Tré Ahmad first things first we wanted to thank you for coming on and interviewing with Nefarious Supply, so just to get the interview started introduce yourself who is Tré Ahmad and what got you started in music?
Thank you. I really appreciate it for real. In short, I’m a creative introvert. I like to say I’m an artist whose medium just happens to be words and sounds. I think I got my start in church as a kid. My mom was the youth choir director, my aunt played piano, my older brother played drums, and my two sisters and I sang in the choir. My first memories of getting goosebumps or crying to music was in church. Since then I’ve just chased those feelings in music in general. Then when I was about 12 or 13 years old my brother started recording with his friends but kind of leaving me behind. And one weekend, he borrowed his friend's microphone and interface and wasn’t home to record because he was touring a college I think. So on Saturday I “wrote a song” which was just a remix to Asher Roth’s “I Love College” that I just called “I Hate Middle School”. Then Sunday night I recorded it, used microsoft paint to draw some horrible cover art, and uploaded it to Youtube. On Monday, after sharing it with two of my friends, it felt like the song was all the kids at school were talking about and it was a feeling that I never wanted to let go of. I haven’t stopped recording since.
So where are you from, and how has this area contributed to your overall sound and image as an artist?
I’m from North Carolina so there’s a lot of southern rap that was and is played a lot here. So I can definitely attribute my desire for a shit ton of bass in my songs to the south. I would say I get my grit and my confidence from the south too. I’m also a ‘97 baby so I was raised on the internet and have always had access to music and cultures that are outside of my physical reach. I’d say I got my ability to be diverse and vary my sound a lot from being raised on the internet.
In addition to that tell us about the underground music scene within the area?
I’m from Concord, NC so the “underground” scene here in my perspective has just been Hoodies and my bro’s MoonLander and Cameron Butler haha but I would say the Charlotte underground scene has been one of my favorites to watch. They feel like next door neighbors that have a house 10 times the size of ours so there’s a lot more range of underground artists in the Charlotte underground scene. There’s a lot of fun music and also a lot of introspective, chill music. Thanks to The Bleus, I get to be a part of their culture and shows a lot which is really exciting and fun
What artists you would say have had the biggest influence on you, your sound, and your goals as an artist?
This question is hilarious to me because I feel like anyone that’s a fan of mine or has ever been around me knows the answer to this question. There’s a lot of artists that I’ve been influenced by but the artist that’s influenced me the most is Frank Ocean. Since about 14, he’s been my reminder to own who I am and move with intention. I wouldn’t say that I sound anything like him but my choice of words and lyricism are products of listening to Frank Ocean on repeat since highschool haha.
What got you started making music, and what are some important lessons you have learned since you started?
I think one of the most important things that I’ve learned is that there is freedom in listening to yourself. At least that’s how I find my freedom. If I try to define myself by anyone else’s standards except my own, am I really free? Making music taught me to have more faith in that little voice in my head that tells me what I really want to do or say.
What is some advice you have for new artists who haven’t started yet?
Trust yourself but be patient. I think a lot of the times when we start something new we’re quick to write it off if we can’t quickly accomplish whatever we had set out to do. My first try at producing was at like 13 and I tried to steal a melody from a song that I was learning in band class to start a beat on FL Studio. I stopped because I couldn’t learn it on my own and I didn’t try to start producing again until I was 18. I wish I would’ve trusted myself more and started to produce at an earlier age.
Tell us about the Secret Hoodie Club?
The Secret Hoodie Club is like a Marvel universe to me. Anybody that’s a part of it is like a hero to me. Anybody that’s a fan of Hoodies or a close friend of mine is in The Secret Hoodie Club. Shoutout 00gang. Hoodies is a band that I helped start. It’s not a traditional band though. Think of it like a band where at anypoint any band member can be the lead singer. We all produce, write, and record. There’s Matt Square, Mike Laaarry, Ed Van Soul, and ForeverKion. My journey with them is a whole nother story but I feel like my best version of an artist when I’m making music with them. And our debut album Hot Mess is my favorite album of all-time lmao.
Let’s get into your music i gotta say really your music really caught my attention but favorite song from you is “Forgive Me Leak”, what inspired that song?
That’s hilarious! That song is kind of a joke for me. I never planned on actually releasing it. I had a hard time recording to a beat that Julian (Ed Van Soul) had sent me and it was getting really late at night. I think it might've been two in the morning. So I started kind of losing my mind haha. I started freestyling in this really terrible british accent and it made me laugh so I kept it. But it wasn’t until about a month later that my friends convinced me to put it out on Soundcloud.
Tell us about your newest song “Call On Me”.
Call On Me is a more serious song. I produced and recorded it early in february this year. It’s a really honest song about the end of a weird break up. I think it’s a song that helped define my sound as an artist outside of Hoodies. I tend to write a lot of songs that blur the lines between rapping and singing and I’m very upfront with my emotions and my internal struggles.
So my favirote project from you is Cents - EP it's an amazing EP bro so just tell us about that as well what inspired it, and who do you work with on production as well as mixing and mastering.
Haha that actually came out in 2018 but ended up being taken off of streaming about 6 months after it came out because of problems I was having with the distribution company at the time. After releasing the Hoodies album in November 2019, I wanted to reupload some of the music that was taken down so in January 2020 I put the “Cents EP” and the “Honey EP” back up using a new distribution company. It was mostly inspired by Erykah Badu though.
When do you plan on releasing your debut album?
I don’t want to make any promises but if the timing is right then it could be before the end of the year. I’ve just been enjoying creating for now.
So what’s next for you, what are some goals you hope to accomplish in 2020?
I really just want to stay healthy and continue progressing. I’d love to perform when it’s safe for everybody outside again. I’ve really been missing that aspect of the music lately.
Who should we feature next on Nefarious Supply?
Man, there’s a lot honestly haha Matt Square is about to do some big things so you might want to tap in with him next or anybody else in Hoodies. I know two of my artist friends MoonLander and Keychainz are both putting out albums soon. There’s my sister The Bleus. My bro Cameron Butler.
Any last words?
Thanks for everything, I really appreciate it. I can tell you did your research so that’s really dope to see. Keep it up and shout out to The Club.