SoundCloud Gems - June 24h, 2023

Welcome to the latest edition of SoundCloud Gems, where we showcase some of the most exciting and talented up-and-coming artists in the music industry. We've scoured the platform to bring you a diverse selection of artists who are pushing boundaries, creating unique sounds, and captivating listeners with their raw talent. From the anthemic billypop sound of billy! to the ethereal landscapes of anem0s and the genre-defying creations of flatroom!!, these artists are making waves in the industry and leaving a lasting impact on their fans.

In this edition, we also feature DPF, whose infectious energy and exceptional lyrical prowess have made him one of the most promising artists to watch. Aftrr's velvety soft flow and unparalleled versatility as a producer have earned him a reputation as a true force to be reckoned with. Meanwhile, keeta showcases his beautiful and melodic flow, weaving intricate storytelling and introspective realities throughout his lyricism. Reef has grown into a multi-faceted artist in his own right, able to write, produce, and engineer his own music, while rans0m's production skills are nothing short of extraordinary. Rounding out this edition is rouri404, whose seamless blend of rock, metal, EDM, and hyperpop is creating a sound that is uniquely his own.

BILLY !

billy ! has been on our radar ever since we heard his highly rated anthem “thought ends”, or as you probably know it, “groupchat”. billy ! has an evocative, starkly confident vocal tone and is able to engineer his voice perfectly with a soft radio effect that gives an even more anthemic aura to whatever track he decides to tackle. Billy has the ability to get you out of your seat and keep you on your feet. You're going to have a good time. Why wouldn't you? It's billypop.

ANEM0S

We’ve talked about this fantastic producer before but we had to give him his own spotlight this time around. With a mere touch on the canvas of music, anem0s effortlessly creates captivating and ear-expanding sounds that defy conventional norms. His artistry resides in the realm of electronic music, where he weaves intricate tapestries of melodies and rhythms, transporting listeners to ethereal landscapes.

FLATROOM!

flatroom!! is an artist we’ve had our eye on for a few months now and we’re very excited to introduce! With a kaleidoscope of genres at their fingertips, flatroom!! effortlessly weaves together an astonishing range of musical styles, leaving listeners in awe of their boundless creativity. From the relentless energy of insatiable dariacore remixes to the gentle serenades of soft ballads about fish, flatroom!! invites us on a sonic journey that transcends traditional categorizations.

DPF

DPF takes control of each track he touches, infusing it with a bodacious energy that demands attention. When his voice graces the beat, listeners are drawn into a whirlwind of infectious charisma and undeniable confidence. With a blend of wit, storytelling, and introspection, DPF's verses showcase his ability to navigate the intricacies of life and the world around him, leaving listeners hooked on every word. With an ever-switching flow pattern and impeccable beat selection, DPF proves why he is the artist to watch, destined for greatness.

AFTRR

Aftrr is a multifaceted artist and producer whose talents know no bounds. With an almost velvety soft flow that effortlessly glides across beats and lyrics that cut through with precision, Aftrr possesses a rare ability to hit the pocket in the most satisfying ways. Paired with his unparalleled versatility as a producer, capable of crafting vibe-ridden pop hits to heavy-hitting 808s, Aftrr is a true force to be reckoned with. His versatility is a testament to his creativity and dedication to pushing boundaries, constantly reinventing himself with each new release.

KEETA

With a beautiful and melodic flow, keeta captivates listeners, effortlessly weaving intricate storytelling and introspective realities throughout his lyricism. As we embark on the journey of 2023, keeta emerges as an artist to watch, showcasing a unique ability to blend fun topics with darker undertones, drawing listeners in with a persuasive allure. He fearlessly explores the depths of his own experiences and emotions, weaving poignant narratives that resonate with listeners on a profound level.

REEF

Reef is a fan favorite of ours since his days in “gunrange”, which was where we first heard him. Since then reef has grown into a multi-faceted artist in his own right, able to write, produce, and engineer his own music. Reef's witty wordplay and razor-sharp delivery set him apart from the crowd. His lines are like cleverly constructed puzzles that engage your mind and tickle your funny bone simultaneously. With a masterful command of the language, he effortlessly weaves together punchlines that hit hard and leave a lasting impact.

RANS0M

With an unmatched ability to craft sonic landscapes that defy expectations, rans0m leaves listeners in awe of his production prowess. But it doesn't stop there—rans0m's confident and abrasive vocals, which effortlessly traverse both lower and higher registers, add another layer of intrigue to his artistry. Like a magic hat, rans0m never fails to surprise and delight, leaving you hooked on his unique sound regardless of what he delivers. rans0m's production skills are nothing short of extraordinary. He possesses an uncanny ability to bend genres, creating a soundscape that defies categorization.

ROURI404

For years, rouri404 has captivated audiences with his undeniable talent as a vocalist and engineer, pushing the boundaries of genres and creating a sound uniquely his own. With a seamless blend of rock, metal, EDM, and hyperpop, rouri404 weaves together personal and soul-wrenching narratives that leave a profound impact on listeners. What sets him apart from his peers is not only his ability to use his husky vocals to his advantage but also his remarkable skill in screaming, creating an entirely new dimension to his music. As a big star in the making, it's only a matter of time before others catch wind of his incredible talent and are swept away by his musical prowess.

Gilldavinici - Psychedelic Realms

In this exclusive interview, we had the opportunity to delve into the creative mind of emerging artist and performer, Braydon McGill, also known as Gilldavinci. Born and raised in Kansas City, Missouri, McGill's music is heavily influenced by his life experiences, including growing up in poverty, the passing away of family members, and seeing the world through a binocular lens.

McGill shares his musical influences, which include Kanye West, A$AP Rocky, Travis Scott, and his friend and collaborator, FIOCATI. He explains how his sound is a unique psychedelic approach, utilizing synthesizers, bouncy 808s, soul samples, and strange and unusual sounds. Fashion plays a significant role in his artistry, and he directs most of his music videos himself, ensuring that they align with his artistic vision.

The interview also explores McGill's strong social media presence, where he uses his aesthetic, pictures, short films, and snippets on his story to connect with his fans and promote his music. He also shares strategies and techniques that he's found to be particularly effective in building and engaging his fanbase, while balancing the need to maintain a strong social media presence with the demands of his music career.

McGill shares the experiences and challenges that have shaped him as an artist and performer, including the passing of his best friend and brother, going broke while living on his own, and ending relationships with fake friends. These obstacles have fueled his creativity and his desire to keep moving forward, while never losing sight of his vision.

The interview takes a deep dive into McGill's creative process for his latest album, As Above, So Below, which he released in 2021. He explains how he and FIOCATI locked in, working on track after track, with FIOCATI playing with new sounds and instruments for hours. Production was immaculate, and the album explores different themes and concepts, showcasing his growth and evolution as an artist.

McGill also shares his upcoming projects and collaborations, which include a new album with FIOCATI. He emphasizes the importance of staying true to oneself and being different as an artist, while also exploring new sounds and styles.

Can you tell us a bit about your background and upbringing? How have your life experiences influenced your music and creative process? Were there any particular moments or events that inspired you to pursue a career in music, or that helped shape your artistic vision?

My name is Braydon McGill, Kansas City, Missouri born and raised. Basically my whole life experiences from poverty, family passing away, and just seeing the world from a binocular lens. Me just being interested in music my whole life at 18 one day I just decided to give it a go. Watching A$AP ROCKY growing up made me very inspired.

Who are some of your musical influences, and how have they impacted your creative process and sound? Have there been any particular artists or genres that have had a significant impact on your music? How do you draw inspiration from these influences and incorporate them into your own unique style?

Kanye West, A$AP ROCKY, Travis Scott, and my friend and collaborator FIOCATI all have inspired my music. My sound is more of a Psychedelic approach using Synthesizers, bouncy 808, sometimes soul samples, and just a lot of strange or unusual sounds. Fashion plays a huge part into my artistry too, as well as my videos that I would most likely direct myself.

How do you approach using music to express your emotions and personal experiences? How do you navigate the line between being authentic and vulnerable in your songwriting while also maintaining some privacy and protecting your personal life?

Music is my getaway, I don’t keep anything private anymore. With everything I have gone through in my life people need to know 95% of everything they are hearing in my music is real, what I lived, and how Im feeling. 2 of my brothers passing away, everybody having opinions, and not believing in the vision.

Your music videos often feature unique concepts and visuals. How involved are you in the creation of these videos, and what is your creative process like for them? Can you talk about any videos that have been particularly challenging or rewarding to create?

9 times out of 10 I direct, and have my own vision for my videos. “Save Her” is the only official music video I have out on YouTube because everything I do has to hit the vision a certain way. Color grading, angles, concept, and execution all maters to me. Cinematic Is the best way to describe my visual taste. Traveling to different states or spending hours to get a perfect take also plays a huge part in this.

Your music has gained a large following on social media platforms such as Instagram and Twitter. How do you use these platforms to connect with your fans and promote your music? What are some strategies or techniques that you've found to be particularly effective in building and engaging with your fanbase? How do you balance the need to maintain a strong social media presence with the demands of your music career?

Aesthetic plays a huge part when you’re and artist. Once I found out that I could give the fans something to latch on it was golden. Pictures, short films, even showing snippets on my story. Running ads has been a go to for me for the last 2 years, even if it’s small $5 ads every single dollar will count.

Can you talk about any experiences or challenges that have shaped you as an artist and performer? How have you grown and evolved over the course of your career so far, and what lessons have you learned along the way?

Working with FIOCATI he taught me EVERYTHING about music. Learning and getting better at writing songs, even understanding production, and my entire sound. Without FIO I wouldn’t even be here as an artist. Starting off as a “Rapper” one day I woke up and decided I wanted to transcend into a real artist, and expand my entire sound. CATI even taught me how to use different keys of autotune, and how to hit certain notes to make it really sound good, and as somebody who can’t really sing he say there and used many hours and days to get me to this point.

Can you talk about any experiences or challenges that have shaped you as an artist and performer? How have you grown and evolved over the course of your career so far, and what lessons have you learned along the way?

My best friend being killed, and months after that my older brother dying in a car crash put that battery in my back to keep moving forward while never looking back. Going broke while living on my own really showed me that time doesn’t slow down for anybody. Even today I’m still going through what we might call “The Beautiful Struggle”, just patiently awaiting my moment.

Can you walk us through your creative process for your latest album? How did you approach the songwriting and production, and were there any specific themes or concepts that you wanted to explore with this project? What sets this album apart from your previous work, and how do you see your sound and style evolving in the future?

“As Above, So Below” which is my last album I released in 2021 was one of the best creative processes I’ve ever had. FIOCATI and I locked in his house damn near everyday working on track after track. Production of course was immaculate every-time. We would come up with all these hooks and verses, going back and forth with ideas. FIOCATI would sit in the studio for hours playing with new sounds, or instruments.

Can you talk about any upcoming projects or collaborations that you have in the works? What can fans expect from you in the coming months, and how do you plan to continue building your career and expanding your audience? How do you balance the need to stay true to your artistic vision with the desire to explore new sounds and styles?

As of right now I am currently in the finishing stages of my new album. For right now I won’t really say the name of it, but everyone can expect a whole different sound, and an entire storyline within it. Production, mixing and mastering of course will be even way more advanced than ever. Everything done by FIOCATI of course.

What do you hope to accomplish with your music in the future, and what kind of legacy do you hope to leave behind as an artist? How do you see your music evolving and changing over time, and what are some of your long-term goals and aspirations as a musician and performer? How do you balance the demands of your music career with your personal life and other interests and passions?

Whether I become as big as I would like to or not, I know at the end of the day we make top tier level music, and stuck to my true vision no matter what. So far everything thing I have done has been based off of my true ideas, never letting anybody change my mind or how I express myself creatively.

Can you talk about the process of collaborating with other artists? How do you choose who to collaborate with, and what do you look for in a collaborator? How does collaborating with others impact your creative process and sound?

Usually I don’t really collaborate with other artists besides FIOCATI, but if I do it’s either because I can use their voice as cool adlibs, or if they can sing I’ll let them throw some harmonies, a bridge, or some background vocals on the track. Artists with a more interesting sound, or voice is usually what I go for. If not me and CATI will do it ourselves.

How do you handle criticism and negative feedback from fans or critics? How do you use this feedback to improve your music and grow as an artist?

If your music, or creative content isn’t even near the level of mine, I don’t even want to hear what you have to say majority of the time. Only people that know what they are talking about and can really help or inspire i feel can even have a say in what I do. It’s more like who’s opinion would I really care more about, Cardi B, or Kanye west. Nowadays people just talk to make it seem like they are really giving good game.

Can you discuss any challenges or obstacles you've faced in your music career, and how you overcame them? Are there any particular moments or decisions that you feel were pivotal in your career trajectory?

Going broke, brothers dying, having to quit college and dedicate the rest of my life to this craft. Ending relationships with fake friends also were very hard important decisions

How do you stay motivated and inspired to create new music? What do you do when you experience creative blocks or feel uninspired?

Watch live performances, watch architectural videos, or recently I’ve like to watch mike dean in his studio make tracks live. Sometimes I’ll listen to artists that inspire me the most such as FIOCATI, A$AP ROCKY, KANYE, etc

Any Last Words?

Stay true to yourself, and be different.

---

Nefarious Supply Radio 003 - Eric Ryan

Following the successful release of his latest single "Floored" featuring kaiyel, Eric Ryan takes a seat with NS Radio to share insights into his craft. In this interview, Ryan delves into his creative process, musical inspirations, and upcoming projects.

Ryan reveals that his songwriting is heavily influenced by his personal experiences, often allowing him to vividly recount the emotions and memories that inspire his music. He also attributes his love for music to his father, who played a significant role in exposing him to the music of Boyz II Men, Joe, and D’Angelo, which helped him appreciate the beauty of love and how it can be expressed through song.

Moreover, Ryan cites contemporary R&B artists Daniel Caesar and Frank Ocean as his primary lyrical and melodic inspirations. He notes that his background in choir, a discipline he pursued throughout high school, has also played a significant role in the harmonies he creates in his music.

Ryan also gives fans a sneak peek into his upcoming projects, which include the release of several singles this summer, including collaborations with Ley Vara and Maria-Therese. He also hints at his first big project, which is in the final stages of completion. Ryan's upcoming projects are expected to continue pushing boundaries in his genre and showcase his evolving sound.

Overall, this interview with Eric Ryan provides a fascinating insight into the mind of a talented artist, allowing fans to appreciate the depth and breadth of his creative vision.

\What was the inspiration behind your new song "Floored"? Can you share more about the experiences or emotions that influenced the creative process?

Hahaha sure! I started writing this one about a year ago; the idea was based from an experience I had while I was at a friends’ party at this club downtown. The music was booming, lights were low… and amongst the crowd of people, my eyes got stuck on this one girl who was staring right back at me. It felt like a scene out of the movies for real hahaha, there was a glow of light shining on her and everything. I didn’t go up/speak to her, however I ended up writing this song which basically expresses how I felt in those moments.

"Floored" features kaiyel. Can you discuss the collaboration process and how you two worked together to create a song that builds on your previous work and incorporates new elements?

Collaboration process was super easy/seamless. Funny story, I sent Kaiyel this demo 2 days  after meeting him; and 15 mins later, he FaceTimes me from inside a freezer at his work and started singing what he wrote for the verse. Honestly I’d say, never really put thought into incorporating new elements/building from previous work… We just wanted to make some dope music, and that’s what came out.

Your playlist for NS Radio includes music that has inspired your work. Can you talk about some of the specific songs or artists that have had the biggest impact on your creative process, and how they have influenced your music throughout your career?

Growing up, my dad would always play 90’s R&B in the car and sing every lyric. It was basically a karaoke session every time he picked me up from my moms. Boyz II Men, Joe, & D’angelo were always part of the rotation; it showed me how beautiful love could be, described in song. Daniel Caesar & Frank Ocean are definitely inspire me the most lyrically/melodically. Coming from a choir background throughout highschool; it’s really cool to hear similar harmonies used in modern contemporary R&B.

Your music often explores personal themes and experiences. Can you discuss how you draw from your own life when creating music, and what inspires you to share these experiences with your audience through your music?

I usually write from experience cause it comes naturally to me; in a way where I can visually bring myself back to the moment and remember the feelings that I felt during those memories. I turn it into song as a means of getting out of my head; and if people rock with it, that’s dope too.

What can fans expect from your upcoming projects and releases? Can you give us any hints or sneak peeks into what you're working on next, and how your music continues to evolve and push boundaries within your genre?

I’ve got a lot of heat coming this year… I plan on releasing a few more singles this summer; got one with Ley Vara, as well as Maria-Therese. After the string of singles, I’m thinking of dropping my first big project… just in the final stages of finishing everything now. I also just got put on the Featured Artists program with RBCxMusic, so you may see some cool live things this year :)

The Unique Challenges and Opportunities of Marketing Underground Music

The underground music scene is a vibrant and diverse world that is home to a vast array of talented musicians, from punk rockers to experimental electronic producers. The underground music scene is a vital part of the music industry, offering a platform for new and innovative artists to showcase their talent. However, promoting and marketing underground music can be an uphill battle, thanks to a host of unique challenges that are not faced by mainstream musicians. In this post, we will explore these challenges and opportunities, and discuss the best practices for marketing underground music effectively.

Challenges

One of the biggest challenges of marketing underground music is building a strong fanbase without mainstream exposure. Unlike mainstream artists who have the backing of major record labels and extensive marketing budgets, underground musicians often have to rely on word-of-mouth promotion and grassroots marketing to build their fanbase. This can be a slow and difficult process, but it is crucial for creating a loyal fanbase.

