always starts with me making the beat.

I usually start with trying to sound design something unique in Serum or opening up some stock sounds in Ableton 10 suite to tweak. From there I will create half of the beat and create the melody for the hook and then form the actual words/concept. I will then finish the rest of the beat after recording the hook, then record my verses. Also, I really hate recording in studios.

I love song-writing rooms and small space. My tracks are really intimate so I love recording everything myself and adding my vocal effects myself and then sending it to an engineer to give it a final mix/master.

Q. Where do you think you would be at this very moment if you weren't pursuing your career in music?

A:

I actually have a double bachelors degree in Music Business and Marketing Communication. Education is huge to me. I'd probably be working in marketing at a media company.

Q:

Lastly, what advice or experiences would you like to share with your peers or anyone else who is up and coming in this industry?

A:

I have quite a bit of advice from my own experiences, first I would tell everybody that wants to make/release music to stop waiting. There is never going to be a perfect time just start releasing music.

My second piece of advice is to market the hell out of your music; if it takes you 10 hours to create a track spend 30 hours promoting it. My third piece of advice

Q:

Also, is there anything you'd like for us to promote?

A:

I'm releasing a remix of my track "The Hills" on May 19th on Spotify!

Y'all go stream the hell out of it.

Big shout to to Natalie for agreeing to be featured on Nefarious Supply be sure to check out his music via her SoundCloud above as well as show her love on her Instagram, as well as Twitter. If you enjoyed this interview please leave a like and comment your favorite song by Natalie. To stay up to date with content coming out of Nefarious Supply you can follow us on Instagram, as well as Twitter, like your Facebook Page, and to hear new music constantly from underground and emerging artists be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel.

96

Q: Let us know about yourself.  

A: I go by the name of 96 and I’m a singer, songwriter, engineer and producer. 

Q: Where are you representing and why is it so important to you?

A: I was born and raised in Toronto. Growing up in the inner city, not too many people make it out where I come from. Being from Regent, my friends and I grew up having seen a lot of shit over the years and lost some of our friends along the way. It forced us to grow up at a young age. It’s important to me because I want to show that it’s possible to be a positive light coming from a place like that.

I was also based in Calgary during my adolescent years. That’s where music started for me. Moving away gave me the opportunity to live in peace without having to look over my shoulder all the time. Not everyone I grew up with had that opportunity so I never take it for granted. Regardless, both cities are home to me. 

Stream OT

Q: How would you describe your music to somebody?

A: It’s best described as a mix of nostalgic R&B with a new school sound. Very ambient/moody. Some songs are more downtempo while others are more energetic. It brings certain emotions out and allows you to feel something real.

Q: What keeps your current audience listening and why should people start listening?

A: I’d say the moments I’m able to create with each song. The music is introspective and relatable so it resonates with people on a different level.

Q: Who do you listen to on a regular basis?  

A: Depends on my mood. When the setting is more laid back I’ll bump some SWV, Mary J Blige, Brandy, Ginuwine, Usher and Aaliyah just to name a few. 

Q: Do you have any collaborating artists that you’ve been working with? Is there anybody you would have as a feature or collaborate with on a future project?

A: Everything I’ve done up to this point has been on my own but a collab is in the near future for sure. Too many to list on here but off top I’d be down to work with H.E.R. , Summer Walker, Brent Faiyaz, Frank Ocean and a couple others.

Q: What platform can people reach your content on the most conveniently? What albums and songs do you already have out that people should listen to?

A: All the major streaming platforms (Apple Music, Spotify, Tidal, etc.) as well as SoundCloud. My first project GOIN96HOST dropped last year as well as the visuals for the lead single “LNIT”. The EP is the best introduction to my sound for someone who hasn’t heard of 96 before. 

Q: Is there any one song that you’ve made that stands out from the rest? Any songs that people should listen to that will get people hooked?

Stream LNIT

I would definitely say “LNIT (Lonely Nights in Toronto)”. That really marked the start of my journey being only the 2nd song that I made. When i first recorded it in my homies basement, I was still in the early stages trying to figure out my sound and all we had was a $200 USB Mic and Macbook with Pro Tools. The acoustics weren’t the best but we managed to come out with a decent mix. I wasn’t overly impressed at first but over time, it started to grow on me. I would play it for people without telling them it was me and they would just vibe to it unbiasedly. That’s when I knew I had something special. It just hit different.

Do you have an outstanding moment since you got into the music industry that makes you realize how important it is to make music like this? If so what would that be?

Nothing overly outstanding but receiving feedback from fans/friends about how my music has helped them through their own personal situations. A lot of the things that I talk about are relatable, everyday shit that we all go through so it’s always cool to hear it from someone else’s perspective.  

How has your experience in the industry been thus far?

It’s been a learning experience for sure. I just try to have fun with it when it comes to making the music. Being an independent artist, the main challenge has been sharing it amongst a larger audience and getting it out to the masses. I’m still learning everyday about the business side of things.

Can you tell us anything about future projects? Anything that people can look forward to coming from you?

I’ll be dropping a few singles over the next couple months leading up to my second project “GOIN96HOST 2”. Be on the lookout for that soon. 

Tell us a bit about your newest project and what we can expect from it.

My most recent single release 96 HOURS has two cuts that brings two similar yet contrasting moods with “96GOD” and “BEEN THRU A LOT”.  96GOD is a braggadocios anthem that asserts my presence while BTAL is more militant minded in regards to my come up and what’s going on around me. 

Big shout to to 96 for agreeing to be featured on Nefarious Supply be sure to check out his music via his SoundCloud above as well as show him love on his Instagram. If you enjoyed this interview please leave a like and comment your favorite song by 96. To stay up to date with content coming out of Nefarious Supply you can follow us on Instagram, as well as Twitter, like your Facebook Page, and to hear new music constantly from underground and emerging artists be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel.

