Scotty, welcome back to Nefarious Supply to date this is our third time featuring you and we couldn't be more excited to have you on again. To get this interview started give us an update on what’s been going on with you, how was 2022, and how is the new year so far?
Wait, 2022 is over already? Haha. I feel like 2022 went by so fast for me. These last few years honestly have zoomed by, but this was another year I found a lot of growth, creatively, spiritually, internally, experienced a lot and learned more. Very thankful I was able to release my album DATA BEND towards the end of the year, been releasing videos from the project each week carrying into 2023. So this new year has been off to a good start, already been able to connect with more people, releasing work that i feel very proud of, and I'm thankful for the people in my life. I’m ready to approach this year with a positive perspective and hopefully reach the goals I've set out for myself.
Since we last featured you, what are some things you’ve learned on your artistic journey, what has the overall experience been like in the industry, and what are you most looking forward to?
Over time, I think I’ve always found new ground as an artist, new landscapes to explore and experiment with. I listen to a lot of music, and incorporate influence from many places, even visually from film. So I’ve thankfully been able to keep myself from feeling stagnant and it always feels like there is evolution occurring whenever I begin my next creative venture. Some things I’ve learned as of recently are the power of confidence in yourself, and how that can push you so much further into the light you want to shine with. Second guessing your instinct will deter you from the authentic reflection of what you know you can do within. Trust that feeling inside more, follow your intuitive creative nature, and let it guide you like an internal compass. Trust yourself more as an artist, know your ideas are great, and stand on them proudly.
I’m most looking forward to continuing to grow with good people around me. I also have some more videos I am working on that I am extremely excited about and proud of, so just can’t wait for people to continue to be able to see the worlds I want to create. I love when people finally have access to these ideas of mine because then I get the sense of fulfillment knowing that people can enjoy the escapism that comes from the work that goes out.
Let’s get into your new project Data Bend, break it down for us what inspired it, what your overall creative process was like putting this together, and what are your favorite songs on the album?
DATA BEND to me is the representation of a shift in understanding, perspective, and approach. That’s why the sonics have a theme of genre bending elements, because I wanted to infuse as many of my influences as possible to show the art of everything creative that I love being able to exist cohesively. The fusion of both earth’s nature or natural state merging with technology and the advancements we see as a species was a big inspiration while creating this, how the old can feel new and modernized, and how the new can reflect the positive nostalgic bits that we cherish. Fitting to that theme, the process of putting this album together utilized the technology we have at our hands right now.
For the majority of what made the album, VVD SOUND and I locked in through countless virtual discord sessions, where he would share his screen, we would go back and forth on ideas, influence, and construct these sonic worlds fitting the vision we both had in mind. A few records off of the album started out in other ways though, which is also fitting to the theme of merging different techniques together to find something great. I can remember one of the initial songs we made was “I Don’t Belong Here”. VVD was visiting my house in Los Angeles, his first time on the west coast, and I had Sammy the Producer over as well, we pulled the recording equipment into the living room. We began messing around with ideas over a loop Sam put together, VVD started adding the original drum structure, and I started blurting out melody ideas to which would later be finalized into “SO MUCH OUT MY CONTROL I CAN’T BREATH, SINCE I CAME HERE NO I DON’T WANT TO LEAVE” (the hook of IDBH). We knew this felt special, and what validated even more that this was meant to be was an accidental bottle flip that landed inside of a spare pair of shoes we had on the ground haha.
We even took a picture with the bottle in the shoe to go back and remember that moment as we all agreed in that moment, this was the start of something special, and that was our sign that we were on the right path. “Heart Shaped Bullets” came together from a fun session as well where PnkBlnkt came over to my place in the valley at the time, we setup in my room, Pnk had a mutual friend from back home in Indiana with him as well, so the vibes were there, we started toying with a few initial ideas, and then I remember Pnk started going through skeletons of ideas he had already put mostly together, and he hit play on the beat that was the idea that would become HSB, and I knew immediately that I wanted to do something crazy for it. I locked myself in a spare room for about 15 minutes, came back in the room and told everyone I had something that I thought felt really special and sentimental, recorded the vocals, and we were all loving it, it was an incredible experience and moment. Later on VVD and I added some additional things to it through discord sessions.
My personal favorite songs off of the album would have to be either “Heart Shaped Bullets”, “Girls Like You Never Light Their Own Cigarettes”, “Down Under”, or “I Don’t Belong Here”, which is a lot to list, but honestly the whole album is just so good, and I’m so proud of it and everyone who added their touch to it, this album as a whole is my favorite piece of work to date. It feels like the most authentic reflection so far of what I have always intended to create and represent.
“Since LoveSick 2” you’ve consistently had amazing album covers and Data bend is no different who helped put together the cover art for this album?
Thank you! That means a lot, I am very passionate about the visual aspects of any of my work, so to hear a compliment like this is very valued. There’s actually a continuous story throughout each cover where you can see the timeline continue to play out as each album is released, and that’s something I plan to continue to do. The DATA BEND cover was done by Jay Gonzalez, who also did the cover for STARLIGHT. He is so creative, so talented, and it’s always a blessing as well as pleasure working with him. The LOVESICK 1 & 2 covers were done by Tyshon Rosewood, so shout out to bro too!
STARLIGHT and DATABEND have two different vibes to them. How did your creative process change from STARLIGHT to DATABEND?