Building a Strong Fanbase

Building a strong fanbase is one of the biggest struggles of marketing underground music. Without the support of a record label, underground musicians often rely on word-of-mouth promotion and grassroots marketing to grow their fanbase. This process can be slow and challenging, but it is necessary to build a loyal following. Underground musicians need to engage their existing fans to create brand ambassadors who will spread the word about the music to new audiences.

Limited Resources

Limited resources are another challenge faced by underground musicians. Most underground musicians operate on a shoestring budget, meaning that they have to be creative with their marketing efforts. This can lead to a lack of resources for things like professional recording, music videos, and merchandising, which can limit their ability to promote their music effectively.

However, artists can overcome this challenge by being resourceful and creative in their marketing efforts. They can leverage technology and social media to reach new audiences and build relationships with their existing fanbase. For example, they can create engaging content such as behind-the-scenes glimpses, live performances, and interactions with fans.

Gatekeepers in the Music Industry

The role of gatekeepers in the music industry can make it difficult for underground musicians to gain exposure. The gatekeepers, which include record labels, radio stations, and music critics, often have a strong influence on which artists get exposure and which do not. This can make it difficult for underground musicians to break through and gain the exposure they need to build a strong fanbase. As a result, many underground musicians have to rely on alternative channels to get their music to potential fans.

However, with the rise of digital marketing, underground musicians can bypass these gatekeepers and promote their music directly to their audience. Social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok provide a direct line of communication between artists and their fans. Artists can use these platforms to build relationships with their fans and promote their music.

Competition

Competition is also a challenge for underground musicians. There are many talented artists in the underground music scene, and it can be difficult to stand out from the crowd. This is especially challenging when there is a limited pool of resources available to promote the music. Underground musicians need to be creative in their marketing efforts to differentiate themselves from their competition.

Opportunities

Despite the challenges, there are many opportunities for underground musicians to succeed in the age of digital marketing. One of the biggest advantages of underground music is its niche appeal. Because it is not mainstream, underground music can attract a dedicated and loyal fanbase that is passionate about the music and the scene. This can lead to a more engaged fanbase that is more likely to support the artist in various ways, such as attending shows or purchasing merchandise.

Niche Appeal

The niche appeal of underground music is a major opportunity for artists. By targeting a specific audience, artists can create a strong brand identity and attract a dedicated fanbase. This fanbase is more likely to be passionate about the music, attend shows, and purchase merchandise. By leveraging this niche appeal, artists can create a sustainable career in the underground music scene.

Digital Marketing

Digital marketing is another opportunity for underground musicians. With the rise of social media and streaming services, it is easier than ever for artists to reach new audiences and promote their music. Social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok provide a direct line of communication between artists and their fans. Artists can use these platforms to build relationships with their fans and promote their music.

Engaging Content

Creating engaging content is an important part of marketing underground music. By creating high-quality music videos, live performances, and behind-the-scenes content, artists can create a sense of community around their music. This can lead to more passionate and engaged fans who are more likely to attend shows and purchase merchandise. By consistently creating engaging content, artists can keep their fans engaged and build a strong brand identity.

Collaborations

Collaborations are another opportunity for underground musicians. By working with other artists and music industry professionals, artists can build a network and reach new audiences. This can involve working with other musicians to create new music, collaborating with music industry professionals like promoters and managers, and participating in music festivals and events.

Free Resources

There are also several free resources that underground musicians can use to promote their music. These resources include:

Social media platforms: Social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok are free to use and provide a direct line of communication between artists and their fans. Artists can use these platforms to build relationships with their fans and promote their music.

Music distribution platforms: Music distribution platforms such as Bandcamp and SoundCloud allow artists to upload and distribute their music for free. These platforms can help artists to reach new audiences and build their fanbase.

Music blogs and podcasts: There are many music blogs and podcasts that focus on underground music. Artists can reach out to these blogs and podcasts to get their music featured and gain exposure to new audiences.

Music festivals and events: Many music festivals and events have opportunities for underground musicians to perform and get exposure. These opportunities are often free or low-cost and can be a great way for artists to build their fanbase and gain exposure.

Best Practices

Successful marketing campaigns for underground musicians often involve a combination of strategies and tactics. Some of the best practices for marketing underground music include:

Building a Strong Brand and Visual Identity for the Artist

One of the most important aspects of marketing underground music is building a strong brand and visual identity for the artist. This can involve creating a unique logo, developing a consistent visual style, and creating a brand voice that reflects the artist's personality and values.

Leveraging Social Media to Connect with Fans and Promote Music

Social media is a powerful tool for promoting underground music, allowing artists to connect directly with their fanbase and build a community around their music. Some of the best practices for using social media to promote underground music include:

Developing a social media strategy that reflects the artist's goals and values

Creating engaging content, such as behind-the-scenes glimpses, live performances, and interactions with fans

Leveraging social media advertising to reach new audiences and promote music

Collaborating with Other Artists and Music Industry Professionals to Build a Network

Collaborating with other artists and music industry professionals can be an effective way to build a network and reach new audiences. This can involve working with other musicians to create new music, collaborating with music industry professionals like promoters and managers, and participating in music festivals and events.

Creating Engaging Content, Such as Music Videos, Live Performances, and Behind-the-Scenes Content

Creating engaging content is an important part of marketing underground music, as it can help to create a sense of community around the artist's music. Some of the best practices for creating engaging content include:

Developing a content strategy that reflects the artist's goals and values

Creating high-quality music videos that showcase the artist's personality and style

Sharing behind-the-scenes glimpses into the artist's creative process

Utilizing Grassroots Marketing Tactics, Such as Street Team Promotion and Flyers

Grassroots marketing tactics can be an effective way to reach new audiences and build a strong fanbase for underground musicians. Some of the best practices for grassroots marketing include:

Creating street teams to promote music in local communities

Distributing flyers and posters in high-traffic areas

Hosting in-store events and performances to connect with fans

Focusing on Building a Strong Fanbase Through Engagement and Community Building

Finally, one of the best practices for marketing underground music is to focus on building a strong fanbase through engagement and community building. This can involve:

Responding to fan comments and messages on social media

Hosting fan meet-and-greets and other events

Creating a sense of community around the artist's music

Conclusion

Marketing underground music comes with a unique set of challenges and opportunities. By understanding these challenges and leveraging the opportunities, underground musicians can build a strong fanbase and promote their music effectively. By using the best practices outlined in this post, underground musicians can create a strong brand and connect with fans in a meaningful way, leading to more engaged and passionate fans.

DPF

In this feature, we are thrilled to present an exclusive interview with DPF, a musician whose unique flow and genre-defying sound have captured the attention of audiences around the world.

Throughout the interview, DPF shares personal stories about his creative process, discussing the moments of inspiration that have led to some of his most memorable songs. He talks about his experiences collaborating with other artists and the importance of artistic chemistry in creating something extraordinary.

DPF also opens up about his journey as a musician, discussing the risks he's taken and the unconventional decisions he's made that have led to breakthroughs in his career. He talks about his struggles with finding his sound and deciding whether to rap or sing, and how he has come to combine the two in a way that feels true to himself.

One of the themes that emerges throughout the interview is the importance of staying true to oneself and pursuing one's passions, no matter how unconventional they may seem. DPF encourages readers to take action and not wait to pursue their dreams, reminding them that time waits for no one.

DPF's personal stories and reflections provide inspiration and valuable insights for anyone interested in music or seeking motivation to pursue their own creative endeavors. His unique perspective and captivating sound are sure to leave a lasting impression on anyone who reads this interview.

Overall, this feature offers readers a rare glimpse into the mind of a rising musician who is making waves in the industry. DPF's talent and passion for music are evident throughout the interview, making this a must-read for anyone who loves music or is seeking inspiration to pursue their own creative dreams.

As DPF continues to push the boundaries of what is possible in music, it is clear that he is a rising star to watch. Whether he is rapping, singing, or combining the two in new and innovative ways, DPF's sound is one that is sure to leave a lasting impact on the industry and on the hearts of his fans.

For those wondering, what does the acronym DPF officially stand for?

Simple enough, DPF is just the initials of my real name. Back around my sophomore year of high school when I started all this I tried to think of a name but nothing really came to mind. At the time I remember watching DDG's videos and listening to his music and just took the inspiration from there. Thankfully I feel like DPF works, at some point in the future I may decide to change it up and rebrand to something else but more than likely it will stay the way it is.

Your flow is often described as a sonic rollercoaster, effortlessly flowing on beats with complimentary twists and turns. Can you share a memorable moment during creating a song where your flow took an unexpected detour, and how did it enhance the overall vibe?

One of my most memorable moments where the flow changed drastically in a song has to be in my song called "dangerous" that I released on my 18th birthday. I started the song with a smooth and sort of aggressive flow, and the intro was all I had down before I sent the song to sudbath who added an amazing hook that set the tone. The hook was filled with harmonies and falsettos, something that I wanted to work into my verse one way or another. I started off my verse with the same smooth and in your face flow, then decided to take a step back and really let my vocals shine in the second half. I feel like the switch was a good change on the listener's ears and not something that I really showcased in my discography at the time. To this day dangerous remains one of my favorite songs I've ever released and it's definitely a fan favorite as well.

Can you take us through the process of discovering a beat that felt like a hidden gem and how it inspired you to write lyrics that perfectly complemented its energy?

Finding the beat for my biggest single, "star" was something that definitely hit me as soon as I heard it. The concept of the song hit me right away and I knew I wanted it to be something amazing, which 4cf and tsuyunoshi helped me accomplish. Nowadays though, my process is quite different. For a good 80%+ of my newest songs they were actually recorded on random youtube beats then sent to a producer that worked on the acapella. With this method, the beat is made around the lyrics, instead of the lyrics being written to the beat. This process is just something that works for me, being able to add my input and put my trust into my friends is something amazing. As long as I give them something decent to work with, they will make the song 100x better.

Can you tell us about a time when you took a risk or made an unconventional decision that ultimately led to a breakthrough in your career?

This may not be the biggest risk or the most unconventional decision but joining the Overcast discord at the time back in August of 2021 was the best decision I have ever made. At the time I just released Party Girl, and made a comeback to music after a couple years of just messing around and not taking anything too serious, but still having that drive to be something. When my song came up I joined, introduced myself, and got like 10-15 soundcloud followers off of it and some likes on the song. At the time this was insane to me, but I can never repay Niztopia and Brissdali for the support and confidence they instilled in me that day. I remained consistent, sending new music and showing up to Niztopia streams and building my name within the community that I now cherish and love so much.

Collaboration is a dance of artistic chemistry, where two minds merge to create something extraordinary. If you could teleport to any time and place in music history to collaborate with an artist, who would it be and what kind of musical fusion do you imagine would emerge?

This might sound crazy but I don't think there's any other time period I would travel to besides the one I'm in right now. With everybody that I know and have worked with, everything just feels so genuine. I really mean it when I say this but my friends are the future. If I really decided on one person to work with though I think it would have to be my near dear friend from across the whole globe, lyrah. We have a few songs released, a couple that have been scrapped, and one more that's almost ready for release but I'm just really lazy and need to finish it up. Everything we work on though comes out amazing, and I think this next one might be the best yet, which includes production from Will Rhead, another one of my favorites that I have met through all this. The goal is to get a collaborative project with will and lyrah hopefully, we tend to make some popstar music but who knows what we may have up our sleeve.

Share a story behind one of your lyrics that holds a significant personal connection or captures a moment of profound inspiration?

Honestly, there are a few lyrics that could definitely be mentioned here but for this one i'm going to head into my song Party Girl 2. At the end of my verse I said, "Took time to work on myself, trying to gain some confidence. Feels good people like my music, 8th grade self be proud I do it." To my friends I'm definitely a troll and someone who likes to mess around, but to others I come off as reserved and sort of shy. I remember growing up I would always say I wanted to be a producer not an artist because I was afraid of the connotation around it, but eventually I mustered up enough courage to finally record and release stuff. Looking back in time I wish I never hesitated to start putting myself out there but in some way I'm grateful I waited as well.

Can you describe a memorable moment during a live show when the energy in the room reached an electrifying peak, and what made that moment so unforgettable for you?

I've only done one live performance so far, and as you can imagine my nerves were through the roof the days leading up to it. My music isn't something I even bring up to people, so I was stepping out of my comfort zone for this but I knew this is something that I have wanted for a while now. My nerves went away during sound check when I saw people enjoying the stuff I was practicing, but when it was time to actually perform, just seeing all my friends in the crowd really helped me out and brought the energy. My first song I performed, target, I just remember jumping into the crowd with them and just having a blast throughout my whole set. I'm so thankful for everyone I knew that decided to pull up, it made my night and it's something that I will always remember for sure.

The community you’re within thrives on innovation and experimentation, like a sonic laboratory pushing the boundaries of musical possibilities. Can you reveal a technique or sonic element you've incorporated in your music that surprised you and brought a fresh perspective to your sound?

Since I've entered the community that I currently reside in, my biggest struggle has been deciding do I want to rap, or do I want to sing? There have been periods of time where I dropped a rap song, and then dropped a pop song and went back and forth for a while but I'm finally at the point where I can combine them in the way that I want. With my newer releases, and just any upcoming music in the future this is something that is going to become prevalent and might even be something I'm known for. At the end of the day it really comes down to the producers I work with and all that they do for me. I can share little ideas and concepts but truly they are the ones who make it happen, they help make me who I am.

Looking into the future, imagine a dream project where you have no limits or constraints. What kind of artistic endeavor would you embark on, whether it's a concept album, multimedia collaboration, or any other creative vision that sets your imagination on fire?

A concept album is something that I will absolutely love to accomplish and put out when the time is right. Hopefully I still have the same team and friends around me that I do now, but incorporating some new pieces into it would be dope aswell. In the future, who knows where my mind will be set and what my sound may be but at the end of the day I'll just be doing what I love, making music. None of this is easy, but the struggle and grind is worth it. Albums can really do alot for you, and leave an impact for others to always look back upon. When the time is right hopefully I can prove to not only others, but myself as well that I'm meant for what I have earned and put out a piece of work that people will love even as time passes.

Any last words you’d like to leave for anyone reading? (this could be promo or just a thought or two if you’d like)

For anyone reading this honestly if there's something you want to get done, don't wait to do it, time doesn't stop for anyone. For anyone that supports me already I appreciate you so much and for any new faces let me know some of your favorites when you get the chance! Lots of new music is coming that I'm excited to show the world.

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Artist Showcase - $avvy

Originating from Riverside, California but residing in Nashville, Tennessee, rising artist $avvy has been on an artistic tear since we first found out about him in 2019. With the release of two outstanding projects, supported by cathartic and vibe-ridden singles, $avvy has been on our radar consistently with every drop. In this article, we will walk you through the incredible discography this artist has given his fans time and time again.

From 990 to his new single, “Keys”, the Nashville native hasn’t missed, and we have strong reason to believe he never will.

990

Referencing the pair of famous New Balance sneakers, "990” is $avvy’s incredibly catchy and smoothly confident introduction to who he is and exactly what timing he’s on. $avvy lets the naysayers know that it doesn’t matter if you may not like him or his style, someone around you definitely does. Over a heavy 808 pattern and dreamy synth melody, the production only serves to boost the subject matter on this track, performing as a perfect first track for new listeners.

SNL

“SNL” is a beautiful detour from 990, as $avvy meets up with a girl he’s been wanting to see all week. Saturday seems to be the best night to catch a dance with her (and maybe a bit more) and he’s not wasting any time. SNL’s dreamy hi-hats and deep-hitting synth make you just want to close your eyes and nod your head as $avvy brings you along this late-night journey.

Bag/Purse

Bag/Purse is actually one of (if not the) first song we heard from$avvy, and as soon as that first drop hit our ears we knew this “990” callback would hit even harder. We weren’t wrong in the slightest. Featuring fellow Nashville artist, Mike Floss with a silky-smooth feature, “Bag/Purse” has $avvy back in his, for lack of a better word, bag. $avvy’s strengths come from his witty lyricism, and incredible flow, and he’s able to shine heavy lights on all of them throughout the duration of the track. From the way the 808s pleasantly smack you in the face, to the creative acoustic melody above, the stage was set, and as per usual, $avvy put on a show.

Zoom

Zoom solidifies $avvy’s sound for what it is, a groovy, introspective, bodacious, and ever-evolving vibe that you’ll find yourself listening to over and over again. Even the chorus, as simple as it may sound, will find you at 5 PM getting off work and muttering “Zoom in, Zoom out” as you skip to your car. Zoom is a fun cementing of the sound that $avvy’s been curating over the past three tracks and acts as a perfect last single before the project that put the groovy young artist from Nashville on everyone’s radar.

Boys Wear Pearls

From track 1 to 8, Boys Wear Pearls follows $avvy as he sways between two sides of himself, the braggadocious half who simply just doesn’t want to care. He wants to fight all of these realities and stick a middle finger up to the world. Why? Why not? He’s famous, rich, got the looks, and when he raps, people listen. So why should he listen to anything the world says? Evidence of this side of him can be seen on tracks like “Cannot Do”, a track that boasts main character energy without a lyric about it, and “Shameless” with Chuck Indigo, where he sits you down and lets you know, no holds barred, tha he isn’t one to be played with, lyrically or in any other regard.