DazeOnEast

Q:

Let us know about yourself, as an artist and person. 

A:

As an artist I would say that I am very honest, and open with my lyrics. I'm not really concerned about what people may think about me, rather that be soft, "light-skin" as most people would categorize nowadays, however my main focus is creating real music that someone can relate to. I've had the women,  I've been through the heartbreaks, I've  experienced the struggle of growing up in tough situations, so if I am able to create music that makes the listener say "Wow I'm dealing with the same thing right now," then I'm satisfied. Daze as a person, is a home-body, humble, and affable. Although I'm a cool guy I still move differently, because everyone can't be trusted. 

Q:

What cultures and experiences cultivate this persona or identity of yours? 

A:

I grew up in a small town in South Carolina. Not a lot of people make it out. Just like every other city, you can find poverty in one part, and riches in another. I'm not going to sit here and cap like I lived among the worst because that's not true. My situation wasn't the best but people had it worst than m, but I associated myself with some of those people that had it worse. It was just easier to relate to them. So I guess you can say that's where my trap side comes from. The R&B side of me comes from the heartbreaks, and relationships I've experienced throughout my life. Every dude has had them, but every dude is not going to be willing to speak on them because it could blemish their tough guy image. Not me. As far as my ghostly persona (lack of social media presence), that's just me. I've never wanted to be the spotlight of attention. I don't like everyone knowing my business, you know?

Q:

What keeps your current audience listening and why should people start listening? What platform can people reach your content on the most conveniently? 

A:

I feel like my realness, and relatable lyrics is the reason why my current audience continues to listen and why others should start listening. If you're looking for music you can play late night in your car or room, when you're alone, and just want to vibe then I'm your guy. I started off with soundcloud, where most of my following is so most of my tracks are on there, but recently I've started to distribute my music on all platforms. 

Q:

What albums and songs do you already have out that people should listen to? 

A:

I had 3 tracks I have recently dropped, called Still Young, Urge, and Pistols that I feel like you may enjoy. But some of my older tracks such as Wholeheartedly, Time Wasted, Phases with Lnly Boy, and some of my favorites. 

Q:

How has your experience in the industry been thus far? 

A:

It's been amazing. It's a great feeling when I see DM's of people thanking me for making great music, videos of them singing my songs, people implementing my songs in their YouTube videos, producing sending me beats that they want me to hop on.  I've had artist that inspired me to make music 5 years ago, follow me, and DM me.

I've had A&Rs email me from major lables, etc. I say all that with all humbleness, but also with confidence because I remember no one gave me a chance. I remember when people in school would laugh at the dream I had.

So for all of this to start to happen, it's very uplifting. 

Q:

View this post on Instagram

Still Young prod. @prodbychichi OUT NOW ALL PLATFORMS 🦇

A post shared by 𝔡𝔞𝔷𝔢 🦇 (@dazeoneast) on Mar 1, 2019 at 9:01pm PST

Do you have an outstanding moment since you got into the music industry that makes you realize how important it is to make music like this? If so what would that be? 

A:

About 3-4 years ago I made this track called "Deserve Better" with my bro Luis Aguilera. At first I thought nothing about the track, then about 3 weeks later I woke up, and my soundcloud notifications were going insane. Turns out that some OVO soundcloud page (I don't remember the exact name) had reposted my song. The song is almost at 1 mil on soundcloud, and 1.2 mil on YouTube. This moment changed my career and shaped everything for me musically. This made me realize that people really like that late night, feels, type R&B music. 

Q:

Is there any one song that you’ve made that stands out from the rest? Any songs that people should listen to that will get people hooked? 

A:

Seems that my listeners enjoy Deserve Better but I really like Vagary and Pistols. Pistols really shows my versatility. 

Q:

Walk us through the steps you take to create a track. What is your creative process? Do you happen to just walk into the studio and throw some beats on until one sticks? Or is there a more delicate process involved? 

A:

So first I open up my email, or look through beats that my fellow HerFav producers (KXVI, HerFavArtist, or Duski) have sent me. I listen to the beat for about 15 seconds and usually I'm able to determine if it fits the mood I'm in at the time.

When I find the one that makes me anxious to start recording, I load it into Fl Studio, and freestyle a couple melodies.

When I get a dope melody that I feel like people will enjoy and remember I write lyrics to the melody. Some days I can knock out a song in about 30 mins, but some songs make take me a couple days, there's even been times I returned to a track months later. 

Q:

Where do you think you would be at this very moment if you weren't pursuing your career in music?

A:

I mean I've been in college this entire time, so if I wasn't doing music I would just put all of my focus on college I guess. Find a career that correlates with my major. 

Q:

Lastly, what advice or experiences would you like to share with your peers or anyone else who is up and coming in this industry? 

A:
Advice I would give to people pursing music, would be to first believe in yourself. If you don't believe in yourself who will? Like I said I remember people laughed at me, and doubted me. I remember I would spend hours on making a song and it only get 100 views. Regardless of all of that, continue to pursue your dream you never know what could happen. INVEST in your craft.

Buy your own equipment, so you can experiment and find your own unique sound.

Learn how to mix your own vocals. Lastly I would say build relationships. Over the last couple of years, I've built relationships with amazing people, to name a few (KXVI, HerFavArtist, Duski, Lnly Boy, Lesismore, Majilla, Mylestone, HrtBrkFever, XAVI, Benji Yang, Sentell, Roni, Scandi, Erel, Shraban, TheWavMan, and the entire Collective) the list goes on, you know who you are.