When I begin the process for an album, it always starts with a general guideline in mind of an overall feeling that I want to execute, visual components that I can envision, and direction of sound. STARLIGHT had more producers involved, it was mostly made when I first moved to Los Angeles, which was early 2020, and then polished throughout the main moments of the pandemic. So there was a lot of chaos in the world, and I was hibernating in my room just working on the album, trying to make it feel atmospheric and otherworldly, pulling in ideas from a range of my producer friends. That album leaned mostly into R&B, hip hop at the core, and I think that’s one of the main differences of STARLIGHT vs. DATA BEND.
DATA BEND was a smaller creative circle, a more understood pinpoint of direction I had in mind, and I also experimented with other influences of mine, so you hear more influence of alternative rock, pop, mixed in with the R&B, some hip hop moments still, but just has more guitar, piano, and acoustic sounds incorporated. Elements that I think previous work hadn’t yet highlighted or showcased this side of me.
In terms of production, who did you work with to put DATABEND together?
VVD SOUND did the majority of production on DATA BEND, he was the executive producer, and had his touch on every single song. That’s a reflection of the creative trust I have for him. He is able to bring what I envision to life so well, and I am beyond thankful for the countless hours he put in with me to create something as special as this project is. He sat with me day after day, night after night, hour after hour, helping me bring what I wanted to create into full fruition.
There’s a few records that began with other producers, PnkBlknt for “Heart Shaped Bullets”, bended on the guitar for that as well, and VVD added some additional layers once we had the main structure. Sammy the Producer on “Down Under” as well as “GIRLS LIKE YOU NEVER LIGHT THEIR OWN CIGARETTES”, which VVD again added additional productional layers after we had the main structure. Kami Osha did some additional Guitar on “Down Under”, and Ack had his hand in “Any Other World” with VVD polishing the rest of the record.
One of the things we really like about you is your ability to push boundaries and consistently grow as an artist. How do you push yourself to new heights, and for new artists that are afraid to go against the grain what is some advice you would give them?
Well thank you! It is deeply appreciated that you give me that credit and acknowledge what I intend to do, which is that push of boundary, so thank you! Truly. I think for me, I am always reminded of why I do what I do. I deeply love music. I am so passionate about my art, it’s a direct reflection of my actual life, trials, and stories. Joe Talbot from the band IDLES had a quote in an interview that stuck with me, it was along the lines of “if you are interested, you will be interesting. If you are bored, you will be boring.” which to me, means if you have something you are truly passionate about, truly love, the greatest gift that you can give back to yourself and to the people who support you is to be so dedicated to your craft, so thankful for the people who enjoy your craft, your way of repayment to the audience and yourself is to continue to push yourself to those next advancements, to evolve, and to keep things refreshing and enjoyable. You as the artist find growth through that approach, not only creatively, but spiritually with yourself, and your audience gets to benefit from that by getting to now visually see the growth, hear it, and pull inspiration for themselves to evolve in their own life.
Going against the grain can be scary and I see how it causes fear in an artist, it is not meant to be comfortable though, that is where true growth comes from, putting yourself into something that is out of routine, it may initially feel unnatural, but eventually you will find that there’s a whole new realm of capabilities you have within yourself that would have not ever had the chance to shine if you hadn’t at least given it a try. The key here too is to remove the fear of failure or judgment. There is no room for judgment in the process of creating something that is truly unique, new, and boundary pushing. You have to have an open mind to trial and error, try seven ideas, and then choose what you like, and learn from what you don’t like. I think what would help more artists is to consume more pieces of art outside of your typical consumption. Listen to genres that you wouldn’t typically listen to, go to a museum and look at art that you don’t know how to make, watch films that are respected as boundary pushing films, pull influence from the entire spectrum of art. Art is the only thing in this world that is forever. Learn from the work that we have at our display, and turn that inspiration into a special curation of work that is authentic to you.
It’s been about four years since you’ve released LOVESICK, since that time what’s the most important thing you’ve learned?
Wow, it’s crazy to think it’s been four years since then. In that time span, I feel like I have learned so much about myself, the world, just everything in my life has found new perspectives over and over again. So I think with me even reflecting upon that, there is an important lesson there that I have learned. We truly have the power within all of us, to create the impact that we want to make. We all have purpose, and an internal compass reminding us of the direction we need to go. Trust that feeling, choose a positive goal of action, and go do it. Remove those self doubts within, and dedicate yourself to achieving whatever it is that you have in mind to go do, because it is very possible. The point is, through all of that effort, you will find growth. Continue to grow, evolve, and that to me is what life is about. Evolving, becoming better, and leaving behind a positive impact inside of a legacy that you can be proud of.
So what’s next in 2023 and beyond?
More music is on the way, very excited to showcase that. More videos are on the way, already filmed a very special video that you will see surface in the upcoming span of this early section of the year. I want to do more clothes, and lifestyle items like furniture, or small appliances that make your daily life better. Hopefully in the bigger picture, I can also act in more movies, finish writing the scripts of the movie ideas I have, and can leave an impact in that space of creation as well. I really love film and want to have a few respected roles under my belt
Any last words?
To close off this moment of time, I would like to say thank you from the core of my soul to anyone out there that even acknowledges my existence, listens to my work, and gives attention to my art. To have your support for my art means the world to me, and makes me feel like my sacrifices are worth it, and it gives me that reassurance that I truly need to keep going and feeling like I am valued. So thank you to those who make me feel cared about. Love more. Try more, and don’t be afraid of failure. Moving on, becoming better, and learning is the art of life. Believe in yourself, trust your intuitive feelings, and let it guide you to where you are meant to go. Anything that you want to achieve can be achieved, it will not always be easy, but that is the beauty of trying and failing, you can always try again.