However, just a few minutes prior, you get “Spain”, where $avvy laments about the loss of someone he thought could’ve been the one until she messed up. Instead of the poise and polished confidence that he could easily bring forth, $avvy checks into the heartbreak hotel just for a chance to see the one who broke his heart. “Shameless” clears that all up, with $avvy even laughing to his friends about forgetting her name. Again, he’s $avvy, so why should he care? We follow this energy into the next track “Fallout Boy”, which throws $avvy into the mix with a new girl, one who gives him joy and pushes all the right buttons in his head. Maybe the other half can finally peek out again. Maybe it’s safe for him to not say f*** the world? Either way, he was late and Mike was calling him. He needed to get going.

Enter “Take Your Time”, featuring the ever-amazing A.G. Sully, a fan-favorite of ours, and an overall fantastic artist. Her soft and elevating vibrato as she and $avvy slow us down and tell us to, as the title says, take our time. This track acts as not only an answer for $avvy’s hurried exit from “Fallout Boy”, but also a message to the new girl in his life. He asks that they don’t rush anything, pining to her from the venue he and Sully are performing at, duetting for the audience she’s most likely tucked away within. $avvy comforts her while Sully reminds everyone listening that it’s okay to take it slow. Then there’s “From Me” which finds Savvy trying to duck an increasingly overbearing love interest, telling her time and time again that what she wants from him and what she’ll get are two completely different things. Once again, Savvy’s other half reminds him he’s in control. She’s playing games and the walls are slowly coming back up. A beautiful feature by Brian Brown with that lovely chorus wraps the message of this track up in a neat bow.

Fun and groovy enders in “Down to Earth and “Zack and Cody” bring the album to a whimsical and carefree close and it seems, as quickly as he was thinking about all of these situations, they were gone in a flash. With the entrance of new potential lovers, Savvy will always put his heart on his wrist, and of course, pearls on the other.

Calling it Quits

Calling it Quit seems to be a direct follow-up to the events of Boy’s Wear Pearls. The Nashville don juan finds himself once again at odds with a lover. The relationship seems to be coming to an end, and this time, $avvy’s serious. The two are at odds because he knows his love is toxic, yet pleads that she also take accountability for her actions as well. In all, it seems $avvy not only knows that this relationship is coming to an end, but possibly an entire era as well.

Enter, POOR.

POOR

POOR is a super experimental album that showcases $avvy's willingness to push boundaries and explore new sounds. Each track on the album takes the listener on a journey, presenting twists and turns that broaden our perspective on who $avvy is as an artist. The album opens with "CALL," a soulful track where $avvy tells a girl she can call him whenever she needs him. It sets the tone for the album, introducing the experimental nature of the project while maintaining a smooth and captivating sound. "CRUCIAL" takes a darker turn with its chant-heavy production and showcases a new flow from $avvy. The track exudes confidence and serves as a flex, demonstrating $avvy's versatility and mastery of different styles.

In "DUMBLONDE," $avvy flips the ditzy blonde trope in pop culture on its head, delivering a diss track that challenges stereotypes and showcases his lyrical prowess. The song's catchy hooks and clever wordplay make it an engaging and thought-provoking listen."JANSPORT" emerges as a standout track on the album, featuring an off-kilter vibe that keeps the listener engaged and hyped until the very end. The song's unconventional production, combined with a solid feature from Neeko Crowe, creates a unique and memorable experience. With "GROWNMAN," $avvy delivers a bass-driven track that hits on a low frequency, drawing listeners in with its energy. The song serves as a message to those acting inappropriately, especially those who consider themselves adults, and showcases $avvy's ability to deliver impactful messages through his music.

"EGO" is one of the most introspective tracks on POOR. In this song, $avvy seems to be talking to himself, hyping himself up while also giving himself a reality check. He reminds himself to keep his ego in check, offering a glimpse into the inner workings of his mind. "OUCH" takes the listener on a dreamy journey through love and loss, showcasing $avvy's vocal range and his ability to evoke emotions through his music. The track juxtaposes the joy of falling in love with the pain of hurting oneself, creating a poignant and introspective atmosphere. "GO!" lifts the mood with its upbeat energy, as $avvy reminds himself and his love interest of who he is and what he stands for. The song serves as a reminder that he won't let his inner demons take over, even if it means asking someone to leave. "FINGERPRINTS" reunites $avvy with Mike Floss as they sing about wanting to have a great night with the lady of their dreams. The track showcases their chemistry and playful lyrics, while also touching on the desire for a deeper connection and understanding.

"SHIA LABUSSDOWN" is a fun and boastful track where $avvy flaunts his jewelry and promises to "ice out" the girl he's interested in. The song highlights $avvy's confident persona and his ability to create catchy hooks that stay with the listener. The album features an interlude, "POOR INTERLUDE," where $avvy and Dadabase humorously search for his missing POOR shirt. It adds a playful and lighthearted moment to the album's narrative. In "STUPID/DUMB," $avvy confronts a girl who can't seem to decide if she wants him or his help. He realizes that her interest is primarily driven by his fame and wealth, prompting him to change his appearance and distance himself from her. The track delves into themes of superficiality and personal growth. "WATCH MY STEP" finds $avvy still cautious of relationships, reminding himself in the grooviest way possible to take his time and see things for what they truly are. The song's infectious rhythm and catchy melodies make it a memorable addition to the album.

"TERIYAKI" brings another flex track with an explosive verse from Chuckthespittah. The energetic collaboration showcases $avvy's ability to collaborate with other artists and create dynamic and engaging music. Finally, "CLOSE THE CURTAINS" featuring DK serves as the album's closing track. In it, $avvy reminds listeners that regardless of the lane he takes, he will always be true to himself and strive to be the best. The song embodies his determination and work ethic, leaving the listener with a sense of anticipation for what's to come. Overall, POOR is a daring and experimental album that showcases $avvy's versatility as an artist. It delves into a range of emotions, themes, and musical styles, leaving the listener with a broader understanding of $avvy's artistic vision and creative capabilities.

Booyah!

Wait, $avvy has bunny ears?At least that’s what the cover of his new single "Booyah," is telling us, a mesmerizing track that immediately draws you in with its simple yet captivating piano melody. As each note reverberates, it sets the stage for a captivating story, providing just a glimpse of what awaits in $avvy's highly anticipated third album.

keys

"Keys," the next single from $avvy's upcoming album, The Bunny, sets the mood for a late-night drive with friends. $avvy reflects on a tumultuous relationship that started as friendship but ultimately didn't work out. Despite the distance, she still holds the keys to the door, leaving a glimmer of hope for a possible reunion. With heartfelt lyrics and a nostalgic vibe, "Keys" captures the complexities of love and loss.

THE BUNNY?

Do you know who The Bunny is?

Could you identify him in a room full of people?

On TV?

Social media?

Maybe he was in your favorite cartoon as a kid, or in a frisky magazine you hid under your bed. You could’ve seen him while trying to book a flight, or on your favorite box of cereal. He could’ve been doing tasks for you and you wouldn’t have blinked an eye.

He could be putting energizing your house right under your nose. He could be on the bottle of your choice of chocolate milk.

Heck, he could even be on your favored box of Annie’s Homegrown.

See, The Bunny isn’t just a man.

Hell, he might not even be a person in general.

Maybe he’s an idea, a reminder that wherever you go, someone’s hopping along right behind you, watching your every move.

Or maybe he’s the opposite, a beacon of hope, knowing that you can always find him if you look hard enough.

Maybe he’ll always be there to give you a boost.

Maybe he’ll always be there to haunt you too.

Either way, he’ll always be there.

Do you know The Bunny?

Bill Cartier - Nature of The Deal

Bill Cartier is a Welsh music producer who has been making beats since 2021. His passion for music production began when he was listening to producers such as ICYTWAT and Griselda. While he didn't get into making beats at that time, he felt inspired to start making music again when he was listening to a lot of Griselda in 2020. He made his first beat in late April 2021 and has continued to learn and expand his taste in hip-hop production and samples ever since. His taste has evolved to be more abstract and identifiable, with a wider and more eclectic choice of samples. Bill emphasizes the importance of staying inspired by consistently looking for new music from various genres and countries.

Bill's involvement in the underground music scene began when he was approached by Grande Fumo of SUPERFLUIDO to do a series of two EPs with his production. Those EPs ended up being "Legno Volume 1" and "Legno Volume 2." He continues to work on releasing material and collaborating with new artists, including his recent collaboration with Foreign Scripture on the album "Nature of The Deal." In the interview, he discusses the creative process behind the album, including how they communicated and collaborated on the production of the album.

Throughout the interview, Bill shares insights into his creative process, how he stays inspired and motivated as a producer, and provides advice for aspiring producers. He emphasizes the importance of building strong personal confidence in your abilities to filter out ignorance and stay motivated to release quality art. If you want to learn more about Bill Cartier's journey as a producer, his collaboration with Foreign Scripture, and his perspective on the music industry, keep reading.

What inspired you to start producing music, and how has that inspiration evolved over time?

Music production was something I had wanted to try since I was about 13, roughly around Summer 2017. Back then I was listening to a lot of producers like ICYTWAT. I didn't get into making beats at that point though because I felt like I had absolutely no idea where to start with it. Fast forward to around 2020, I was listening to a lot of Griselda and I was hooked on the production. It reignited the desire to start making beats again. In late April 2021, I made my first ever beat and have been learning and expanding my taste in hip-hop production & samples ever since. My taste nowadays seems to be veering to a more abstract style than before. But I'll make whatever I feel like making at a specific time so it varies.

How did you first get involved in the underground music scene, and what have been some of the most significant changes you've seen in that scene over the years?

I first got involved in the underground music scene thanks to the people over at SUPERFLUIDO. Grande Fumo reached out to me in April 2022 asking if I'd want to do a series of 2 EPs with my production. Those ended up being Legno Volume 1 & 2. They were great to work with and gave me a super helpful insight into working collaboratively with rappers and working on a creative rollout. I've only been actively working on releasing material since April 2022 so I can't really comment on how the scene has changed at all, I'm ultimately a student in the scene at the moment. I will say I have come to learn that the amount of talent in the underground goes much deeper than a lot of people may think though.

Can you describe your creative process for producing beats and tracks in more detail, including any specific techniques or tools you use?

Honestly, there is not any strict method to my production. With my stuff all being sample based it is basically all built on the foundation of a feeling. Whether that is a feeling I'm trying to find a sample to express or vice versa changes super often, even hourly at times. I try to make sure there is a very small amount of structured planning behind my beats, I feel I work better when I have no idea what I'm going to make. Sometimes I'll end up making something that's more dance oriented than hip-hop. In terms of tools I use, I either make beats on my laptop using the MPC software or I'll use my SP404 MK2. I don't have a super extensive setup and I like it that way currently, helps to keep things organised.

How did you and Foreign Scripture first connect and decide to collaborate on an album, and what drew you to working together?

I first spoke to Foreign Scripture not long after his Foreign Currency EP dropped, around June last year. I was super impressed with his lyrical skills and knew straight away I wanted to work with him. His taste in production aligned with mine very well. I let him know that I was interested in working with him and by August we had started the process of making the album, I sent him a pack of about 30 beats and let him pick out the ones he liked the sound of the most. The rest is history from there.

What was it like working with Foreign Scrip on "Nature of The Deal," and how did you collaborate on the production of the album?

Working with Scrip was smooth start to finish. Especially considering this whole album was orchestrated through emails and text messages due to him being based in the US and me in Wales. We made it work no problem though. We knew we needed to communicate and share ideas constantly and that's how it went. Basically daily we would send over ideas whether it was tracklist ideas, features or concepts for the visuals for the album's rollout. Every aspect of the album was a joint effort and it came out super well. For example the feature from Slam was organized by me but the features from Cruth and Norm Regular were both organized by Scrip and each feature was picked perfectly for the tracks they appeared on.

Can you walk us through the recording process for the album, including any challenges or surprises that came up along the way?

The recording process was Scrip's job so I can't comment in much detail on that but I will say that he managed to get the whole album recorded in the space of a week. So I can imagine having only that length of time to get a full album recorded must have been a challenge, but he killed it anyways.

What were some of the biggest challenges you faced during the production of "Nature of The Deal," and how did you overcome them?

For me, the mixing and mastering was by far the biggest challenge. This was my first time mixing and mastering anything with vocals so it was a huge learning curve. I still have lots to learn in that area of music but for the first time I've done it I think I did pretty well with it. It took countless hours for me to finish though. The cover art also felt like a difficult challenge but that is the case with anything visual I do. I'll feel absolutely blank for ideas and then I'll just think of something on a whim and it turns out great. This time especially.

Which track on the album is your personal favorite, and why? Can you describe the creative process behind that particular track?

It would be impossible for me to pick out a firm favourite track because this album was refined down to the absolute best tracks we had made. I think solely on a production level I would opt for either Carbon Fiber or Thorough Steppers. Those beats are just crazy. Carbon Fiber being immensely soulful and Thorough Steppers being so gritty. In terms of the lyrical side it's super hard to call, Scrip delivered on every track and all the features delivered too. I think not being able to pick a favourite overall though is definitely a good thing, we wanted a high level of consistency on this album. The creative process behind the tracks was never super detailed. Ultimately, me and Scrip were there to do our separate things, I provided the soundscape and he rapped what he felt was correct for the beat and we just trusted each other's abilities to pick the right things. We both realised very early on that very little input was needed on that area as our creative chemistry was fully there.

What do you hope listeners take away from "Nature of The Deal," and how do you think the album reflects your artistic vision?

I hope people take away that both Scrip and I are just getting started with our individual and collaborative discographies. This is a project that is high quality regardless of any other conditions, and it has been made by two artists below 25 years old. For me personally, this album serves as an update in my production skills to listeners. Obviously I am constantly improving and refining my craft behind the scenes but the audience hear very little of what I make. To put it in further perspective, all my beats are numbered. Prior to me and Scrip working together, my most recent beat to be released on a song from me was No. 387 and now that the album is out the most recent beat I have out is No. 652. So this for me was about showing what I have made over the course of 265 beats. And providing the best to a top-tier rapper to turn these ideas into full songs. Outside of just the music as well its given me an opportunity to show skills like my design through the rollout and artwork.

How do you think your sound and style has evolved over the course of your career, and what have been some of the biggest influences on those changes?

My sound and style has just evolved to be a truer reflection of what I want to express over time. I think a lot of people forget that as you learn a skill you also gain a further understanding of your contemporaries and why you enjoy the things you enjoy. That understanding then influences the style of what you make. It's a maturation of the style of your art, and that doesn't just apply to music. But for me I think this has resulted in a more identifiable style of production. I'm also able to pick from a wider and more eclectic choice of samples nowadays than I was when I started out

Who are some of your biggest musical influences, and how have they impacted your approach to producing music?

Music that has inspired me a lot recently has been work from the likes of Cities Aviv, Conductor Williams, al.divino, Mach-Hommy and any artists adjacent to those names. Listening to these artists more and more has reassured me to just embrace and incorporate imperfect features into my music. Whether that's detuned samples or loops that are slightly off tempo. Earlier in my time making music I would stress over things not sounding professional enough when I should have just been worrying about what the music makes you feel, ultimately to the detriment of the music. I find myself much more appreciative of my music now than I was a year ago just off that alone.

How do you stay inspired and motivated as a producer, especially during times when you might be experiencing creative blocks or burnout?

If I'm feeling burnt out from making beats I just take a break. As simple as that sounds it's by far the most effective way to deal with any sort of creative block at this stage. This is my passion at the end of the day and I don't aim to treat it as a job. From past experience I find it works out much better to take a break anyways as working through beats when I'm burnt out just results in me making beats that feel uninspired and almost directionless. During that break I aim to avoid anything to do with beat making, including trying to watch anything or read anything about how to break out of beat-block. I'll listen to some new music for a while, for a couple weeks sometimes. That is the key to staying inspired - looking for new music. I think any musician who doesn't do this already will benefit from just finding as many artists from as many different genres, from as many countries as possible. It gives you ideas and sources to pull inspiration from that go way further than you could imagine.

What advice would you give to aspiring producers who are just starting out, especially those who are interested in exploring underground music scenes?

My main piece of advice would be to try and build strong personal confidence in your abilities if you are aiming to release music. A lot of people will say things about your music that can be discouraging and often times just ignorant and disrespectful. If you are able to hear your own music and feel 100% confident that you make quality art it will make the jump significantly easier as it will allow you to filter out a lot of ignorance. I feel this is especially important in underground genres as you are at a disadvantage of making music that is less accessible than a lot of music out. So people may be quick to just write your music off just due to the fact it is a style that they might not be familiar with. If you're not confident in your music this could be enough to completely put you off putting music out at all. Even if you do look back at it after a year and don't like what you put out, without the confidence to continue releasing your music your progress is never going to be heard.

What are your plans for the future, both in terms of your solo work and potential collaborations? Are there any particular projects or collaborations you're currently working on that you're excited about?

. I do have a few projects in the works right now. There are 2 EPs - one with Karlino Princip and one with SUPERFLUIDO x Foreign Scripture and there are 2 albums - one with Charlie Wayy and one with SUPERFLUIDO. Besides that I have nothing else planned currently and I'm just going to continue doing what I want to do. I'll continue to search for new artists to work with and do whatever is needed to make the best music I can put out. I have no plans to stop making music so we'll have to see what happens in the next five years or so. I may revisit doing some solo work during that time.

Is there anything else you'd like to share with your fans and listeners about your music or your journey as a producer?