Relationships go a long way, and this is probably the most important advice I could give to anyone. 

Q:

Also, is there anything you'd like for us to promote?

A:

EP coming this summer, and my new track Pistols. 

Contact: soundsbydaze@gmail.com

Big shout to to DazeOnEast for agreeing to be featured on Nefarious Supply be sure to check out his music via his SoundCloud above as well as show him love on his Instagram, as well as Twitter. If you enjoyed this interview please leave a like and comment your favorite song by Scotty Apex. To stay up to date with content coming out of Nefarious Supply you can follow us on Instagram, as well as Twitter, like your Facebook Page, and to hear new music constantly from underground and emerging artists be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel.

Scotty Apex

Q:

Let us know about yourself, as an artist and person.

A:

I'm currently 22 years of age, so I'm at a transitional period in my life where a lot of things are changing, I'm experiencing a lot, learning a lot, growing a lot, and trying my best to overcome things from my past that have caused me damage that I still deal with today. I grew up always feeling like an outcast, not to sound cliche because I know a lot of people want to be different nowadays, but as I lived out my youth, I really did feel sort of separated from everyone around me.

I typically stay to myself, and that may be due to issues I've had with anxiety, depression, and other very negative internal battles, but my energy has always been one that sort of drifted solo for some reason, and it's not always by choice. As a artist, that's why I really cling to the music I create, it has always been that friend I could go to.

Music is and always has been my escape. Which really leads into my intention with my music, I want to be that escape for others. I know what it is like to feel alone, feel like there is no hope, feel like the only thing I could relate to was the words from other artists that I looked up to. For example, Kid Cudi was one of those artists for me, his words helped me through my pain, I want to be able to provide that same feeling that was given to me.

I want people to know who I am completely, know my story, know what I represent, know my flaws, know my pains, know my strengths, know that they are not alone in what they are feeling because I have a piece of art that is so raw and vulnerable that they see a bit of themselves through me.

Q:

What cultures and experiences cultivate this persona or identity of yours?

A:

The main thing that drives everything I represent is EMOTION, feelings that I have went through. Heartbreak was really something that sort of fueled and sparked every initial piece I was putting out.

I started out creating out of hurt, anger, and put so much passion into expressing that as clear as possible through aggression.

Now, as I have grown more and more, and learned more from every day life, I express more melodically and less aggressively, but fueled by the same thing, EMOTION. As far as cultures, I spent a lot of time in Toronto, which has such a different way of life than what I grew up experiencing.

Some of my best friends are there, I made so many memories out there, experienced so much, felt so much, seen so much, and the Toronto culture for sure has made its mark on my identity.

I got to visit Tokyo in December of 2018, and that changed my perspective on life a lot as well.

Everyone there was so loving towards me, so welcoming, and that in itself was something that I had not felt a lot, and was very refreshing. Seeing the fashion there, the way things move, Tokyo definitely made its impact on me as a person as well.

Q:

What keeps your current audience listening and why should people start listening?

A:

I think what my current audience appreciates the fact that I am so open and vulnerable to them. A lot of things creatively are so fabricated and polished, and I think stepping in the opposite direction of that to leave everything so raw is why people gravitate towards my music. So, when you mix a good intention with a good final product, I think it makes that listening experience that much more meaningful, and that's why people stick to it.

Q:

What platform can people reach your content on the most conveniently?

A:

I use all platforms, so my work is pretty conveniently all over the place. The main ones that people use and listen to my work on would be Spotify, iTunes, SoundCloud, and YouTube.

I have an album out right now titled "LOVESICK" and I feel like that is a great starting place for anyone who wants to discover me as an artist, and all that I represent. From there, I think as a listener you will enjoy finding all the other gems that I have out right now.

Q:

How has your experience in the industry been thus far?

A:

My experience in this industry has evolved so much. When I first started out, I knew what I wanted to represent, I just didn't quite know how to execute it correctly to my vision. As I progressed, I learned so much.

I have met so many amazing people, and I have had some amazing experiences. I have had my ups and downs, but being able to meet or even work with people I have really looked up to has made it all worth it.

I've been to houses of some of my favorite artists to work on music, I met my favorite artist of all time (Kid Cudi) in Cleveland, I've done song writing for artists that I really like, so as time progresses I know more and more is going to happen, so my experience with the industry has been fairly good to me so far.

On the other end of that, I have definitely had some poor experiences with people with bad intent, people who talk a lot of action but never make anything happen, so I've learned its best to just stick with your team and the people you trust, work hard, and let things fall into place as you strategize them to.

Q:

Do you have an outstanding moment since you got into the music industry that makes you realize how important it is to make music like this? If so what would that be?

A:

I think an outstanding moment that I've had was when a girl I went to High school with reached out to me, very emotional, crying and all, and told me how much my LOVESICK album helped her through a really dark time in her life. She was going through so much, and one thing that really brought her comfort throughout those battles was my album. In a moment like that, it really hit me that my intention with music is truly helping others just like I wanted it to, and I knew I had to stick to this path.

The official video for Scotty Apex "L.S.C." Welcome to the future of R&B; RnBass.

Q:

Is there any one song that you’ve made that stands out from the rest? Any songs that people should listen to that will get people hooked?

A:

"Stay or Run" is a very honest and open track, I feel like that track communicates a lot of my story, my intentions, and who I am. "LUVSICK" as well, definitely a very emotionally fueled song that I made in a time where I was really depressed and heartbroken. Walk us through the steps you take to create a track.