I'd like to thank every person who has shown support, especially those who have personally reached out to tell me how much they've enjoyed the music I have put out whether that has been the stuff with SUPERFLUIDO or with Foreign Scripture. As much as I do this for my own health it is always nice to know there is someone on the receiving end who is able to enjoy their day more thanks to what I make. I am only 2 years into this and I hope I'm able to provide you with more material to enjoy in the years to come. I'd like to thank you also for doing this interview. I hugely appreciate that you're really trying to shine a light on independent artists.

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Lango - Joy Boy

Lango's album "Joy Boy" is a beautiful and relatable project that showcases the artist's creative genius and personal journey. In his interview, Lango shared insights into the production process, his creative process, the inspirations behind the album, and his growth as an artist.

The production process for "Joy Boy" was a collaborative effort with Lango's main production team, including Tak, Arixs, Patty, Matt, Kozak, and Khari. While there were other people who collaborated on production, Lango was not familiar with them. He compiled the songs that spoke the most about what he was going for with the album. Lango always adds his own production as well, whether it's rearranging and breaking down stems or actually producing the beat, adding instrumentation, etc. He mixed everything himself and worked with his little brother Lyle of mondodigital for all his visual stuff. The result is a cohesive album that showcases Lango's unique sound and style.

Photo By: Rayno

The inspirations behind "Joy Boy" were both personal and relatable. Lango revealed that the album was mainly inspired by a person he loves and the process of their entire relationship, as well as his life living in Atlanta and everything he and his friends experienced during that time and beyond. The album explores the ups and downs of relationships and growing up, which is something that many people can relate to. Lango wanted to rap in a way that showed maturity without being overly sentimental or corny. He wanted to give people something that was not so deep but not so surface. There's so much relatable stuff that doesn't make you have to break down lyrics and shit. It's just Aw yea I been through that, but in a beautiful Sonic presentation.

The album features collaborations with Three65, Dominic Scott, Kiana Tenille, and Blü, each adding a unique element that was missing. In creating "Joy Boy," Lango learned that he makes pretty timeless stuff when he wants to and that he can take his time on it. He also realized that he wants to focus more on other aspects of his life and less on music for a while. He advises aspiring musicians and artists to just drop their work and not worry too much about it, and to avoid having too many people in their ear about what they should do. Lango's growth as an artist is evident in "Joy Boy," which is different from his previous projects. He learned that he makes pretty timeless stuff when he wants to, and he can take his time on it.

Overall, "Joy Boy" is a relatable and enjoyable album that showcases Lango's growth as an artist. To learn more about Lango's creative process, personal journey, and inspirations behind "Joy Boy," read the full interview above. As an artist, Lango's unique sound and style are a breath of fresh air in the music industry. He is a talented musician and storyteller who has the potential to make a significant impact on the world with his music. To stay updated on Lango's future projects and creative endeavors, be sure to follow him on social media and check out his website.

"Joy Boy" is an album that is worth listening to. It is a testament to Lango's growth as an artist and his ability to create music that resonates with his audience. Through his music, Lango is able to express his personal experiences and emotions in a way that is both relatable and enjoyable. His creative process and production team have helped him to create an album that showcases his unique sound and style. To learn more about Lango and his latest Album Joy Boy check out our interview with him below!

Photo By: Rayno

Can you tell us more about the production process for "Joy Boy"? How did you work with your team to bring your vision to life, and what were some of the challenges you faced along the way?

Most of the guys that produced on the album I’ve been working with for years. Tak, Arixs, Patty, Matt, Kozak, Khari are like my main guys. There are other people that collab on production but I’m not super familiar with them. I’ve been making these songs for years now with these guys, and compiled the ones that spoke the most about what I was going for with the album. I always add my own production as well, whether it’s rearranging and breaking down stems or actually producing n the beat, adding instrumentation etc. I mixed everything myself as well. No real challenges other than deciding on songs. Also worked my little brother Lyle of mondodigital for all my visual stuff. We been doin this stuff for years the process of making it is kind of easy now.

Your music explores themes of personal growth and self-discovery. Can you share a specific experience or challenge in your life that has inspired your music, and how did you approach translating that into your art?

Photo By: Rayno

This album was mainly inspired by a person I love. The process of our entire relationship essentially. I won’t get into details out of respect but the ups and downs of someone you love like a motherfucker. But aside from that it’s inspired by my life living in Atlanta and everything me and my friends experienced during that time and beyond. Also just my desire to grow from my childish ways. I wanted to rap in a way that showed maturity in me without being corny. Translating it into music is simply just finding the right instrumentation and speaking what’s on my mind. All the rest comes after.

Your album features collaborations with a variety of artists including Three65, Dominic Scott, Kiana Tenille, and Blü. Can you tell us more about how you approached working with each collaborator, and how did you bring your own personal style and vision to those collaborations?

I’ve been knowing three65 since he was a kid damn near. I used to produce and mix for him, he was rapping/singing before me. So we just been locked in for years. I like to put him on every tape cause the world needs him. Dom Scott is a friend of mine and I appreciate his art and his intentionality to make a cool rollout. It inspired me to make sure I had a cool rollout as well. Kiana is special, I found out about her recently and felt her voice would be perfect for people I call friends. She added a different element that I felt was missing. Lastly, Blü has a crazy voice that I feel like is almost an instrument. She can riff over your songs and take it to another level and I love her understanding of background vocals and adding just enough to make something fire.

What do you hope listeners take away from "Joy Boy"? What message or theme do you hope to convey through your music, and how do you want your listeners to feel when they listen to your songs?

Joyboy is a very vulnerable and fun album. It’s like a naked guy telling jokes. Everybody’s laughing having a great time but it’s like damn this Nigga naked I can’t get past that. Like Laugh tale is a very sad song to me but it’s so fun as well. I wanted to give people something that was not so deep but not so surface. There’s so much relatable stuff that doesn’t make you have to break down lyrics and shit. It’s just Aw yea I been through that, but in a beautiful Sonic presentation. I want people to feel however they feel. Hate it or love it as long as you feel something and not nothing then I did a good job I think.

Photo By: Rayno

Can you talk more about your creative process? How do you approach writing and recording your music, and what techniques or practices do you use to stay inspired and motivated?

I like to have some wine or lemon water or something to sip on. And I just ramble on a beat without words just noises, like flows and cadences. Once I get the first line down I can go easily from there. The hardest part for me is like the first couple lines. After that it just flows somehow. Sometimes I write but worst feeling is when you spend hours writing and then try to record it and it’s horrible. So i don’t write often. I just kinda go for it in a room by myself and hope for the best.

One of the most striking things about your albums are the amazing covers and Joy boy is no different tell us about the album cover?

I wanted to tell in a pretty woman’s ear. The whole album is me complaining.

Cover Shot by Raynooooooo.

How did creating "Joy Boy" differ from your previous project, and what lessons did you learn during the process?

My last projects I feel like I was thinking too deep and had too many people in my ear. This time around it was just me and my brother making decisions. Or some random person who didn’t know me. They seemed less bias so I’d ask them. I learned that I make pretty timeless stuff when I want to. And because it’s timeless I can take my time on it. Rollout this rollout that man it’s all so stressful sometimes. All these music promotion rules. I hate all that shit sometimes. I wanna work on music vid when I feel like it not cause I’m tryna keep the buzz going. I wanna make a post when I feel like it not cause the algorithm likes consistency. I wanna make a tik tok when I feel like it Nigga. It don’t be fun anymore then it all costs buku money. And I’ve been enjoying putting my bread towards other things I like in Life instead of always music.

For Joy Boy can you talk more about how you developed your personal sound and style as an artist, and what influenced your musical journey for this project? Can you tell us more about how you approach writing those types of songs, and what message you hope to convey through your music?

I developed my personal sound through 10,000 hours of trial and error. But I change my sound a lot and I change my mind a lot. Music is a fun thing for me. I experiment so much. I never made a song that sounds the same.

Photo By: Rayno

Can you share a specific moment or experience in your career that has been particularly memorable or impactful, and why it has stayed with you during the creation of this album?

I lost my dog in 2021. He was a black cocker spaniel, my best friend BJ. I ain’t been right in the head since. But I think it was for the better the way it changed me.

What advice would you give to aspiring musicians and artists who are just starting out on their creative journey? What do you wish you had known when you were first starting out?

Just drop don’t be so worried about it. People blow up off dumb tik toks now. Theres no real blueprint with music other that put that shit out. I still don’t know man. I would focus more on tik tok but I have a hard time finding it in me. I just hate tik tok for the sake of tryna go viral with my stuff. I’d rather make funny tik toks or the nice day I had tik toks, than to figure out a promo campaign for music. Also just don’t have fifty million people in your ear about what u should do. And that’s with anything in life honestly.

What's next for Lango in terms of music and creative projects for this album?

I have no idea. I don’t have much planned with music. I’m leaving it up to God this time. This album was so fun and full of so many experiences it honestly feels good to put it out and not worry about music for a while. Live my life in other ways. Start new chapters and shit. I’m older now man. This stuff gets tired lol.

Lastly, what do you want your legacy as an artist to be? How do you hope to be remembered by your fans and future generations of music lovers?

I want people to remember all of my phases. Like when they draw kanye eras from college drop out to yeezus to Donda. I want to be remembered for my growth. At first I wanted to have this huge ass impact on the world and millions and blah blah blah. But really I just want the people that enjoy my stuff to continue to be touched with the stuff I say in these songs and the sounds. Life is so short I wanna get stable enough to have some kids, so they can see this cool thing called life. But mostly in regard to music i want to just be acknowledged for my growth. It feels good to hear “Langston you’ve grown so much.”

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Arhin Slim - VillanMusic

Arhin Slim, an up-and-coming artist in the music industry, recently released his latest album "VillainMusic". In this interview, Arhin talks about the inspiration behind this project, how personal experiences and external influences shaped the creative direction, and the specific message he had in mind when he began working on it. He also compares this project to his previous releases and highlights the differences, both musically and thematically. Arhin provides insight into his creative process, including how he approaches writing and recording his music and the role of collaboration in his music-making. Additionally, Arhin talks about the overall sound and vibe of "VillainMusic" and the significance of the album cover in relation to the music. He shares what he hopes listeners will take away from this album and how he wants his music to impact and inspire others. Finally, Arhin discusses his goals for the future and offers advice for up-and-coming artists trying to make a name for themselves in the industry. Read on to learn more about Arhin Slim and his creative journey.

Can you tell us about the inspiration behind your new project, "VillainMusic"? What were some of the personal experiences or external influences that shaped the creative direction of this album? Did you have a specific message or concept in mind when you began working on it?

My project “VillainMusic” was inspired by losses, failure, shortcomings, procrastination, disappointment, anxiety, worry, doubt and all low things in this life. These were things i was feeling before the inception of the project. I was and I am currently going through various trying times and identity issues which caused me to look at life from the viewpoint of a Villain. Someone who is unable to breakthrough. So the theme of VillainMusic is just the soundtrack to my life and the feeling of everything being against me. The concept in mind i had wanted to give my listeners was a wide variety of emotions within a short amount of time, which is a depiction of my life at the time of recording the project. Somedays the highs were excellent and very quickly change to lows. The project starts off very dark, and very moody. However, it quickly changes to upbeat, shining, happy tones. And then ends back on a dark note. I felt like giving my real personal introspection on songs like “at my lowest” was important because I want to show listeners that I’m not always happy and always going through fun times even if I am having fun time at the time.

How does this album differ from your previous releases, both musically and thematically? Were there any specific goals or challenges you set for yourself while creating this project, and how do you feel you were able to achieve them?

This project is different from my previous releases, because it depicts a different point of my life, in comparison to my previous projects, where I was at a happier point in my life. Sonically I also made this project very seamless in transition in attempt to get the listener to go through the feeling of one feeling to another feeling to the next feeling, without realizing that this song has changed. I feel like that was my biggest goal along with recording the project within consecutive amount of time where I was able to harbour the feeling of “Villain”.

What was your creative process like for this project? Did you work alone, or did you collaborate with other artists or producers? How did you approach the writing and recording process, and how did this differ from your previous projects?

In terms of the recording process and everything I usually work alone. Because at this point in my career, I’m so locked in on what particular sounds I want on my voice & how to engineer myself to fit exactly how i want. In regards to producers, I’ve collaborated with a lot of producers on the Internet that I felt perfectly fit the style of what I was trying to go for and fully executed that goal. This project I wanted to go for an alternative, hard-hitting, dark moody style. In terms of my writing and recording process, I picked my beats first, and then I played the beats until I formulate some thing in my head. Once I formulate the melody and the flow then I go on the mic and I just go. I don’t write my lyrics down, because I go based purely off of how I feel on the song, and I record the first thing off the top of my head, and then I polish it up. This project also differs from my previous projects because the recording process of the previous projects with more long mapped out processes Where I would write down the lyrics and take time and go over, beat by beat. However, I’ve change that, because I feel that the goal of my artistry is to make people feel. I want to create songs that make you feel. Whether that would be feel happy, I feel like you wanna dance feel like you in the movie feel like you wanna travel, I wanna make people feel.

Can you discuss a specific track on the album and what it means to you? What inspired the lyrics, melody, and overall sound of this track? Were there any challenges you faced while creating it, and how did you overcome them?

The song 365 means so much to me because I feel like it is a perfect depiction of my current life where I am living in a blur of the moment. This correlates with the song because I feel that sonically this song is very trance like And it makes you not focus on the lyrics, but just enjoy the space and the beat and everything about the song. Very much like my current life where I try my hardest not to live my issues but to just “fuck it we ball” through life no matter how much is against me at the time. The beat inspired everything about the song. I didn’t want to change too much, I didn’t wanna overpower the beat, I wanted to blend right in with the beat so I can give an atmosphere to the listener to just lose yourself in the song and to dance. I believe that music like this is very powerful in taking away overthinking, worry, & doubt. Music should allow people to free themselves and to imagine things, and that was what i did for this song.

What was the biggest challenge you faced while creating this album, and how were you able to overcome it? Did you encounter any unexpected obstacles or setbacks, and how did these impact the final product?

The biggest challenge I had while creating this project was my time management. Trying to balance all my responsibilities and then coming back to record my music which I put a lot of energy into is very difficult because sometimes I may not have all the energy to put my everything into the song. So I may go days just thinking about “ok do I feel like I’m ready to record this song?” Before i actually do because i need to have the energy the listener is gonna take from the track. In the end, I really just had to zone in and get that energy out of me so that would be able to record the way I needed this project to come out. Some setbacks would actually be the fact that I do record, mix, master my own music. One day I’ll be listening to my songs and I would say “nah this isn’t it” and other days it’s everything i envisioned. A very odd fascinating thing that i have learned to just give time for a fresh ear to come back and re listen to the music.

How do you feel this album represents your growth as an artist? In what ways have you evolved musically and personally since your previous releases, and how do you see this reflected in "VillainMusic"?

I feel like this release represents my growth as an artist Because I was able to use a period of time in my life to generate emotion towards my music in which I’ll be able to then portray back to the listener to understand how I was feeling during that time. I also feel like with every release I am getting better and better at perfecting my sound. I feel like now as an artist, I am perfecting my vocals, my singing, and my harmonies. I also feel like I am unattached to a genre, even though I do list my music as hip-hop music, but I feel like the goal of music to not have a genre. It is what it is. Either its beautiful to you, loved by some, or none at all. I feel like filling Music is the perfect example of this because throughout the project there is various types of production where we cannot really label it hip-hop or rap or trap or R&B.

Can you talk about the role of collaboration in your music-making process? How do you choose who to work with, and what do you look for in a collaborator? How do you balance your individual artistic vision with the ideas and input of others?

The biggest area of collaboration that I do as artist is my work with producers/Beat-makers. Most times I form relationships off of the Internet via YouTube and its the best way for me to connect with producers because i can find exactly what i want. When working with producers, I like to work with people who have the same ear or a similar ear to me in sonics and feel in their beats. I like to work with producers, who are versatile in their sound, and can branch out to different genres if they would like to. I feel like not being down to a genre as a producer is the biggest thing Because you’re able to create new sounds and you’re able to set new examples for the future. My goal is to create new not repeat tradition. So this all starts with the beats. I’m able to balance my creative vision with the input of another artist by listening, by being open, and by being willing to learn. However, if I do feel my way, is the best way to Austin to my way, but I’m very open to listening to other people in the collaboration process.

How do you balance staying true to your artistic vision while also appealing to your audience? In what ways do you consider the preferences and expectations of your listeners, and how do you incorporate these into your music without compromising your artistic integrity?

I feel like in order to grow as an artist you need to have your artistic vision first and foremost because the more you listen to your supporters the more they control what you are able to make and what you think they want to hear which puts you as an artist in the worst spot where you’re just making the same thing over and over again because you feel like that was gonna get stream the most. For me that’s not what art is about. It is about stepping back away from your canvas and just keep going at it in a new perspective each time. All that matters is that you as the artist are putting you into the music. However, I do know what sound my audience gravitates to, and I have no fear in making those songs because that is a part of my style so I gladly make those songs and will continue too. However evolving is my number 1 goal.

How would you describe the overall sound and vibe of "VillainMusic"? What emotions or experiences do you hope to evoke in your listeners, and how do you use your music to communicate these?

The overall sound & vibe, in VillainMusic I wanted to portray is like a grey / dark world while listening from front to back. I wanted the soundscape to be dark however, also being able to be played in a sunny atmosphere with some tracks like embrace, WWWFD?, & Not today. But i don’t like to make music for seasons. I like to make music for feeling. I wanted to make this a trance like tape the listener could play and vibe out too.

Can you discuss the significance of the album cover and its relation to the music? What inspired the design and concept behind the artwork, and how does this relate to the themes and messages of the album?