Q:

What is your creative process? Do you happen to just walk into the studio and throw some beats on until one sticks? Or is there a more delicate process involved?

i know you remember 📸: @cillacam_

131 Likes, 12 Comments - Scotty Apex (@scotty.apex) on Instagram: "i know you remember 📸: @cillacam_"

A:

I've worked in different scenarios, situations, settings, and I've definitely learned my preferences. I can write a full song in under 10 minutes though if it comes to it. There has been situations where I'll be with a producer as they are working on structuring a beat, and I'll already have the song done before they even finish the beat, just give me something small to work off of and I can finish something crazy as quick as needed.

I actually prefer to work on music in my bedroom though, or somewhere that allows me to feel at home.

Typically, one of my friends that produces will have sent me a beat. The beat has to make me feel some sort of emotion, it has to pull me in and sort of give me a canvas that is ready for me to paint with words.

Once I have picked out the production, I play it a few times and come up with ideas for melodies that I can hear sounding good with it. Once I get a basic idea of the direction, I sort of zone out, I think about what I feel and have experienced, and I let it pour out onto what I am writing.

Once I have everything written, I record and lay down the layers of vocals needed, then send them off to my engineer and tell him what I think would sound good.

The formula I have been using has been working for me, and I am so proud of all my friends that work with me.

Q:

Where do you think you would be at this very moment if you weren't pursuing your career in music?

A:

Probably pursuing something in the film industry, whether that be the acting itself, or the writing, or the production. I think I just like to create cool pieces of art that hold an entertaining value.

I actually have taken classes to fulfill a minor in film studies with my bachelors degree, and I have learned a lot, and gained a lot of creative inspiration by studying certain directors from all eras of film.

Q:

Lastly, what advice or experiences would you like to share with your peers or anyone else who is up and coming in this industry?

A:

Just be honest with yourself and your audience. Create because you love to create, create because it makes you feel something.

Q:

Also, is there anything you'd like for us to promote?

A:

LOVESICK 2 is on the way.

SCOTTY APEX ScottyApexMGMT@gmail.com

Big shout to to Scotty Apex for agreeing to be featured on Nefarious Supply be sure to check out his music via his SoundCloud above as well as show him love on his Instagram, as well as Twitter. If you enjoyed this interview please leave a like and comment your favorite song by Scotty Apex. To stay up to date with content coming out of Nefarious Supply you can follow us on Instagram, as well as Twitter, like your Facebook Page, and to hear new music constantly from underground and emerging artists be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel.

LNLYBOY

Damn bro you’re across the world. Explain your experience living in Cape Town.

Haha, Living in Cape Town, South Africa, is probably one of the rarest experiences

someone could experience to be honest. It’s a very multicultural place, so I personally

find it amazing to live here, although it does come with its struggles. South Africa was

governed for a long time by a racist system back in the 1940’s until 1994. Luckily, I was

born into a free nation in 1999 but I still had to live through the effects or let me say the

aftermath of that system you know. So, finding my way in a society that was constantly

being suppressed was hard because I wasn’t just paving my own path but also fighting

a mentality that our people had you know. The mentality that forced people to believe

that you cannot amount to anything, that you were born to serve the “white man,” that

you’re inferior. So many older people had that sort of mentality as I grew up but now, I

think things have gotten better. Since the Youth is taking over, we are creating endless

amounts possibilities, we are breaking barriers that were set, we are changing the game

in South Africa. So, these days living here is sort of a blessing and a curse to be honest.

Who do you listen to that inspires your sound?

Wow man, I listened to so much music but my top artists that I listen to that definitely

shaped my sound would be Drake, Partynextdoor, Tory Lanez, Johnny Rain, Bryson

Tiller, Tyus, man the list could go on but these days I listen to a lot of the people I work

with and aspire to work with such as, Dazeoneast, FRVRFRIDAY, Anders, JWOODS,

Indigo Stella, Elizée, Malachi, PLAYMENEVER, Nasty C, etc.

I see that you entered a competition with Red Bull Music and Tellaman. What

made you decide to submit a verse and how do you feel about the competition in

general?

I was never going to enter the competition to be honest, because I was just never the

type of person to chase recognition from bigger artists you know, but when I heard the

song Tellaman wrote, and a verse just came to me and I recorded it and kept it to

myself until I shared it with a few friends and they said I should post it and enter. So, I

thought for a while and then just decided to just do it. So, it was a pretty much just a

spontaneous decision.

I think the competition is an amazing opportunity for the youth in SA, there is so much

unheard talent out here and I feel it’s an amazing chance for some of the kids to get

heard.

What can you tell me about OXI Worldwide?

OXI WORLDWIDE, is an Internet movement/Collective that helps up and coming artist

to grow not just sonically but creatively within the business. Right now, the team

consists of Jack (the manager), Elizée, Malachi, Elöhim, Michael Tuohy, Kay Rivers and

me.

How would you describe your sound to someone who has never heard your

music before?

I think I would describe it as a mixture of Dark R&B and Hip hop, but I like creating

whatever I feel is from my heart and personality regardless of genre.

What are you working on right now?

I’m working on a new tape, and bunch of records for a future mixtape I’m curating. I am

also working on short film that would portray my story and share a different aspect of life

in the world.

What songs of yours do you recommend to the people reading this?

My favorite tracks are “More”, “On Me”, “Rambo” and “Phases.” Although I really feel

like my unreleased music is a better depiction of my sound and my art.

Is there anything else you’d like to say before this interview comes to a close?

I just would like to inspire the kids and inspire other creatives to keep creating the ideas

that come into your head. Keep chasing your goals and keep on being the person YOU

want to be and not what others expect you to be. Thank you so much for the opportunity

to share a bit of my story.