The significance of the album cover in relation to the music is that the four persons on the cover all represent the different sides of my villain so sometimes I feel that yes, I am one person but there’s multiple sides to me likewise in this tape there are multiple different type of records and different types of moods on the tape. The cover is also inspired by a mugshot where I drew inspiration from villain characters like the joker, and it will be continued with a series where I build upon that same idea in the same aspects of first the mug shot, and then It’ll be something else, and then something else to build on top of that also. It relates to the album because it shows that on the cover it is me as a person Arhinslim, However, the same guy can also be a villain. But from my point of view, I’m only trying to do what it takes to win.

What message do you hope listeners take away from this album? How do you want your music to impact and inspire others, and what do you hope people will remember about "VillainMusic" after listening to it?

The message I want my listeners to take away from VillainMusic Is that no matter what position you are in life always drive always keep going at your goals, even if it feels like the world is against you because one day you might get there and even if you feel like you won’t get there you should keep going because that’s what you said out to do and that’s what you should do. Chasing your dreams feels wrong sometimes because it feels like you’re wasting time or you’re investing all your energy, money and power into something that is not gonna mount anything but because you believe in it, you can do it. I want people to remember how I made them feet on this project, how they vibe to it, I want to take them back to the place when they first heard it when they hear it again in another space. I want listeners to enjoy this music with her friends, I want listeners to enjoy this music live, I want listeners to experience and feel this music in their own lives.

How have your personal experiences influenced the themes and lyrics on this album? Were there any specific moments or events that inspired certain songs or messages on the album, and how did you translate these into your music?

I put my life into Music so regardless of if the track is a happy song, sad song, mellow song, it all comes from my personal life and I’ll use my feelings and situations to put in my music so that the real feelings conveyed within my music. However, to be very particular, the song at my lowest came from a very personal place, where I felt like I was trapped in my life, and that I was by myself and people that I was depending on I couldn’t look towards them they left me for dead. And this also goes with the song confetti, where I share the same sentiment. Another song that I put a lot of personal life into was “lookingatmyself” where I kind of like, sing a mantra of “lately i been looking at my self.” Where i Share with the viewer that I’ve been self, reflecting, and self, analyzing myself to correct, and heal myself with whatever damage and grief that has been done upon me.

Can you discuss any standout moments or memories from the recording process? Were there any particularly challenging or rewarding experiences that you had while creating this album, and how did these impact the final product?

East End I’ll moment from recording this project would be when I finish recording 365. I was over the moon when I heard the final version because it was everything I wanted it to be. I knew exactly how I envisioned it in my head and it became like that, so I was very glad. With the flow, the vocal level, the way the beat knocks. Everything is perfect about it to me! And i hope when i get to perform it people will feel what i put into it.

How do you see your music evolving in the future? What goals or ambitions do you have for your future releases, and how do you hope to continue growing and developing as an artist?

I see my myself evolving with my music in branching out, trying different genres being more experimental. I’m also looking to be more consistent in my drops. I want the world to feel my music on the world to my music and I want the world to experience my music. I hope to keep developing as an artist by keeping my ear open to new sounds, trying new things experiencing new things in life which give me new, creative thoughts, ideas, imagination, and imagery.

Finally, what advice do you have for up-and-coming artists who are trying to make a name for themselves in the music industry? What lessons have you learned throughout your career, and how have these shaped your approach to music-making and navigating the industry?

My advice to the new artists coming up trying to make it into music industry would be to focus on building your sound, come up with producers that know your sound and know how you like to work and know your voice. I would also advise new artist not to be too eager to jump at prospects or opportunities that they feel like they may need in order to jump to the next level the next level. It will come and it will take you gracefully to the next level you don’t have to fight to get to the next level or battle with it, it will come. Thats what i believe. Everything you think you need is with in you. All you gotta focus on is funny people who mess with your sound mess with your vision to understand you. Getting people to understand you is the biggest goal as an artist once you get that then you’ve won.

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Using Spotify Analytics to Track Your Progress and Adjust Your Strategy

Once your music is uploaded to Spotify and available for streaming, it's important to track your progress and see how your fans are interacting with your music. This is where Spotify Analytics comes in handy. Spotify Analytics is a free tool available to all artists on the platform. It provides a wealth of data and insights into how your music is performing on the platform, including the number of streams, fans, and followers you have, as well as the demographics of your audience.

Why is Spotify Analytics important for underground musical artists?

As an underground musical artist, you may not have access to the same resources and marketing tools as more established artists. This is why it's crucial to take advantage of the tools that are available to you, and Spotify Analytics is one of the most valuable tools at your disposal. By using Spotify Analytics, you can gain a deeper understanding of how your music is performing on the platform and adjust your strategy accordingly. For example, if you notice that your music is getting a lot of streams in a particular region, you may want to focus your marketing efforts on that region to maximize your exposure and reach more listeners. In addition, Spotify Analytics can help you identify areas where you may need to improve. For example, if you notice that your music isn't being added to many playlists, you may want to focus on improving your promotional efforts to get your music in front of more curators and influencers.

Key Metrics to Track on Spotify Analytics

Streams

Streams refer to the number of times your music has been played on Spotify. This metric is important because it gives you an idea of how popular your music is and how many people are listening to it. You can see how many streams you have for each track, as well as the total number of streams for all of your music. Tracking your streams can help you identify which tracks are resonating with your audience and which ones may need some work. For example, if you notice that one of your tracks has significantly more streams than the others, you may want to focus on promoting that track to attract more listeners to your other music.

Fans and Followers

Fans and followers are people who have saved your music to their library or followed your artist profile on Spotify. This metric is important because it shows you how many people are interested in your music and following your career. You can see how many fans and followers you have, as well as the demographics of your audience. Tracking your fans and followers can help you understand who your core audience is and what types of listeners are attracted to your music. This information can help you tailor your marketing and promotional efforts to better reach your target audience.

Demographics

Spotify Analytics provides valuable insights into the demographics of your audience, including their age, gender, and location. This information can help you tailor your marketing and promotional efforts to better reach your target audience.

For example, if you notice that your audience is predominantly male, you may want to focus on promoting your music to female listeners. Or, if you notice that your audience is primarily located in a certain region, you may want to focus your marketing efforts on that region to maximize your exposure.

Playlists

Playlists are curated collections of music on Spotify, and getting your music added to a popular playlist can be a great way to gain exposure and attract new fans. Spotify Analytics shows you how many times your music has been added to playlists, as well as which playlists your music has been added to. Tracking your playlist adds can help you identify which curators and influencers are most likely to add your music to their playlists. This information can help you target your promotional efforts and build relationships with the people who can help you reach more listeners on the platform.

Discovery

Discovery refers to the ways in which people are discovering your music on Spotify. Spotify Analytics shows you how people are finding your music, whether it's through search, playlists, or recommendations. This information can help you optimize your marketing and promotional efforts to reach more people on the platform. For example, if you notice that a lot of people are discovering your music through search, you may want to focus on optimizing your artist profile and track titles to make them more discoverable. Or, if you notice that a lot of people are discovering your music through playlists, you may want to focus on building relationships with curators and influencers to get your music added to more playlists.

How to Use Spotify Analytics to Improve Your Strategy

Now that you understand the key metrics to track on Spotify Analytics, let's take a look at how you can use this data to improve your strategy and grow your fan base.

Set Goals

The first step in using Spotify Analytics is to set goals for your music. What do you want to achieve with your music, and how can Spotify Analytics help you get there? For example, if your goal is to get more streams and followers, you may want to focus on promoting your music to new listeners and building relationships with curators and influencers. By setting specific goals, you can use Spotify Analytics to track your progress and adjust your strategy as needed.

Analyze Your Data

Once you've set your goals, it's time to start analyzing your data on Spotify Analytics. Look for patterns and trends in your data that can help you make informed decisions about your strategy. For example, if you notice that a lot of your fans are located in a certain region, you may want to focus your marketing efforts on that region to maximize your exposure. Or, if you notice that your music is resonating with a certain age group, you may want to tailor your marketing efforts to better reach that age group.

Adjust Your Strategy

Based on your analysis of the data, it's time to adjust your strategy and make changes to your marketing and promotional efforts. For example, if you notice that your music isn't being added to many playlists, you may want to focus on building relationships with curators and influencers to get your music in front of more listeners. Remember, your strategy should be flexible and adaptable to changes in your data. By using Spotify Analytics to track your progress and adjust your strategy, you can maximize your opportunities and reach your full potential as an underground musical artist.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Spotify Analytics is a powerful tool that can help you grow your fan base and achieve success on the platform. By tracking your progress and adjusting your strategy based on the insights provided by Spotify Analytics, you can maximize your opportunities and reach your full potential as an underground musical artist. Remember, the key to success on Spotify is to build a loyal fan base and engage with your audience on a regular basis. By using Spotify Analytics to track your progress and adjust your strategy, you can build a strong foundation for your career and attract more listeners to your music. So start using Spotify Analytics today and take your career to the next level!

Jack Vinoy

Photo By: Teresa Meyle

Can you tell us about your musical background and how you got started in the industry? Was there a particular moment or experience that sparked your interest in music, and how did you develop your skills as a musician?

I went to an arts magnet for elementary school that had a sponsorship program with Apple to provide computers for the students, and through that I was able to take home a laptop to use at home in the 4th and 5th grade. I would just sit with Garageband for hours and sequence loops. I picked up guitar & bass a few years later and was playing in bands, got really into production in high school, then studied audio engineering in college and graduated a couple years ago.

What inspires your music and lyrics, and how do you ensure that your work is authentic to your own experiences? Are there any particular artists or genres that have had a significant influence on your music?

My lyrics are just inspired by my daily life. Writing like that helps me process what I’m going through, most of the time it’s reactive, but on rare occasion it can feel strangely predictive of what I’m going through emotionally but not yet fully aware of mentally. Tyler, the Creator and Mac Miller have probably been two of my most significant influences. Been listening to those guys since the early 2010s, watching the evolution in their writing and production over the years has been a huge inspiration.

How has your music evolved over time, and what have been some of the most significant changes to your sound or style? Have you intentionally sought to experiment with new styles or sounds, or has your music evolved more organically?

My sound definitely has seen a lot of evolution over the years, it’s definitely a reflection of what I’m listening to around that time, but it’s also a good measure of how much more self-assured I feel in what I’m doing creatively. I definitely have felt really self-conscious about my music in the past, and nowadays I feel like I’m hitting this stride where I’m just making what I want and worrying less about how it’s perceived. The most significant evolution I’ve noticed in my music has been abandoning the need to quantize everything perfectly to the grid. A few years after I was getting serious about production, I had a period where I was just listening to a lot of producers on Soundcloud like Ackryte, Psymun and SwuM and it was how I realized - oh, the groove and swing is in those slightly off-grid drum patterns, so now I’d say it’s rare for me to make a song where I don’t have a little swing in the drums.

Photo By: Teresa Meyle

Can you walk us through your creative process when writing and recording music, and discuss any particular rituals or practices that help you stay focused and motivated? How do you know when a song is finished or ready for release?

Usually I start off programming some drums and then trying to write some chords or a melody to it, a lot of times I’ll start from guitar and build off that. Once I have a solid 8/16 bar loop I can start writing - I don’t really worry as much about structuring out the track until I’ve got the writing squared away. I like watching something on TV when I work, it definitely can be kind of distracting but sometimes I need that distraction to force myself not to overthink what I’m working on. If you come over for a studio session at my place there’s a solid chance I’m either watching baseball, Seinfeld, or Ferris Bueller’s Day Off - I have no idea what it is about that movie but it has been on when I’ve made like 4 or 5 of my favorite songs. Generally I take forever and a day to actually finish a song, DIAMOND BEACH and a couple others off the new album were kind of exceptions to that rule and happened really quickly.

As an underground artist, what sets you apart from others in your genre, and how do you differentiate yourself in an increasingly crowded market? Are there any particular challenges or advantages to being an underground artist, and how have you navigated them?

That’s a tough one - there’s so many talented artists in the underground just in Nashville, let alone the whole world, so standing out is a huge challenge, but what I can say is that I think part of what makes me believe in what I’m doing is the spirit behind my music. With my music I’m trying to let everybody know there’s a space for them to be who they are. Whenever I was going through a rough time when I was younger, my mom would always say ‘just be nice’, and I think there was some karmic wholesomeness in that, so I’m trying to bring that energy to everything I do these days.

How do you approach collaboration with other artists, and what have been some of your most memorable collaborations to date? Are there any particular artists that you would love to collaborate with in the future?

I think it’s essential to be open-minded when collaborating, a lot of times seeing another person’s creative process in action inspires something different in me than if I had just sat and worked on something by myself.

The most memorable collaborations for me are the ones where it feels less about the music and more about the good times with friends. The second ca.mp3 event I hosted definitely comes to mind for that, it was like 40 or 50 of my favorite people to collaborate with in my house eating waffles together while taking a break from working on music. I don’t really remember any of the songs that were worked on that day but I do remember just laughing with friends and that was a sweet moment.

There’s a ton of musicians I’d love to collaborate with in the future; Jean Dawson, Redveil, Arlo Parks, SZA, Tyler, the Creator, Phoebe Bridgers, Psymun and Galimatias are all artists I’d immediately drop everything for and buy a plane ticket to work with them if they asked.

Photo By: Teresa Meyle

Your latest single "DIAMOND BEACH" was released on April 21. Could you tell us about the inspiration behind the song and your creative process in bringing it to life? What do you hope listeners take away from the song, and how does it fit into your broader body of work?

DIAMOND BEACH came about really quickly, which is not usually how it goes for me. It was made in my first session with Cam Herring, and we knocked out the instrumental in probably 2-3 hours, and within 24 hours I’d recorded all the vocals and it was just about done. When I listened back to the track, it felt like a perfect sonic depiction of this Icelandic beach I’d just visited with my family where icebergs wash up on the shore, so I named the song after that beach.I hope people hear the song and are reminded that their best is enough, that nothing has to be perfect to be valid. DIAMOND BEACH definitely feels like a good introduction to the rest of the new album I’ve been working on, so it felt like a good fit to be the first single.

How does "DIAMOND BEACH" compare to your previous work, and what do you hope listeners take away from the song? Are there any particular themes or messages that you explore in the song?

I think DIAMOND BEACH shows a lot of growth and evolution from my previous work in the writing and the vocals. I’ve definitely gotten more comfortable with my vocals since my last release and I feel like I’m doing more experimentation with vocal processing and arrangement on my new material.

Lyrically, DIAMOND BEACH is a sort of mantra for myself that who I am, and what I’m doing is enough, and that I don’t need to be perfect. That’s definitely something I’ve struggled with in this past, so to have a song where I can kind of chant a chorus like that feels pretty good.

How have your fans responded to "DIAMOND BEACH" so far, and what are your plans for promoting the single? Are there any particular strategies or platforms that you use to connect with your fans and build your audience?

Photo By: Teresa Meyle

The reception for DIAMOND BEACH has been great so far! As an independent artist I'm also my manager, publicist, booking agent, etc. so I've been putting a lot of hours in on the PR side of things pitching to a ton of blogs and playlists to promote. I grew up in the golden era of music blogs and found a lot of my favorite music from them, so I'm a big proponent of music blogs. I'm also very active in the local underground scene in Nashville here so I think that helps me connect with more people.

Are there any upcoming projects or releases that your fans can look forward to, and how do you decide which projects to pursue? How do you balance your creative vision with the commercial demands of the music industry?

I’ve got some more singles coming out in the next few months and then my 2nd LP probably near the end of the summer. I had a full album shaped and in the end stages of production about 18 months ago, but it wasn’t feeling like the next thing that I wanted to say after Solace. It was pretty somber, and it was a great exercise but I wanted my next body of work to be more uptempo so I started fresh. It’s material I’m still pretty happy with but it just didn’t feel like the next project to present people with. Generally I don’t worry about commercial viability, I’m just appreciative that anyone is listening at all. Maybe if there were pressure from a company behind me to do big sales numbers or something it’d weigh in on my decision making, but for now I pretty much just hang out with friends and make shit I want to listen to.

How do you engage with your fans online and in-person, and what role do they play in shaping your music and career? Do you feel that social media and other digital platforms have changed the way that artists interact with their fans?

Right now I myself am just focused on being a fan of local artists and a supportive figure in the underground scene in Nashville, I feel like that kind of stuff is essential for the success of a scene. I’ve hosted 4 songwriting & production events called ca.mp3 over the past 15 months which are basically just a big studio lock-in over the course of a weekend. They usually end up having 60-80 artists, producers, photographers and creatives getting together to collaborate and network, and it’s been amazing getting to know a ton of talented artists and musicians, and helping introduce them to other creatives. I’m trying to book some shows for the next few months, actually haven’t played any of my material publicly yet, but have started rehearsing with a band earlier in the spring in preparation for that. Social media is definitely a good tool for reaching a wide audience, but I really feel like it's important to build a solid foundation of supporters in your city because those are almost always the day one fans; you don't want to go off on a big tour and then have the venue near empty at the homecoming show.

When facing creative blocks or setbacks in your career, what strategies do you use to stay motivated and inspired? Are there any particular individuals or resources that you turn to for support or guidance?

If I'm in a moment where I'm not inspired and I have to force myself to sit and make music, I'll work on other creative outlets to get inspired again. I recently have been working on some small woodworking and painting projects separate from music, and when I come back to music after doing something like that, I have a fresh perspective. It's also really enjoyable for me to make physical art to go as companion pieces with my music.

Photo By: Teresa Meyle

What do you see as the biggest challenges and opportunities for underground artists like yourself in the current music industry landscape? Are there any particular trends or changes in the industry that you are excited or concerned about?