Big shout out to LNLYBOY for agreeing to come an interview with Nefarious Supply, you can stream his music via his Soundcloud above as well as Apple Music. You can also follow him on Instagram to keep up with his new releases as well as the collective he is in OXI WORLDWIDE. If you enjoyed this interview be sure to leave a like and comment, to stay up to date with content coming out of Nefarious Supply you can follow us on Instagram, Twitter, like us on Facebook and subscribe to us on Youtube.

3onawav

Aja Cruz better known by 3onawav is an up and coming artist based out of South Philly. Below she answers a list of pre-sent questions that summarize a glimpse of who she is as an artist and as an artist, what she represents, the inspiration of her sound, and many more.

Let us know about yourself.  

First and foremost my name is Aja Cruz. I was born and raised in South Philadelphia, and started songwriting around the age of eight so i’ve been writing for a while but didn’t start recording songs until I was sixteen.

Where are you representing and why is it so important to you?

I feel as if I represent people more than a place because i’m able to sit here and put into words the things that they can’t even say. I think that’s what’s most important to me, when someone hears your music and they’re like “they must know my life”. In the end it really shows that we’re not all that different and music really has the power to express that.

How would you describe your music to somebody?

Very versatile, I feel as though I can and have yet to really go so many places with my music. I promise whatever it is it’s a vibe.

What keeps your current audience listening and why should people start listening?

I think my current audience just simply knows potential and recognizes the places I could really take it with the music and my brand period. If you haven’t tuned in yet I highly suggest you do because I haven’t even reached my peak yet and i’m already going so crazy.

Who inspires you for your sound?

Since seven/eight years old i’ve always appreciated Frank Ocean, Drake, and The Weeknd’s sound and how they were able to switch it up effortlessly. Those three might be my biggest inspirations.

Who do you listen to on a regular basis?  

I’d have to say Tory Lanez, Vory, and PND. That’s like the everyday go to.

Do you have any collaborating artists that you’ve been working with?

Me and my brother Spritelee might have something in the works real soon. I’ve also been collaborating with this new sound from New Zealand named Somber, that’s gonna go crazy. Other than that I’ve been hoping to collaborate with other Philly artists like Brygreatah and Fh Snoop.

What platform can people reach your content on the most conveniently?

Right now you can always reach all my content on Soundcloud, but this year anything I drop is hitting Soundcloud and Apple Music.

Is there any one song that you’ve made that stands out from the rest? Any songs that people should listen to that will get people hooked?

I would have to say “Hero” out of all songs I think that might be the one with the most meaning which makes it stand out. But right now i’d have to say my “Ridin Remix” and “Back & Forth” are the tracks that’ll get you hooked.

What do you think is the most important aspect of music as a concept, personally and objectively?

“Is it relatable ?” That’s one of the biggest aspects music should have. Like I said before your audience should feel as if you almost know what they’re going through or how they feel. Other than that I think versatility is another important aspect. You just have to be able to connect with other people and go outside of comfort zones.

How do these aspects find their way into your music style?

My music style is all about versatility and being able to switch up and still relate on all levels.

Do you have an outstanding moment since you got into the music industry that makes you realize how important it is to make music like this? If so what would that be?

When people randomly write me about how they listen to this song every morning or play my music everyday, that’s always an outstanding moment. It forces me to realize that this is what i’m doing it for, and even if I feel underrated and slept on, those are the things that keep me going and they don’t even know it.

How has your experience in the industry been thus far?

Being an independent artist is always twice the work, I don’t expect anything less, but having a team around you that believes in what you do just as much as you do if not more makes it just that easier.

Can you tell us anything about future projects? Anything that people can look forward to coming from you?

I’m dropping a project just for the Summer sometime soon, and coming even crazier with visuals, singles, clothing, etc. Just tune in and join the wav.

Tell us a bit about your newest project and what we can expect from it.

You can definitely expect to be blasting my new project, with your windows down, vibing. No bag music because we save that for the Winter.

Do you have any last thoughts before the end of the interview? Any message you really want to get out to the people and your fans?

I appreciate Nefarious Supply even coming through with this interview. Definitely tune in, you don’t want to miss anything.

Big shout out to 3onawav for agreeing to the interview with us, you can find her music via her Soundcloud above as well Apple Music, you can also follow her on her Instagram. To stay up to date with content coming from Nefarious Supply you can follow us on Instagram, Twitter, as well as like us on Facebook and Subscribe to our Youtube.

Twntyfour

Give us a general description of you as an artist. What cultures and experiences cultivate this persona or identity of yours?

I go by the name of Twntyfour, I’ve always been a hiphop fan and I always used to rap along to songs from Drake to Eminem or YE. And I got to a point where I came across FL Studio and I started making remixes of Drake songs with Chris Brown or something like that. Of course it sounded bad but it was the beginning of me experimenting with music, I started making beats like 4 years ago which I didn’t stick to because I was tired of making instrumentals which didn’t have no vocals to it. So two years ago I decided to pick up the mic, and that’s when I started rapping.

View this post on Instagram

𝖇𝖊𝖆𝖘𝖙𝖒𝖔𝖉𝖊 Out now on Soundcloud, this week on all streaming platforms☠️🦋

A post shared by ᵀʷⁿᵗʸᶠᵒᵘʳ ²⁴ (@iamtwntyfour) on Apr 24, 2019 at 5:40am PDT

How has your experience in the industry been thus far?

Its hard being in this industry, no hand out, gotta figure it all out by yourself. I’m not there yet, but I don’t mind cause I love the grind, I feel hungry, And iknow if I keep working the way I am I will get there. But for now its just hard work, trying to build connections and get my name out there.

Do you have an outstanding moment since you got into the music industry that makes you realize how important it is to make music like this? If so what would that be?