AI is definitely going to be an interesting thing to deal with for artists across the board - that AI Drake & The Weeknd song that went viral a few weeks back kind of showed that people will definitely listen to AI music. I think that's gonna push artists to experiment more with their sound to stand out, since AI is just analyzing previous works it won't be able to think outside of the box as much as an artist with an open mind.

Looking back on your career, what have been some of your proudest accomplishments and most memorable moments, and what have you learned from them? Are there any particular milestones or achievements that you are still working towards?

Every release feels like an accomplishment for me, for probably the first 7-8 years of producing I didn't release anything, so doing it now is always cathartic. Each time I do release something new, I kind of have this moment where I go, 'Oh - that wasn't so terrifying. I should do this more'. Still a lot to work towards which is really motivating! Aiming for a GRAMMY but that's mostly so I can mix chocolate chip waffle batter in an interesting container.

What are your plans for the future, and how do you envision your music and career evolving over the next few years? Are there any particular goals or aspirations that you hope to achieve, and what steps are you taking to make them a reality?

I'm excited for the next chapter with my music, the first step is trying to make it my full-time. Really working towards getting a publishing deal, and getting out on tour. I make sure to take some steps every day to get closer, and I'm sure that progress will pay off sooner than later.

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SoundCloud Gems - May 3, 2023

We are excited to present our forth episode of "Soundcloud Gems", which features a carefully curated selection of artists who are making waves on SoundCloud. These emerging artists have been gaining traction and attention in the underground music scene with their unique sound and style, and we are proud to showcase their talent.

From the energetic beats of LosTK to the ambient sounds of Vaeo, each artist on our list brings something different to the table. We are excited to feature Caponeti, Viizzi, Jahhlu, Emags, Runner Boy, Angelus, Scruff, Sxulz, Frost'd, Ghostsocial, and Polar in this post. Read more about the artists below

july.

july. is a newcomer to the underground scene and encompasses what we’ve described as a breath of fresh air every time a track of theirs enters our ears. Their track “ily2”, featuring fellow artist, Babebee, draws you into a delicate atmosphere, yet grounds you with cutting truths and heart-wrenching introspection. July is an artist we can’t seem to stop listening to, and we hope you guys get the earbug for their music all 2023!

LosTK

LosTK has a demanding presence as soon as he enters any track. A gruff and aggressive vocal tone, one that can surprisingly rise gently into higher registers, allows this artist to do a variety of flows over whatever beat he wants. Oh, we didn’t tell you? Los is a self-produced artist, and with the way his beats form around his vocals, you can tell he can manufacture his gritty, yet cautionary insights easily.

Vaeo

Vaeo has been a fan favorite of ours for a long time, and we’re so excited we can finally talk about them. The first track we heard from them was “luminescence”, a combined effort between them and Rouri404, which we would soon come to realize as a powerhouse duo within the underground community. Vaeo’s evocative vocals and deep-cutting lyrics towards themselves and whoever might happen to be listening allows the listener to almost bare their heart out without having to say a word. Vaeo will do it all for you, and that catharsis is what we think is a big part of why we love their music so much.

Caponeti

Caponeti is a mood changer, and we mean that in the best of ways. If you’re feeling pissed off, turn on “emulate” with keeta and bronclair. If you’re feeling down, play “distance between us” with Novastein If you’re feeling like a bad b*tch bump “Dota” with Jons. We honestly don't think there’s anything Caponeti can’t do with a mic and DAW, all it takes is some fun idea to enter his head and you have a hit song playing in your ears, it’s an amazing, enjoyable ride tuning in to what may cook up next.

Viizzi

Viizzi is the auditory manifestation of detonating C4 in your car and reveling in the explosion. Viizzi will give you a boost of adrenaline if he happens to come on speakers and there’s no way you’re skipping a second of it. We first heard Viizzi through NS favorite, simon m’s single “TRUE RELIGION”, featuring patrick o’ neill, swazy, and k0a. From there we were on a tear, with singles like “murder for hire” with funeral, “broken” with pichu, or “nuketown”, produced by frost’d, the man simply cannot miss.

Jahhlu

Jahhlu has been an enormous presence in the underground scene for a while now, recognized by the Soundcloud platform itself on multiple occasions due to his unrelenting talent. Jahhlu is a master of putting out multiple projects and tracks within little time of each other and having insanely different styles of musicality working exemplary in their own lanes. There isn’t a Jahhlu song we’ve been iffy on, he is able to fit the overall vibe and atmosphere of each of his tracks with surgical precision.

Emags

Emags is such a fun artist to listen to. With the specific stress he puts on his vocal tone, plus the natural husk in his voice, any song he’s on sounds like you’re getting ready to fight a supervillain and just got the best superpower. Emags is able to release evocative tracks that stick in your head for days on end such as “all in my head”, and then completely spin you for 180 degrees with absolute bangers like “Snooze” and his new effort “GOGETA” with Staggy. The artist is ever-evolving while keeping his signature sound close to his belt, a master in his craft.

Runner Boy

Runner Boy has been a fan favorite of ours for a couple of months now. Their song “BACKWARDS”, with Babebee, was our introduction to who they were a producer, utilizing beautiful drum and bass patterns underneath nostalgic and nocturnal melodies above. Then we listened to their album, “BOY”, and were blown away. Runner has a unique ability to have music videos immediately formulating in your head when you hear the first kick. A beautiful, sultry tone to his voice adds to an amazing picturesque every time you press play.

Angelus

Angelus is the second French artist in this community we’ve brought a spotlight to, but if their artistry tells us anything it’s that we hope they’re not the last. Angelus is a pure pop star in the making and has made waves within the underground community for years. With the release of their latest project, “sphynx” Angelus showed us their immeasurable versatility/ From the dance/trap endeavor “holly shuffle” to the deeply resonating “over you” produced by both joss and angelus themselves. Angelus’ voice gives off a sense of constant confidence and stress they put on the high end of their tone giving it such an alluring feel. Please check out Angelus today!

Scruff

Scruff is the artistic equivalent of enjoying a nice indica strain before bed or as soon as you wake. He’s a breath of refreshing cool air on a night walk. His voice is smooth yet merry allowing a smooth and uplifting experience sonically, even if the themes behind his music may be darker and more introspective than originally let on. When our ears first heard his efforts on sai’s production, we knew he had found a fun, light-hearted and vibe-ridden path for himself and we’re always excited to hear what he does next. We hope after listening to him that you are too!

Sxulz

Sxulz is a different type of vocalist entirely. Utilizing a low-vibrating tone along with expert layering gives Sxulz an almost disembodied texture to it that sets him apart from most vocalists of his type within the community. In addition, the sleepy, dusky production style he finds himself in adds to the overall dark atmosphere he provides on his tracks. Sxulz is also able to wave together witty punchlines with contemplative self-reasoning, a fun trait to hear time and time again with each effort.

Frost’d

Frost’d is probably one of the most popular producers within the underground community, having made beats for almost every notable artist within the scene to date. The crazy part is, he’s only fifteen years old. Frost’d has made tracks for heavyweights such as midwxst, keeta, DPF, reef, aftrr, weial, jiccjucc, bronclair, clip, and many more. His unique, heavy production style, especially explored through the design of his 808s is an incredible feat to hear for someone so young and we only see good things in the future for this blossoming talent.

Ghostsocial

Ghostsocial is someone we’ve come to listen to a lot of as of recent. With a first listen through the facet of “crawl” we were introduced to the dark and deeply personal world that Ghostsocial dwells within. On tracks like “fool” and “make it out” Ghost is able to truly strike at the heart of those rawest emotions. His music is like screaming off the top of a mountain or in the middle of a vacant parking garage, cathartic.

Polar

Polar is an incredible vocalist, from the way their powerful, assertive tone is meshed behind the slightest radio effect, to the extremely precise sound design that bolsters every heart-piercing lyrics out of their mouth. Polar’s duo effort “surface” with fellow artist Tigerstar really blew us away. From the subject matter to the immaculate production quality on display, Polar will make sure your ears always have an unforgettable time, and we mean that in the most positive of ways. Please check out Polar this year!

Nefarious Supply Radio Episode 002 - jev.

For our 2nd Episode of NS Radar episode 2 we had the pleasure of talking with jev., a talented artist who has overcome many challenges throughout his career, making him an inspiration to aspiring artists. jev's unique and diverse background, having lived in the Congo, South Africa, and Canada, has allowed him to draw inspiration from all kinds of music, making his music relatable and authentic.

During the interview, jev. elaborates on his latest single "lonrwrld" and his album "The Color Grey." He talks about the creative process behind his music and the challenges he faced while creating "lonrwrld." jev. reveals that his latest single is a freestyle that showcases his lyrical ability and sets the tone for his upcoming projects. It's a great introduction to jev's world, sonically and aesthetically. jev.'s album "The Color Grey" is a concept album that explores the transitional periods in life, from being a teen to an adult, or from rags to riches. jev.'s music captures these moments perfectly, and his latest single "lonrwrld" is no exception.

jev.'s playlist for NS Radar Episode 2 showcases his love for all kinds of music, from Jill Scott to Biggie Smalls, and everything in between. Music is a universal language, and jev's background has allowed him to draw inspiration from all kinds of music. He shares the reasoning behind the songs he chose and how they relate to his personal experiences and artistic vision. jev.'s playlist is a testament to his diverse background and his love for all kinds of music.

jev.'s success as an artist has not come without challenges. During the interview, jev. discusses the biggest challenge he has faced so far, which is the mental challenges that most artists go through, such as asking oneself if the music is good enough or if he's going to make it. jev. stresses the importance of not seeking validation from the outside and engaging with people that have similar goals. jev.'s message is clear - perseverance and commitment to one's craft are key to overcoming challenges.

jev.'s music is a testament to his perseverance and commitment to his craft. His latest single "lonrwrld" is a great example of his talent and dedication, and we're excited to see what he has in store for the future. jev. has upcoming projects and collaborations in the works, and he encourages his fans and listeners to continue supporting his music. jev.'s message to his listeners is clear - he's overjoyed and overwhelmed by all the love his projects have received, and he will forever be grateful for their support.

Overall, jev.'s interview is an insightful and inspiring conversation about the creative process behind his music, his personal experiences, and his challenges as an artist. jev.'s music is a true reflection of his background and experiences, making it relatable and authentic. jev.'s dedication to his craft is an inspiration to aspiring artists, and his message is clear - perseverance and commitment are key to success. Read more about jev. below and check out the playlist he put togeher for NS RADAR episode 2.

First of all, congratulations on the remarkable achievement of "Where's The Confetti" hitting 1 million streams on Spotify. As an artist, how does it feel to have such a positive response to your music, and what does this success mean to you personally and professionally?

Thank you. For me personally as an artist success is making sharing your art and people resonating with it in any fashion, that's success for me, I feel like art is suppose disrupt good or bad, so people engaging with it any sort of fashion is success to me. Professionally, I am grateful people are streaming and enjoying the music, success to me in a professional sense is growth, I remember the times when it was only 50 people streaming, so the growth is amazing to see and that is success to me.

With the recent release of your new song "lonrwrld" (freestyle), could you elaborate on the creative process behind it? For instance, how did you come up with the idea for the song, and what was the recording process like? Were there any particular challenges you faced while creating "lonrwrld"?

lonrwrld is my first offering after my project “the color grey” with this song in particular I wanted to double down on my brand and image even more, especially with all the new eyes on me, I wanted to make a statement and differentiate myself image and sonic wise. The only challenged I faced was really getting everything ready in time, luckily everything went smoothly and people are resonating with the single.

In comparison to your previous releases, both sonically and thematically, how would you say "lonrwrld" differs? What inspired the song's lyrics, and how do they relate to your personal experiences, if at all? What message do you hope to convey to your listeners through "lonrwrld"?

lonrwrld is very similar to the songs on my project, a little bit more mature and laid back but still very similar sonically. With this song I wasn't looking to go too far out of my comfort zone or experiment with sonics, I wanted to continue playing in the same sonic realm I created with “the color grey”. For the project however there will be more experimenting and just getting out my comfort zone both lyrically and sonically.

Continuing on the theme of your music, what inspired the themes and lyrics on your previous album, "The Color Grey"? How did you draw on your own personal experiences to create the album, and what was the creative process like from start to finish?

I came up with the concept of the project a little while back before the pandemic, the theme pertains around translational periods, whether that's from being a teen to adult or from rags to riches etc. it’s about different translational periods and the grey area between these periods and songs like “where’s the confetti?” capture these moments perfectly, the idea behind “where’s the confetti?” was someone that starts to gain success but notices he/she is not getting love or support from those around them Ann the begin to ask where’s the love, where’s the congratulations, where’s the roses, where’s the celebration/ hence the title where’s the confetti?. The whole idea of the translational period came to me when I graduated high school and just started college and was in a place in my life where I just felt like I was crossroads in terms of what I wanted to do with my life and started to notice that life was not as black and white as I expected and I found myself ion a grey. hence the title “The color grey”

As a successful artist, you have faced many challenges throughout your career. What would you say has been the biggest challenge you have faced so far, and how did you overcome it? What advice would you give to other aspiring artists facing similar challenges?

The mental challenges are probably the main thing most artists go through. asking yourself if the music is good enough or if you're going to make it, etc. Also, trying to navigate the world as an artist you realize the world loves art but they hate artists. I overcame that by not seeking validation from the outside and engaging with people that have similar goals to me and are in the same space I'm in.

In the context of your overall body of work as an artist, how do you feel "lonrwrld" contributes to your artistic vision? What do you hope listeners take away from the song, both individually and as part of your larger body of work?

In terms of sonics I think “lonrwrld” is a great introduction for potential supporters to me as an artist and what they can expect from me. I called “lonrwrld” because it’s a great introduction to my world, sonically and aesthetically.

Could you discuss any specific musical or production choices you made with "lonrwrld" that you particularly enjoyed? How did you decide on the overall sound and tone of the song, and were there any specific influences or inspirations that played a role in its creation?

This is one of my easiest songs to write because it's just me having and really exercising my lyrical ability, working closely with the producer, Swisher, the beat came easy and was perfect for the sound I'm building. The only thing I added that I feel like brought more life to the song and made it even more interesting is the little skit between the verses, I feel like that was perfect and shows my personality in the music without being too extra about it.

Moving on to your recent appearance on NS RADAR, can you walk us through your creative process for compiling the playlist for episode 2? What was the inspiration behind the songs you chose, and how do they relate to your own personal experiences and artistic vision?

Luckily for me, I grew up with a very diverse background from the Congo to South Africa to Canada. I have heard literally all kinds of music and have been influenced by all of it. With the songs I chose I really wanted to showcase that. So I chose music I grew up on and music that was influenced me and music that I'm currently listening to. Because of my background, my playlist can literally go from Jill Scott to Khuli Chana, from Nas to Awilo Longomba, From Biggie Smalls to Kirk Franklin. I love all kinds of music, I’m restricted to none. With all the places I've lived, the one thing I learned is music is a universal language, a good song is a good song anywhere.

Were there any specific songs or artists that you included in the NS RADAR episode 2 playlist that hold a special significance to you? If so, can you share the reason behind it, and how they have influenced your own music?

Yes, a South African rapper by the name of AKA. One of my favorite rappers to date, he was the first celebrity I have ever met and the first verse I ever memorized was one of his. A true African legend and one of my childhood heroes.

Finally, where can your fans and listeners find your music, and what other upcoming projects or collaborations do you have in the works? How can your listeners continue to support your music, and what message would you like to send to them?

I have a couple more single drops this year but a project coming hopefully by the end of the year, I want to be active with videos this year. I’m overjoyed and overwhelmed by all the love the project received and will forever be grateful.

Content Marketing for Building an Audience for Underground Artists

As an underground artist, it can be challenging to get your work noticed in a world where there's an overwhelming amount of content available online. This is where content marketing comes into play.

Content marketing is a powerful, cost-effective way to reach your target audience by creating and distributing valuable content that resonates with them. With content marketing, you can showcase your work and connect with your fans in a meaningful way, which can help you build a loyal following and grow your audience.

Here are some tips for creating effective content marketing as an underground artist:

Define Your Audience

Before creating any content, it's essential to define your target audience. Who are you creating for? What are their interests? Where do they consume content? Understanding your audience is key to creating content that resonates with them and reaches them where they are.

For example, if you're a visual artist, your target audience may be people who love art, follow art blogs, or attend art exhibitions. Knowing this will help you tailor your content to this audience and create content that they will enjoy.

Showcase Your Work

Your content should showcase your work and give fans a taste of what you're all about. This can include sharing behind-the-scenes glimpses of your creative process, debuting new work, or offering exclusive content to your fans.

For example, if you're a musician, you can share snippets of your recording sessions or live performances, while a photographer can share their editing process or offer a peek at a photoshoot. This will give your fans a glimpse into your work and help them connect with you on a deeper level.

Engage with Your Fans

Content marketing is all about building relationships with your audience. Engage with your fans by responding to comments, asking for feedback, and even collaborating with them on projects. This will help build loyalty and create a sense of community around your work.

For example, you can ask your fans to suggest ideas for your next project or ask for feedback on your latest release. This will show your fans that you value their opinion and are committed to creating work that resonates with them.

Use Free Resources

There are many free resources available to help underground artists create and distribute their content. Here are a few:

• Canva: Create professional-looking graphics and designs for your social media posts, blog, or website.

• Audacity: Record and edit your own podcasts or music.

• Hootsuite: Schedule your social media posts in advance to save time.

By using these tools, you can create high-quality content that stands out from the crowd.

Stay Consistent

Consistency is key when it comes to content marketing. Create a content calendar and stick to it, whether that means posting on social media every day or releasing a new podcast episode every week. This will help build momentum and keep your fans engaged.

When it comes to content marketing, consistency is crucial to success. One way to achieve consistency is by creating a content calendar, which can help you plan and organize your content strategy. By mapping out your content in advance, you can ensure that you always have something new and interesting to share with your audience.

In addition to creating a content calendar, it's also important to maintain a regular posting schedule. This means posting on social media every day, releasing a new podcast episode every week, or whatever schedule works best for your brand. By establishing a routine, you'll build momentum and keep your fans engaged with your content.

But consistency isn't just about posting at regular intervals. It's also about maintaining a consistent voice and message across all your content channels. This means using the same tone and style in your blog posts, social media updates, and other content, and ensuring that your messaging is always aligned with your brand values and goals.

By focusing on consistency in your content marketing efforts, you can build trust with your audience and establish your brand as a reliable source of information and entertainment. So don't underestimate the power of consistency – it can be the key to your success in content marketing.

Collaborate with Other Artists

Collaboration is an excellent way to expand your reach and connect with new audiences. Collaborating with other artists can help you tap into their fan base and introduce your work to a new audience.

For example, if you're a musician, you can collaborate with a visual artist to create a music video or album cover. If you're a writer, you can collaborate with an illustrator to create a graphic novel. These collaborations can help you create something unique and share it with a broader audience.

In conclusion, content marketing is a powerful tool for building an audience for underground artists. By defining your audience, showcasing your work, engaging with your fans, using free resources, staying consistent, and collaborating with other artists, you can create content that resonates with your fans and helps you reach new audiences.

As an underground artist, it can be tough to get your work noticed online. Our agency creates effective content marketing strategies to help you connect with your target audience and build a loyal following.

We can help you define your audience, showcase your work, engage with fans, and create high-quality content that stands out. Whether you're creating content for your next single or rollout, we'll help you plan an effective strategy to reach new audiences and build a fan base.

Contact us today to learn how we can help you create compelling content that resonates with your audience and helps you stand out from the competition.

Sources

• Content Marketing Institute. (2021). What Is Content Marketing? Retrieved from https://contentmarketinginstitute.com/what-is-content-marketing/

• Moz. (2021). The Beginner's Guide to Content Marketing. Retrieved from https://moz.com/beginners-guide-to-content-marketing

• Sprout Social. (2021). 20 Free Resources to Boost Your Online Marketing. Retrieved from https://sproutsocial.com/insights/free-online-marketing-tools/

Written with the assistance of OpenAI

NS Radar - Episode 1 Spring 2023

Introducing NS Radio Episode 1 a showcase of exceptional music and artists we’ve featured so far this year, as well as the music that has grabbed our attention. We take pride in featuring the finest talents from the underground and emerging music scene, presenting a diverse range of genres and styles. The albums and artists that have captured our attention so far this year includes "The Game is The Game" by WesWill. "4theLovers” by StashtheWave, Sincere Hunte's "Roadman","Blur" by Ultravioletenvy, Jyou's "Living On Edge". As well as amazing new singles from Apollo1027, Scotty Apex, Bailey Straughn with Cadeem LaMarr, Raemi, Noozi, Neeko Crowe, $avvy, Avenoir, SAINT LYOR, Harvey Whyte, Three65, Saint Alexander, Qdajuice, Justin Nozuka, ImYoung , Luke Bars, BIGBABYGUCCI, Dreamer Isioma, needanamebro, Lango, Qire Snow, TyFontaine, Arhinslim, and Léa Sen. .

The Game is The Game - WesWill 

"The Game Is The Game" is the latest project from WesWill, a rising underground artist who has been making waves in the hip-hop world with his unique style and creative vision. Released on February 28,2023, the album features five tracks that showcase WesWill's distinctive sound and musical influences.

WesWill's musical influences are apparent throughout the album, and he expertly blends a variety of sounds to create a cohesive and captivating project. His passion for hip-hop is evident in his lyrics and delivery, while his willingness to experiment with different styles and sounds keeps the listener engaged and intrigued. In "The Game Is The Game," WesWill showcases his versatility as an artist, delivering a range of tracks that are both catchy and introspective.

The project highlights his ability to tell stories and showcase his personality through his music. His creative vision and dedication to his craft are on full display throughout the album, making it a must-listen for fans of underground hip-hop. Overall, "The Game Is The Game" is a strong addition to WesWill's discography and a testament to his musical abilities. The album showcases his unique style, thoughtful lyrics, and impressive collaborations, making it a standout project in the current landscape of hip-hop music.

StashtheWave - 4theLovers

StashtheWave's latest album, "4 The Lovers," is a masterful work of art that showcases the artist's impressive skills as a music producer. The album features five tracks, each of which seamlessly blends together elements of hip-hop and soul to create a unique and captivating sound that is sure to leave a lasting impression on listeners.

The album opens up with "Weary Morning," a track that sets the tone for the rest of the project with its smooth, jazzy instrumentation and laid-back groove. From there, the album transitions into "Wish You Were Here," a song that features a haunting piano melody and lush string arrangements that create an atmosphere of melancholic reflection.

The third track on the album, "Is It A Crime," showcases StashtheWave's ability to craft complex and dynamic beats that never feel cluttered or overwhelming. The song features a pulsing bassline and intricate drum patterns that are perfectly complemented by the track's soaring vocal samples. Overall, "4 The Lovers" is a stunning piece of work that showcases StashtheWave's immense talent and versatility as a music producer. The album seamlessly blends together elements of hip-hop and soul to create a sound that is uniquely his own, and it is sure to resonate with listeners and backgrounds.

Sincere Hunte - Roadman 

Based out of Nashville Sincere Hunte recently released his latest album, "Roadman".  His third project release since his debut project “The Genesis”. The album is a 12-track project that showcases Sincere's unique style and features collaborations with talented artists such as devin., Mike Floss, Georgie Zaven, $avvy, and Ronin Black.

"Roadman" opens with the upbeat and catchy track "Havana Candy", which sets the tone for the rest of the album. The song features a hard-hitting beat and Sincere's confident flow, which immediately grabs the listener's attention. From there, the album takes the listener on a journey through Sincere's life experiences, emotions, and struggles, all while maintaining a consistent and cohesive sound.

One of the standout tracks on "Roadman" is "TIL the END", a reflective and introspective song that showcases Sincere's ability to convey his emotions through his lyrics. The track features a soulful sample and a laid-back beat, allowing Sincere's words to take center stage. Another notable song on the album is "Carried Away (4U)", a high-energy track that features guest verses from Georgie Zaven.

Throughout the album, Sincere explores a variety of themes, including personal growth, relationships, and the pursuit of success. His introspective and honest lyrics are paired with top-notch production, making "Roadman" a project that is both enjoyable to listen to and thought-provoking.

Ultravioletenvy - Blur

ULTRAVIOLETENVY's "Blur" is an immersive R&B project that takes the listener on a journey of love, heartbreak, and self-discovery. The six-track album opens with "SO” a soulful track that sets the tone for the rest of the project. As the album progresses, ULTRAVIOLETENVY showcases his range and versatility as an artist. Throughout "Blur," ULTRAVIOLETENVY's lyrics are honest and vulnerable, drawing the listener in and allowing them to fully immerse themselves in the emotion of each song. The production on the album is equally impressive, with atmospheric beats and dreamy melodies that perfectly complement ULTRAVIOLETENVY's vocals. Overall, "Blur" is a stunning showcase of ULTRAVIOLETENVY's talents as an artist. The album's poignant lyrics, captivating vocals, and atmospheric production come together to create a truly immersive listening experience that is sure to leave a lasting impression on anyone who listens.

JYou - Living On Edge 

Jyou, the Nashville-based rapper, has once again captivated listeners with his latest album "Living on Edge." “Living on Edge" is a 10-track masterpiece that exemplifies Jyou's unique style and creative genius. With his signature blend of gritty lyrics, infectious hooks, and dynamic flow, Jyou delivers an album that pushes the boundaries of hip-hop music. From start to finish, the album is a rollercoaster of emotions, taking listeners on a journey through Jyou's mind and experiences.

Throughout the album, Jyou's skillfully weaves together thought-provoking verses with introspective reflections on life, love, and the challenges he has faced along the way. The track "Brokeboi" featuring KON, is a prime example of Jyou's ability to deliver hard-hitting lyrics with precision and intensity. The collaboration with Chuck iNDigo on "Backkk" is another highlight, showcasing Jyou's versatility as an artist and his ability to collaborate seamlessly with other talented musicians.

"Living on Edge" is a masterclass in underground hip-hop, the album is a true testament to Jyou's artistic talent and dedication to his craft. It's a must-listen for any fan of hip-hop music, and a shining example of Jyou's prowess as a rising star in the in memphis.

Scotty Apex - Data Bend

An artist that is always willing to push him self creatively for huge pay offs Scotty Apex once again delivered on his newest project Data Bend. Scotty worked closely with VVD SOUND, who did the majority of the production on DATA BEND. He also collaborated with other producers, like PnkBlknt, Sammy the Producer, Kami Osha, and Ack, to create the album's unique sounds. The greatest gift he can gives his audience is to be dedicated to his craft and to continue pushing himself to the next level of his creative journey as an artist. The sonics of the album have a theme of genre-bending elements, which infuses many of his influences to showcase the art of everything creative that he loves being able to exist cohesively.

Autmn Rains - You Know, I Can’t Stay

"You Know I Can't Stay," features eight tracks that showcase Autmn’s artistic growth and emotional depth. The album is a testament to her artistry and ability to craft deeply personal and moving music that resonates with listeners. The album's standout tracks include "Without You," "Stay," and "Running Away," which highlight her vocal versatility and her ability to convey raw emotions with power and nuance. The production on the album is also noteworthy, with contributions from talented producers such as DV$TPH, Tokiowahl, and Cyclope Beatz, who bring a fresh and innovative approach to Autumn Rains' sound. Autumn Rains' music has a way of drawing in listeners and creating a connection that is both personal and universal. Her lyrics are relatable, and her voice conveys a sense of vulnerability that invites listeners to share in her experiences. Her ability to capture the complexities of human emotions is what sets her apart and makes her a standout in the underground music scene.

Overall, Autumn Rains is an artist to watch, and her latest album, "You Know I Can't Stay," is a testament to her creative prowess and her commitment to delivering honest and impactful music. She is poised to take the music world and establish herself as a force to be reckoned with in the industry.

At Nefarious Supply, we take pride in featuring the underground talent of tomorrow. Our mission is to support and elevate the talents of emerging and underground artists, giving them the recognition they deserve and connecting them with music lovers who crave unique and exceptional sounds. We believe that music is a powerful art form that has the ability to transcend boundaries, break barriers, and the artist featured so far this year are doing exactly that.

Ultravioletenvy - Blur EP

Congrats on releasing your new EP, BLUR! How has the reception been so far? 

Thanks, The reception’s been good. I got more support than I thought I would have. I also got more streams than I thought I’d get.

BLUR is an interesting title for an EP. What inspired the name and how does it relate to the music on the project?

In all honesty, I named it that because I just thought it sounded really cool but I also wanted people to perceive the title in their own way. There’s not a deep meaning behind it.I just wanted a cool and simple title. 

Your EP features six tracks. Can you tell us a little bit about how you chose these particular songs and what inspired them?

All these songs are inspired by my own perspective and experiences with girls. I usually write what I truly go through or feel. I chose these songs because they’re cohesive. 

Your sound has been described as a unique blend of R&B, electronic, and underground influences. What inspired you to explore this particular sound, and how did you go about crafting it on BLUR?

I just wanted to make that ultraviolet sound. What inspired me was how immerseful dark R&B and electronic music is. It really encapsulates the listener into a world of sound. It makes you feel a certain way and I wanted BLUR to be like looking into a portrait and feeling a part of that world.

Who are some of your biggest musical influences, and how have they impacted the music on BLUR?

Kendrick Lamar, Joey Badass, and Tyler are my biggest influences. I didn’t actually apply their influence into this project. I just focused more on my own sound and what I wanted to hear. 

Your lyrics on BLUR touch on themes of love, heartbreak, and self-discovery. Can you share some of the personal experiences that inspired these songs?

I’m glad you noticed that. I’ve seen love from different angles. Sometimes I see it as psychological attachment. Sometimes I see it as self-fulfillment. It just differs depending on the situation. I did experience a toxic relationship and that kinda inspired my outlook on these songs. I’ve also been a spectator of others relationships. When you’re on the outside looking in, you can really see how humans complicate things. Most of us are traumatized looking to feed our idea of self.    

Walk us through your creative process for BLUR. How did you approach writing and recording the songs?

I recorded all these songs in my bedroom. I usually record before I write something. I need to hear myself so I can know what I really wanna do. It’s kinda like painting. You wanna pick the colors before you apply them. 

BLUR has a range of moods and tempos, from upbeat to introspective. Can you share how you balanced these elements to create a cohesive project?

I wanted to add depth to it. I wanted to have a story. I wanted to give people something to follow. Most music is fast food right now. I wanted to make layers that fused together well.

Are there any specific instruments or production techniques that you incorporated on BLUR that you're particularly proud of?

I’m proud of the mixing and mastering. I’m told that my mixing is good but I used to think it had to be perfect. I do think the master has to be perfect though.  

Have you had a chance to perform any of the songs from BLUR live yet? What has that experience been like?

I haven’t performed anything yet. I’d love to though. I just need my clout up, I don’t even know who to reach out to for shows. 

What do you hope listeners take away from your music, and what message do you hope to convey through your lyrics and sound on BLUR?

I hope they can get lost in it. I want them to love it. For the lyrics on this project, I want people to accept vulnerability and introspection. It’s okay to open up and show people what’s in your mind. I think we need more in-depth artists anyway. 

Have you collaborated with any other artists on this EP, or are there any artists you'd like to collaborate with in the future?

I haven’t collaborated with anyone on this EP but I do wanna collaborate with more people in the future. I wanna work with Wasteey Monroe, his energy is crazy. I also wanna work with Will Cherry, he sent me a beat a few months ago. 

How do you balance promoting your music online with maintaining your privacy and personal life?

I just take it one day at a time. Can’t wait ‘til the day I don’t need a 9 to 5. 

What are your future plans for your music and creative endeavors, and where do you see your sound evolving in the future?

I think I’m gonna start rapping more than singing. This project was very melodic and I sang a lot but I wanna bring more energy into the next one. I’m dropping an EP in May. It’s just rap, no R&B. 

Finally, what's one thing you hope your fans know about you and your music after listening to BLUR?

I want them to know that I’m not an NPC and I wanna give them something good and new. I hope they’re waiting for the next release.

SoundCloud Gems - April 7th, 2023

Greetings and welcome to the third episode of our SoundCloud Gems series, where we continue to showcase the most promising and innovative underground artists in the music scene. We are excited to present another set of talented artists for you to discover and enjoy.

Our featured artists for this episode are PHREYLA, RIAH, FVTAL, YAZIDA, OLD COLLIN, BLISSOM, PK, and CYBERTRASH. These artists have a unique style and sound that has helped them stand out in the competitive world of SoundCloud. Their music has resonated with listeners around the world, and we believe that they represent some of the most promising up-and-coming artists in the industry.

At our core, our SoundCloud Gems series is dedicated to promoting and celebrating the success of emerging artists who have made a name for themselves on SoundCloud. SoundCloud has become a critical platform for musicians looking to build a fanbase and connect with their audience, and we are proud to support these artists and provide them with a platform to showcase their music to a wider audience.

Our goal with this series is to help these artists gain the recognition and exposure they deserve and to introduce our readers to some of the freshest and most exciting new music in the industry. We believe that this episode of SoundCloud Gems continues to deliver on that promise, and we are excited to see these artists continue to grow and thrive in the music industry.

PHREYLA

Phreyla is an artist we’ve had our eye on for a while. We were hooked from the first release we heard,  “#DEAD #MAN #WALKING”. Phreyla’s ability to deliver confident lyricism over experimental and futuristic production is something to behold. His song “Glare”, produced by yaego and brayam solidified his place on this list and we hope our readers love this upcoming superstar as much as we do. 

RIAH

Riah has been a staple in the underground community for quite some time. The track that brought us to her was her collaboration with arid on the song “mine”, a disco-pop anthem where she frets over someone she’s in love with but ultimately can’t have. This song introduced us to the fun, light-hearted, pop sound that riah has cultivated within the underground, carving out her own path with bouncy, elating lyrics, an appealing vocal tone, and alleviating the production

FVTAL

Fvtal has been on the scene for a few years yet has been on our radar since his collaboration run with producer and friend of Nefarious, simon m. Releases like “chapter”, “out of love”, and “hold my hand” painted a very clear picture of the soothing, retrospective artist that Fvtal could be. Then he dropped SOFARGONE with Okah! and made us realize once again what a multifaceted artist he is. Fvtal is on weekly rotation here as NS HQ and we hope he’s on your playlist as well in 2023!

YAZIDA

Yazida is a French pop artist from Paris who came on the scene with her remix of 4cf’s track “Jade”. The success of the remix propelled her to work with Jade producer, KBL, and a friend of Nefarious, 47 Negus, on a solo track. “Freak!” would debut and rocket Yazida into the underground limelight. Her airy and charming vocal tone gives the listener an easy listen to themes of self-exploration, love, closure, and honesty.