Well, i know how important music is to me like music helps me get thru certain times of my life good and dark times, and I’ve been getting DM’s from people telling me I help them get thru there day with my music and I value that alot. I also had people telling me I inspired them to start making music or inspired them to keep pushing even if they didnt feel like it. I like to see how I can motivate people and that’s something that makes me smile when I read it.

This is why i feel like making music important, to inspire and motivate. 

What do you think personally sets you apart from the rest of your peers in the music industry? What do you bring to the industry that you believe no one else has the ability to bring?

I feel like I’m a very versatile artist, I got tracks with bars, I got love songs, I got club bangers and the list is only gonna grow from here. And yes I’m not a singer but I feel like I use autotune in a different way then alot of artists out there. 

Is there any one song that you’ve made that stands out from the rest? Any songs that people should listen to that will get people hooked?

Well, this a good question, at the moment I’m featured on a song from my bro HiddenHills called “Slide Thru” which is extremely catchy and I can already tell its going to be a big thing. But it’s not out yet, I do have this song called “Moodswings” featuring my bro Omari Night which is by far the most streamed song I got out at the moment. Play this at the club and I know for a fact that people gonna love it.

What keeps your current audience listening and why should people start listening?

I feel like as I said I’m very versatile. I think the variation is what keeps my people/fans listening. They never know what’s coming next. It’s like the mystery they want to unravel. Also the people who listen to my music know I come with quality, so they know I won’t let them down.

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#DRAMACHALLENGE TAG AN ARTIST 🗣

A post shared by ᵀʷⁿᵗʸᶠᵒᵘʳ ²⁴ (@iamtwntyfour) on Apr 25, 2019 at 4:45am PDT

Who do you listen to on a regular basis?

I used to listen to alot of mainstream artists such as Travis Scott, Drake, Tory Lanez, Migos , Kanye West just to name a few, but as I started to dive into Soundcloud a little more I started listening to some more people who aren’t mainstream yet. Such as Frvrfriday, hrtbrkfever, Kdence, b1uan. I recently created a playlist which I’m trying to update daily with these artists covered. You should definetly check it out and drop a follow, it’s called “selectedby24”

Are these the same people who inspire your sound? Or are there other factors that come into play?

Most of them yes, Drake was always a big inspiration for me he’s been in the game for over 10 years now, YE aswell, also love the Yeezys. But I think Travis inspired me to start using my voice and combine it with autotune. As of now Frvrfriday and Hrtbrkfever are like a big inspiration for me as i listen to there music alot lately. And I’m blessed to say that I made the artwork for their next song which is dropping soon.

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BADFORME FT. @hrtbrkfever 05/10/19 🤞🏼 DROP A “👀” IF YOU READY!

A post shared by ᵀʷⁿᵗʸᶠᵒᵘʳ ²⁴ (@iamtwntyfour) on May 2, 2019 at 8:25am PDT

What do you think is the most important aspect of music as a concept, personally and objectively? 

I think making people smile and help people thru their days is one of the most important things for me. Being able to inspire and motivate is just amazing. 

Lastly, what advice or experiences would you like to share with your peers or anyone else who is up and coming in this industry? 

All I gotta say is if you want to make it, u got to believe in yourself and give this your 100% cause it’s not an easy job. Also learn who to take advice from, you might have friends who tell you oh, you gotta do this and that but at the end of the day you gotta ask yourself if they got the knowledge or experience. And if you should take the advice or leave it. And lastly if you maintain, progress and keep grinding, all your hard work will pay off when the time is right. All you gotta do is believe in yourself.

Also, is there anything you'd like for us to promote?

IG: @iamtwntyfour 

TWITTER: @iamtwntyfour

SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4Z8p50gxgMkjVsK4pJqg9h?nd

Ben Cobain

ALWAYS

Q:

Give us a general description of you as an artist. What cultures and experiences cultivate this persona or identity of yours?

A:

I think to answer your question I'd have to give some background about myself. What some don't know about me is that my family is from Cameroon, an African country in West Africa. I was born in Durham, North Carolina, but lived my life in Maryland. Waldorf to be exact. Growing up I was always in to music. I loved listening to music, but I always had a hard time remember the names of artists.

My mom would always sing around the house too.

Back in Cameroon and probably most, if not all African countries, music is an important part of the culture.

I'd say that I'm a hybrid of many different genres.

I wish I could box myself in a category to describe myself as an artist, but at the same time I think that's what makes me different. RnB was my first love. I was introduced to rap music by my two good friends Darnell (Nell/Nellstalgic) and Darrius Funderburk. As a creative, it's just crazy how you gravitate to other creatives without even trying...

Growing up in Maryland we had music like GoGo that was/is really popular. Of course we have Wale and Tone P, Black Cobain, Logic is kind of new to me, but we still got him. NoName Gypsy is also a good mention, but I didn't start listening to her until maybe 2015. I also listened to a lot of Chris Brown and Trey Songz. All of these artists are from the same area [DMV area] and I kind of just embraced the diversity and put it in my music.

As far as my persona, or this identity of made for myself, I'd say it came from exploring and finding myself. I believe I was destined to be an artist and it was only a matter of time until I picked up the hobby and fell in love with it.

Q:

How has your experience in the industry been thus far?

A:

My experience has had some ups and downs. Right now I will say I'm somewhat at a stand still with music. I started recording my music at the age of about 13 or 14. I've grown so much in my skills. I honestly think I was/have been so ahead of my time.

Since I started making music, I've recorded and dropped so much music I could have probably made about 10-12 albums by now. If you look at my older work it's really trash [laughs].