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OLD COLLIN

We first heard about Old Collin through a Niztopia stream we were able to catch on Twitch a year prior. He was showcasing his newest song at the time “instigate”, produced by slicky. From the moment we heard his voice we knew Collin was going to be big. The stress he puts on the notes he sings and the way he’s able to look inwards when delving into deeply personal topics, whilst also masterfully utilizing acoustic production, is something you don’t see every day. In contrast, we hope you listen to Collin every day!

BLISSOM

Blissom has been a backbone for the Soundcloud community forever. With the introduction of the sleepy.zone and place where artists from all over can create and post a music set they’ve been working on, collaborate on group projects such as albums and artwork, and generally have a safe space to hangout and share ideas, Blossom had already done enough. Yet her artistry shines thru time and time again. Blossom’s new project, “misaligned” is a beautiful ode to what once was and what could be. Her amazing vocal mixing and soothing, nocturnal voice is something we want everyone in 2023 to hear.

PK

PK originally started as a producer for the underground, creating multiple widely-popular throughout his time in the scene, such as “COLLECT ME” and “PINK” by riptony, “sometimes” by eleven thirteen, “wrist” by uxie, and “bldylngz” by caponeti. With over 200+ production credits within the scene, PK has recently begun releasing solo projects and they’ve been blowing us out of the water with each drop. Please check out his newest release, “medicc” which is out now! Go listen to some PK today!

CYBERTRASH

Cybertrash is a wildcard. Coming in hot with his indie breakout track “play pretend” a track that struck the ears and souls of many when it was released. Cybertrash has been on a tear ever since. We heard him first, again, through Niztopia’s music review streams on Twitch. From his expressive, yet husky vocal tone to the beautiful acoustic underscores of his production style, Cybertrash is able to seamlessly draw you into his world. Trust when we say, once you enter, you won’t want to leave.

Artist of the Month March 2023 - 4CF

Underground artist 4cf has been making waves since early 2021 with the release of his debut project POPSTAR, produced by KBL. The EP boosted the young artist into the spotlight with standout tracks like “Run” and “Jump” masterfully showcasing 4cf’s ability to effortlessly convey serious subject matter in a catchy enough way you’ll somehow end up finding yourself singing a verse in your day-to-day.

However, the track that truly put 4cf in the limelight was his final effort on POPSTAR, “Jade”. Some stars must have aligned to pair KBL’s production on this song with 4cf’s lyricism and vocals, but the song is a match made in heaven and deserves the over 1,000,000 streams it’s gained, and the numerous remixes.

4cf’s biggest quality is the replay value of his tracks. Since the release of POPSTAR, the artist has been a tear with his single releases. From the in-your-face “WTF” with a beautifully fitting funeral feature, to his newest efforts with frequent collaborator, anem0s.

After their new addition, “losemymind” with Austyn With a Y* there was no other person more fitting for March’s Artist of the Month.

What does the name 4cf originate from?

4cf comes from my previous artist’s moniker. I used to go by a.c.f. and then, around December 2020, I decided that I wanted to restart and see if I could make it as an artist from scratch without any of the support of people that knew me IRL. 

Who is 4CF as an artist? What concepts and themes do you want to convey with your music and creativity?

I think 4cf as an artist is really just me. My goal under this name is to try and stay as true to myself and my emotions as possible while making the best-sounding music I can.

I think the themes that come up most in my music have to do with whatever way I’m feeling about myself or a relationship I have with someone else at the time. Through my creativity, I hope to convey, honesty. I know that sometimes the way that I write or the way I introspect about certain topics can be immature or childish but if that’s how I’m feeling I feel like it’s important to convey that.

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

Black American culture 100%. I grew up homeschooled for a while as well so I think that kind of isolation that I was feeling also has a lot to do with the way I present myself and aspects of the music I make.

I grew up listening to a lot of 90s, 2000s-2010s music, whether that be the RnB and rap that my family showed me like Ne-Yo, Nelly, and all those tracks produced by the Neptunes or the 2010s Electronic/Pop fusion just scrolling through YouTube in the middle of the day as a 9-year-old with unrestricted internet access (I was supposed to be doing my homework).

When I got to high school, I wasn’t being homeschooled anymore so I made a bunch of friends and they put me onto bands like My Chemical Romance and Panic! At the Disco and I realized that I really liked their energy and lyrics. Somehow I eventually found my way to Frank Ocean who became my musical idol when I was 16-17.

How has your experience in the music industry been thus far?

I wouldn’t say I’ve had a lot of industry experience so far, I’ve met with an A&R or two and they were super nice about my stuff so all in all, I’d say it’s been pretty positive. I like when people say my music is good!

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?

I think it’s always crazy to me when people tell me that a song I’ve written has gotten them through a hard time or that they relate to my lyrics in any way. Whenever I write I feel like people won’t end up paying attention but it always means the world to me when they do, and it means even more if they relate. 

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

I think maybe one thing that sets me apart from my peers is how slowly I work. I used to get really obsessed with finishing songs super quickly and having a frequent amount of drops but ever since “Jade”, I’ve been really conscious of the fact that I wanna make great music that pushes me and takes effort. As I work now it takes, like, 3-4 months for tracks to get past the demo stage and I try to get a lot of feedback. IDK if that is necessarily anything too unique but I’ve noticed that people in the scene work so fast and I feel insecure that I can’t necessarily keep up sometimes 

Is there any one song that you’ve made that stands out from the rest? Released or unreleased.

I just dropped a song the other week called “losemymind” which I’m using to kickstart a series of singles for the year. For me, it’s a real standout because I feel like it really shows that I don’t suck! In the past, I’ve felt super held back by my mixing and lack of production skills but growing and working with my friends over the course of 2022 enabled us to come together and make a song that I feel truly showcases the beginnings of what we have to offer as apart of the community. So, go stream that.

What people should listen to that will get them hooked?

I love listening to artists in chronological order but for the love of god I’m begging you not to listen to all of my old music, some of it really sucks.  To get HOOKED, I would recommend listening to my first EP POPSTAR that’s entirely produced by one of my best friends, KBL.

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

I truly have no idea. I’d like to think that people start to see more of the potential that I have with every release so maybe that’s what keeps people interested. “Jade” is also pretty catchy so I know that people are definitely sticking around to hear that one at the VERY LEAST. I also wouldn’t say that people SHOULD listen to me but, I don’t know, I be making some fire sometimes so if you wanna hear some fire you know where to find it.

Who do you listen to on a regular basis?

At the moment I’ve been listening to a lot of underground rap so that’s artists like Tana, Jaydes, BK the Rula, etc. No matter how many months it’s been though I always go back and listen to Coldplay and it feels like brand new every time, I love their first album so mother***** much it’s, like, actually crazy.

I mentioned Frank Ocean before and he’ll always be one of my favorite artists but I don’t listen to him as much these days (I’ve listened to blonde probably over 200+ times in full). For me, whatever music I’m listening to at the time I take as a challenge, so then I go try and see if I can make something in the style for fun. I also listen to a lot of my friends’ music all the time, but I got like a million people that I’m friends with who also inspire me to make more music.

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

Definitely! I see Music as a learning experience every time I listen. Anytime I hear something that I like, I try to break down how it sounds within the song, or if I like the way a certain lyric is formatted I think about how I can incorporate that into my writing style to become a more rounded and skilled artist.

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

Personally, I think the most important aspect of music for me is its execution. The way in which the message, sound, emotion, or whatever is conveyed is extremely important to me because there are so many ways to get the point across, but if it’s not interesting, no one is going to connect with it.

I don’t think anything can be objective when talking about the concept of an art form, but I think the expression is also very important. Being able to get the release of channeling your emotions into something beyond just saying it is why music feels so good.

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

The one piece of advice I can give is, to let yourself feel your emotions as they are sometimes. I think sometimes we have a tendency to try and rationalize or downplay how we’re feeling because we don’t feel like it’s valid but being honest with yourself about how you feel really makes things so much easier in the long run.

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

STREAM LOSEMYMIND BY 4CF PROD AUSTYN WITH A Y AND ANEM0S ON ALL PLATFORMS (please)

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Cadeem LaMarr

Cadeem LaMarr is a notable rapper hailing from Maryland, whose music is making an impact on the underground music scene in the DMV region. In our interview with Cadeem, we delved into his experience as an underground artist, his creative process, and his most recent projects, including his album "REFLECT" and his newest album, "COVET", as well as his latest single, "Too Far Gone".

During the interview, Cadeem provided us with insightful commentary on the challenges he has encountered as an underground artist. He spoke about the importance of building a community of like-minded artists and fans who support each other and facilitate artistic growth.

Cadeem's creative process is one that is deeply introspective and personal, as he draws inspiration from his life experiences to craft lyrics that resonate with his audience. He stressed the importance of authenticity in one's artistic expression and remaining true to oneself.

We also discussed Cadeem's album "REFLECT", a poignant and introspective project that explores themes of love, loss, and self-discovery. The album showcases Cadeem's lyrical prowess and artistry, solidifying his place in the underground rap scene.

Cadeem's latest album, "COVET", continues his artistic journey, with themes exploring ambition, desire, and the pursuit of success. His newest single, "Too Far Gone", tackles the subject of addiction with raw honesty and vulnerability, showcasing his ability to connect with his listeners on a deep and personal level.

During the interview, Cadeem also spoke about his collaborations with fellow underground artists LIA, Martin J. Ballou, xxpetejames, and Vlaad, highlighting the importance of collaboration and the exchange of creative ideas. Overall, our interview with Cadeem LaMarr provided an insightful glimpse into the world of underground rap and the creative process of an up-and-coming artist.

As an emerging artist, tell us about your experience, can you talk about the challenges you've faced in building your career, and how you've navigated those challenges?

Man, I don't even know how to answer this fr! All I know is when I get knocked down I get back up like its Creed 2.

Tell us about your experience as a DMV artist what is the underground music scene like, where would you say his a hub to meet and network with emerging artists, and who are some of the best artists coming up right now? 

The scene feels like its in an interesting transformation period post pandemic. Idk where its really headed and if I’m being real, I really just mind my business, stay out of the politics, hang out with my chickens and just work to make the best shit I can come up with with my people. I really dont go out of my way to network either. I just be running into people in whole foods and shit like that. I got a long list of people that are great artist but for the sake of character limits I’m gonna say everyone in 3Side, Malik Elijah, Eyas, Rilla Force, Bailey Straughn, Kente, Martin Ballou man I can keep GOING.

Can you talk about your creative process when it comes to writing and producing music, particularly as an underground artist?

First things first, go outside and have a social/family life, stare at clouds. Next, I’d say that being a music fan and music nerd are important and different. I always listen to familiar and unfamiliar music first as a fan then dissect it as an artist to see how it “works”. However, when I make music I kinda go into a dissociative/autopilot like state. Majority of what I finish I have to revisit cuz I tend to confuse myself. I  actually wish I could be more intentional with it but hey whatayagonnado.

Your debut album "Reflect" was released in 2019, and your latest album "COVET" was released in 2020. Talk to us about the creative process around the album including what inspired them, what was it like putting both together, and who did you work with on production?

REFLECT, thats my baby! This project was me trying to prove to myself I could make a body of work that felt to some degree time resistant. FUN FACT - “lie” is the first song I put vocals on actually. Also, i think people sleep on “Stuck”, that's my favorite, everyone did their THING.

COVET, if I’m being honest, was a coping mechanism for the pandemic. That album to me is like the ending of Titanic when everybody is dying but the band is still playing cuz that’s all they know how to do.

How have these projects helped to establish your sound and build your fanbase?

I know what I like and don’t like more. It was like dating around fr. I have a great idea of my direction now. Can’t wait.

You’ve worked with  LIA, Martin J. Ballou, xxpetejames, and Vlaad. How do these collaborations come about, and how do they contribute to building your network as an artist?

I never force a collab. Most of the time, I’m just a fan of people first, then we become friends and then a collab may or may not happen. If it feels forced I’ll just be like let’s grab food or something lol. I do like working with/watching other people work though because 9/10 you will learn something new to add to your process.

Tell us about your newest song Too Far Gone? 

MAN! I’ve never had a song come so easy and so hard. This was one of the first tracks I made after getting through a beat block. I finished the whole thing from idea to recording to rough mix in like 3 hours (ususally takes me months). I was lowkey rushing cuz I think I had to go to a party or something and I somehow didn’t save a bunch of the edits I made. The file ended up corrupted and the released version is actually the demo. 

As an underground artist, how do you go about promoting your music and building your fanbase?

I’m still working on the best methods fr. The landscape of social media, grassroots promo etc changes so often it gives me a headache, idk what theyre doin over there. My only plan right now is to lock in with my talented ass friends to make amazing and undeniable art.

Can you talk about any upcoming projects or collaborations you have in the works, and how these will contribute to building your career as an artist?

I have been stockpiling a bunch of new music thats more dance focused. Some songs have me singing and some I barely say anything at all.  I can’t wait to release them though, just gotta make sure my house is in order. Yall gonna get this versatility fr.

What message do you hope to convey to listeners through your music, particularly as an emerging, underground artist?

Take risks, have fun and be a good person.

Can you talk about any challenges or setbacks you've faced in your career so far, and how you've learned from these experiences?

BACKUP. YOUR. DATA. OFTEN.

What advice do you have for other emerging artists who are trying to build their careers in the music industry?

Lock in with a solid group of like minded individuals who push each other in their crafts, check that ego at the door, make the best art possible and don’t subscribe to the mindset that their isn't enough opportunity to go around.

Finally, what are your long-term goals as an artist, and how do you plan to achieve them?

For me, music gave me independence, a sense of direction, and a soundtrack to pivotal life experiences. My goal is to give those same things to as many people  as possible. I want music to continue to allow me to take myself and loved ones around the world and have amazing experiences. Then when I’m like 70 and got the BAG I wanna be a high school history and science teacher cuz I could get the youth hip to game and not care about getting fired.

Any last words?

Avoid stress the way Uncle Sam avoids reparations.

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Nefarious Supply Radio - Episode 001

Welcome to Nefarious Supply Radio, a curated playlist featuring underground artists from a diverse range of genres. Each episode showcases a different artist who takes us on a journey through their favorite tracks, providing insights into their creative process and sharing the music that inspires them.

At Nefarious Supply, we believe that underground artists deserve to be heard and celebrated. The music industry can often be exclusive and unwelcoming to up-and-coming talent, which is why we've created this platform to give these artists a chance to showcase their work to a wider audience. Our goal is to support emerging artists and provide a space for music lovers to discover new talent.

Our first episode features the talented music producer StashtheWave, who hails from Boston, Massachusetts. StashtheWave has released two projects - "Cruise Control" in 2020 and "To Whom Much Is Given" in 2022. The latter features guest appearances from Donald Grunge, Jiles, Qwan? Arold, Clyde Black & Notebook P.

StashtheWave's curated playlist for "Nefarious Supply Radio" features music from a variety of artists, including Jordan Ward featuring Joony, Van Buren Records, Notebook P and Clyde Black, Destin Conrad, Luke Bar$, Meech, and more. When creating this playlist, StashtheWave selected all the songs he was listening to during the creation of his new project, "4 The Lovers" and some of the songs featured on the playlist were even sampled for the new project.

We're thrilled to have StashtheWave kick off our first episode and can't wait for you to experience his unique and captivating playlist. So sit back, relax, and let the music take you on a journey through the mind of this talented artist. And be sure to check out his new project "4 The Lovers," Stay tuned for more episodes of Nefarious Supply Radio featuring the best underground artists curating the best music globally.

Can you describe the process of selecting the songs for for the  playlist, and how did you decide which songs would best compliment your new project "4 The Lovers"?

I basically just selected all of the songs I was listening to during the time of creating the idea of what I wanted the beat tape to feel and sound like. Some of the songs I selected were records I actually sampled for 4TL as well. 

Were there any particular underground or independent artists that you discovered through curating your playlist, and how did those discoveries influence the direction of your new project?

So I‘ve known about Jordan Ward for a bit, mainly because of his song ‘lil baby crush,’ but I didn’t really listen to his music that much until his debut ‘FORWARD.’ I already love that album and have it in my top for the year so far, so he definitely influenced this playlist’s curation to an extent. As far as influence for ‘4 THE LOVERS,’ I was actually mainly drawing inspiration from a playlist that someone had made me over a year ago which contained a lot of older R&B and soul with some newer sounds as well. 

How did you balance your own personal taste and style with the desire to showcase a diverse range of artists and genres through your playlist and new project?

There was a certain feeling I was trying to capture with this tape, both sonically and lyrically, and I wanted to be able to do it all on my own so that it was 100% me and my ideas. Balancing everything out wasn’t too difficult for me, from finding which vocals I wanted to use to figuring how I was gonna flip the samples and which vocals to put over certain beats, it all really came second nature to me. The most important part was to make something new from familiar sounds and feelings.

Can you talk about how you see your new project "4 The Lovers" fitting into the larger landscape of underground and independent music, and what sets your project apart from other releases in this space?

I think right now, people really want soul and substance out of music again so I really tried to make this my most personal and soulful output yet. And I think what really sets ‘4 THE LOVERS’ apart from anything like it is the samples and sounds that I used. They all sound familiar if you listen to a lot of R&B or soul music, but I don’t think anybody has really touched them. 

Looking to the future, what are your goals and aspirations for your music career, and how do you see your playlist curation and your new project contributing to those goals?

Curation in general is something I believe I’m starting to get a real knack for, so in the future I’d love to just work with artists on a mutual collaborative level where they can trust me to not only make the production for their projects but to really curate the idea and put it all together with them. 

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