At the same time I have grown and matured at a quick rate. While I've been growing as an artist, I've been growing as a producer, beat maker, and engineer.

Q:

Do you have an outstanding moment since you got into the music industry that makes you realize how important it is to make music like this? If so what would that be?

A:

The moments I have are very intimate, but I usually from time to time get DM's, comments, emails, texts, from fans or other artists on how they really like my music and the crazy thing is people feel like I'm so intimating.

I'm so chill, like I take the time to respond to everybody and thank them for feedback like that. I remember a time when nobody would give me the time-of-day.

Even my own family members passed my material as garbage.

I just think it's my responsibility to inspire and motivate other artists to follow their dreams no matter how big or small it may be. I feel like I play a small part out of a big plan. I've helped a lot of artists just by being a genuine person.

I think it's important to continue to make music because it's an outlet for everyone.

Instagram post by BENCOBAINN * Sep 22, 2017 at 1:42pm UTC

39 Likes, 1 Comments - BENCOBAINN (@bencobainn) on Instagram

Q:

What do you think personally sets you apart from the rest of your peers in the music industry? What do you bring to the industry that you believe no one else has the ability to bring?

A:

I bring quality.

For everyone that knows me, the music I dropped has always sounded top notch for someone who only has a laptop and a microphone. I don't know all there is to know about music, but I've spent a lot of hours teaching myself how to mix and master properly.

I've practiced studio etiquette. I also bring diversity. I'm not afraid to try new things. I've made pop, rap, rnb, rock, trap. Pretty much everything, but country [laughs].

The funny thing is, I actually do these other genres very well. I don't want to be a regional rapper, so I always try to expand my horizons.

Q:

Is there any one song that you’ve made that stands out from the rest? Any songs that people should listen to that will get people hooked?

A:

I love all my songs the same. Old and new. They all stand out in their own way and I feel like they don't compete against each other. I think the first song that I knew was like straight fire was this one song I got with my good friend and brother Ryan Bevolo called "Advances."

It was the first time working with him that I incorporated new sonics, new ideas, new methods on mixing, it was a crazy time when I made that.

Ryan and I have been working since 2016 and that boy talented. I got some songs that we made that are unreleased that I know people would go crazy, but I'd say people should definitely pay attention to my last album "Guidance 2."

Every song is great in its own way and it's my first solid album where everything went right. There's nothing else I would do to change that album. It's memorable for me.

Q:

What keeps your current audience listening and why should people start listening?

A:

I think what keeps my current audience listening is the quality. I'm not a really big artist, but most of my fans/audience are either people I know, people I grew up with, people I've networked with, other artists, or just people looking for new music. I've very sociable and I've really approachable. I think the fact that maybe I come off as a really dope guy people come back because they like the person I am. If you haven't heard my music, it will be refreshing. The sonics are crazy...

Q:

Who do you listen to on a regular basis?

A:

T-Pain, Tory Lanez, Anderson Paak, Future, Charlie Wilson, Lucky Daye, Nellstalgic, J. Cole. There's probably more mainstream artists, but I honestly listen to way more underground/unknown artists on SoundCloud. You know when you're playing a song and then it goes to a related genre or artist based off what you were previously listening to? I usually get put on to dope artists that are just like me and are undiscovered with no clout, but they're the most talented people you'd come across. Those are the people I listen to the most.

Q:

Are these the same people who inspire your sound? Or are there other factors that come into play?

A:

Yes. Anyone you listen to that you genuinely like will have an influence in your music one way or another. Whether it be how you enunciate your words or just you beat selection. Everybody influences everybody. I use Auto-Tune on a regular basis and T-Pain was probably the first artist I studied. Crazy hooks, always delivers a crazy verse, just how he composes a song as a whole. I could imagine how many layers of tracks he has in his sessions! He inspired me to always bring the creativity in music no matter what song or whose track you're on.

GUIDANCE 2

Q:

What do you think is the most important aspect of music as a concept, personally and objectively?

A:

I think the most important concept of music is remembering you're probably influencing somebody somewhere.

Sure, music should be an extension of ourselves and we should express ourselves. At the same time, I don't think we should be destructive. 

As a concept, music should never be boxed-in.

There shouldn't be rules to it, or at least know how to break those rules artistically.

Q:

Lastly, what advice or experiences would you like to share with your peers or anyone else who is up and coming in this industry?

A:

Don't let anybody tell you what you should or shouldn't do. If you're passionate about something, try it out. Always educate yourself in your field and remember to have fun while doing all this. It's very easy to make music a chore to the point you're only pumping out your product because it needs to be. The fun and creativity subsides and it will be evident in the long run.

Q:

Also, is there anything you'd like for us to promote?

A:

Yes, I want everyone to follow me on all social media (@bencobainn) and make sure to check out my album "Gudiance 2" which was produced by Ryan Bevolo. Out on ALL platforms!

Guidance 2: http://smarturl.it/guidance2

Underrated, never faded.. Instagram @BENCOBAINN Twitter @BENCOBAINN Booking | bencobainnasap@gmail.com

Big shout to to Ben Cobain for agreeing to be featured on Nefarious Supply be sure to check out his music via his SoundCloud above as well as show him love on his Instagram, as well as Twitter. If you enjoyed this interview please leave a like and comment your favorite song by Ben Cobain. To stay up to date with content coming out of Nefarious Supply you can follow us on Instagram, as well as Twitter, like your Facebook Page, and to hear new music constantly from underground and emerging artists be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel.

Serena Isioma

Serena Isioma is an up and coming artist in the music scene. With her insanely catchy vibe and

her incredible voice, is rising up in the scene and becoming very prominent. Serena’s new Song

“Mystery Boy”, can prove as a testament to her talent and she is definitely an artist we see

blowing up.

Q: Let us know about yourself. Where were you born, what has your life been like up to this

point?

I was born in Chicago but I can’t say I’m from there. I’ve bounced around different

Chicagoland suburbs and have had to stay across the world in London and Lagos, Nigeria for

extended periods of time. Now I live in a suburb just outside of Los Angelos. I’ll be moving to

Chicago this summer. I don’t want to get too deep into my personal life yet for legal and

personal reasons. Just know my life has not and will never be normal.

View this post on Instagram

if i was an alien , what would my mating call sound like ? 🤭

A post shared by serena isioma (@thekidsisland) on Jan 5, 2019 at 3:16pm PST

Q: How would you describe your music to somebody? What keeps your current audience

listening and why should people start listening?

My sound a combination of alternative pop and hip hop. All of my songs sound different

except of their similar themes of love, loss, or temptation. That’s just the phase I’m in right

now. It’s crazy because almost all of my listeners are dudes. There are videos of people

jumping/moshing to my soft ass music and it makes me so happy. People listen to me

because they crave something new and authentic. Industry plants are giving people a

headache. At least with me they know every beat, lyric, and mix was made or chosen by me

(and my beat selection is always fire).

Q: Where are you representing and why is it so important to you?

I don’t like to say I represent a place because I don’t think I’ve lived anywhere long enough

to represent it. What I will say is that there are multiple young black girls and queer kids who

follow me on social media. We message each other as often as possible. I wish there were

people like me when I was growing up. That’s why it’s important for me to respond the

people who fuck with me and show them love. I am not a role model but it’s cool to know I

inspire others.

View this post on Instagram

a santa monica “beach” 📸🤧

A post shared by serena isioma (@thekidsisland) on Mar 31, 2018 at 9:59am PDT

Q: Who inspires you for your sound? Who do you listen to on a regular basis?

Nobody expects this every time I say it but XXXTentacion is my favorite artist. I fell in love

with how his mixes capture his emotions and I try to replicate that. Other than him, my song

selection is bi-polar. I have my chill shit like Michael Seyer, The Internet, Cuco, and

HOMESHAKE. Then I have my ignorant shit like Playboi Carti, Warhol.ss, 1TakeJay,

NOLANBEROLLIN, and the list goes on.

Q: If you had a top 5 list of artists right now that you listen to, who would be on that list? (You can pick underground or main stream artists!)

Oh man this is low-key hard! Top 5? This isn’t in order 5 last artists on my Spotify are

Canaan Lopez, Alfie Templeman, Chloe x Halle, Supa Bwe, and (old) Young Thug.

Q: Do you have any collaborating artists that you’ve been working with? Is there anybody you would have as a feature or collaborate with on a future project?

I normally work with myself. Other than that, me and my homie Caption collaborate on a

lot of music. That’s one of my best friends. There’s this producer in New York named Frankis

and singer named Myles Cameron who I’ve been internet friends with for years. We work

together sometimes. I’m unofficially in this group called Unnamed Mafia. The unofficial

leader is OchoWithTheSauce. I’m saying “unofficial” because we don’t have our shit together

(yet). Nevertheless, I’m always down to collaborate with talented people.

Q: What platform can people reach your content on the most conveniently? What albums and

songs do you already have out that people should listen to?

All of them! You can find my music on all platforms and you should just listen to all of

them.

Q: Is there any one song that you’ve made that stands out from the rest? Any songs that people

should listen to that will get people hooked?

I’ve been told that my songs get stuck in people’s head quickly. If you want to dance, peep

“Mystery Boy.” If you’re really trying to be in your feelings, I suggest “Breathe”. If you’re

trying to chill, listen to “In My Head.”

Q: Do you have an outstanding moment since you got into the music industry that makes you

realize how important it is to make music like this? If so what would that be?

One person messaged me saying that my music made them feel again. I understand what

it’s like to feel numb; to feel nothing at all. That sounds emo as hell but it’s true. If something

that I created has the power to drag someone out of that state, then I’m doing something

right.

Q: How has your experience in the industry been thus far?

View this post on Instagram

my mom made me pose for photos against my will to flex on her facebook friends and let em know her daughter issa 🅱️oss

A post shared by serena isioma (@thekidsisland) on Jan 12, 2018 at 6:26pm PST

This industry has tried to bring me up then destroy me. I was supposed to be an industry

plant. Thank God I know how to read a contract. There are a few blogs that hated me because

of some outlandish shit I did when I was like 16. Now it’s two years later and they’re writing

about me. Something I really want/need is a manager. If any managers are reading this, help

your girl out.

Q: Can you tell us anything about future projects? Anything that people can look forward to

coming from you?

Expect a lot of content from my company Island Presents. Expect different music. Expect to

see me everywhere.

Q: Tell us a bit about your newest song and what we can expect from it.

“Mystery Boy” is the story of a girl who moves away from her boyfriend just to find out

that there are some other girls who think it’s a good idea to shoot their shot while she’s

away. He doesn’t know it yet, but Yung Water’s verse is basically the guy being like “Damn, I

just fell in love with this new girl even though my main girl is away.” The story’s kind of

fucked up but so is life so here you go.

Q: Do you have any last thoughts before the end of the interview? Any message you really want

to get out to the people and your fans?

Go listen to “Mystery Boy.” Follow me on Instagram @thekidsisland. Follow

@islandpresents. I love you. Peace out.

Big Shout Out to Serena Isiomia for reaching out to us to be featured on Nefarious Supply Be sure you check out her social media and show her some love. Be sure to give the article a like and to stay up to date with content coming out of Nefarious Supply you can follow us on Instagram as well as Twitter.