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ARTIST SPOTLIGHT Leaf and Machine December 27th 2024 Describe the sound of your music for unfamiliar listeners We mash electronic psych sounds into mellow folk songs. All run through warbly tape decks, written to themes of loss and longing. End result is something like if Boards of Canada produced Nick Drake. How and when did you get into music? I picked up guitar in 8th grade and started making sound collage tracks and beats at around 16. Making new things and collaborating drew me in. I’d build prog-rock songs one layer at time with my friend Kyle. Put vocals on flying lotus style tracks that my brother, Jesse, was making. Leaf and Machine is three of us working together, threading a line between all those early experiments. Describe your creative process. Starts with me writing something on guitar, and singing ad-libs over that to figure out what the song’s about. Then Kyle brings in more layers of instruments, guitar leads, drums, whatever. Jesse plays producer and tears it open with production effects, synth lines, some other stray parts. That’s where things get really spacey usually. Where do you find inspiration? Just sitting around playing guitar usually. I find a little riff or chord progression that catches my imagination, like transports me somewhere in my head. And then it’s just exploring what that sound wants to grow into. Usually when it’s working the song leads you where it needs to go. What song/project should unfamiliar listeners start with? Cyberfriends. It has a little bit of everything we do in it. Any new projects soon? Anything you want to promote? We’ve been working on an EP of super lo-fi, slowcore tracks. Jesse fixed up an old tascam 388 8-track tape recorder he found at a thrift store. We’ve been coming up with these stream-of-consciousness, fuzzed-out tracks straight to tape. We have a release of our favorites from those sessions coming out in a month or two. What music have you been listening to lately? Stephen Steinbrink, he writes some of the most beautiful songs I’ve ever heard. Kind of music that makes life feel really small and giant at the same time. Listening to a lot of Jerry Paper too, he’s super inventive with how he approaches songwriting and production and has this lovely whacked-out bossa nova sound.

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ARTIST SPOTLIGHT The Friendly Ducks April 25th 2025 How were the friendly ducks founded? how did y’all meet? Allen:The Friendly Ducks was Founded by Me during Covid. It was a solo endeavor for about 3 years until I met Josh in The Marching Southerners. David tagged along about 2 or 3 months after and it’s been great since then! Josh:The friendly ducks started 3-4 years ago by Allen Hill as an attempt to write music and publish it for people to listen to. Then I joined with allen a few years later after hearing a small band comic mischief perform one night. With motivation, we got to work and eventually needed a drummer and stumbled upon David who is a good church friend of Allen’s. And the rest is history. David: Allen started it.. then blamed it on the rest of us. What song/project should unfamiliar listeners listen to first? How was that song/project made? Allen:Fly Fly Little Bird & No Good Blues Josh: I feel like should really consider listing to Fly Fly Little Bird or Catch A Break. Since these songs really establish the vibe we initially go for and are the most grandios of the others. One of our recent projects Hyssop has been a really big hit without being published yet. David: They shouldn't. They should see a live show first. Describe your creative process. Allen: it’s probably the most inefficient process. I wait. Specifically for inspiration. My creativity comes in about a 2 week burst and after that it goes away. So for about 2 weeks every month or so I get the creative juices and I will lock in on studio work and the songwriting. If I try to force myself into songwriting when I’m not in that burst, I am consistently dissatisfied… so I just don’t. I’m very grateful for Josh and David because we build off of each other so well! My whole goal with the Ducks is to make something new, and the best way to do that is to get other phenomenal musicians together and see what y’all cook up! Love you Josh and David ;) Josh: I find my inspiration from the struggles I go through personally. Being able to resonate on an emotional standpoint really makes you feel human and is important when writing songs. And it’s not all about the struggles but ALL moments are good points to writhe songs with. I also get my inspiration from many classical artists since they have set the foundation for music as a whole! David: That's an allen question. Describe how you find inspiration to create music? Allen: I don’t find it. It comes to me. Josh: I find my inspiration from the struggles I go through personally. Being able to resonate on an emotional standpoint really makes you feel human and is important when writing songs. And it’s not all about the struggles but ALL moments are good points to writhe songs with. I also get my inspiration from many classical artists since they have set the foundation for music as a whole! David: Working with other creative musicians, building and feeding off of each other. I tend to look at music the same as arts like painting, or tattooing. The more you put into it, the more you'll enjoy the final product. Any new music coming soon? Anything you’d like to promote? Allen: Nothin soon, but I guarantee if you go see us live you will hear new projects and have a 100% chance of having a good time. Josh: For new music, Hyssop, a theatrical piano and orchestral drumming song with overdriven bass, is a potential one coming soon as a single. And then there’s Tallman, an upbeat, laid back ukulele-based song with fun drum fills and groovy bass lines that go a long way. David: Yet again.. another Allen question What music have yall been listening to lately? Allen: Cumbia, Spanish Worship Music, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Twenty One Pilots, Frank Sinatra. Josh: I don’t know what the others listen to. But music I’ve been listening to a lot recently are artists such as Muse, Queen, Def Leppard, Franz Schubert, Led Zeppelin and Highly Suspect. David: The Bouncing Souls, Chappell Roan, Foxy Shazam, Bilmuri, Stephen Wilson Jr, Blink 182

ARTIST SPOTLIGHT Rivan July 12th 2025 Describe your music for unfamiliar listeners The music I’m currently creating is a blend of alternative rap with jungle / drum and bass production. Describe your creative process I create most when put under pressure. Whether it’s working in person at the studio where we only have an hour to record, or when my producers are pressing me with deadlines to send vocals, I’m a pro procrastinator. Pressure makes diamonds. Your EP, “birdz n planez” released this Tuesday. What went into making it? Do you have a favorite song on it? “birdz n planez” is my latest and final single leading up to a project I’ve been working on called RUDEBOYRUFFS. I’ve been doing a waterfall style rollout to give the listeners a glimpse of what they can expect from the project. I don’t have a favorite song yet — they’re all my babies lol. How’d you first get into making music? I first got into making music in like 10th grade. I was writing and performing a lot of poetry at the time, and I just started writing raps for fun. Where do you find the inspiration to create music? I take most of my inspiration from visuals — everything from movies, to graphic design, to music videos, to live performances. When I make a song I envision a world around it. What have you been working on lately? Any new music soon? My producer LACHV and I are super focused on finishing up RUDEBOYRUFFS. There’s gonna be a lot of really cool dance music on there — and A LOT of distortion. Other than music, what else have you been up to? I’ve been doing design and video work for a bunch of other artists (cover art, posters, music vids, etc.) and have also been hosting a monthly artist showcase for this series I call ME & MINE. Pop out July 17th for the next one! What music have you been listening to lately? I’ve been listening to an absurd amount of jungle and DnB. LACHV just put me onto FUTUREGIRL and I’m obsessed. Outside of that, I’m really rockin with the new Bickle album. Also my dog Syrosis is on a hot streak right now — every song he drops is a banger.

ARTIST SPOTLIGHT Frances Baker May 2nd 2025 Describe your music for unfamiliar listeners Dean Blunt meets Fiona Apple ideally!! With angelic vibes, loving pigeons, seashells, etc. sometimes angry sometimes escapyyyyy I like to try to have fun but sometimes I just can’t Describe your creative process It is always changing, sometimes I am writing on guitar sometimes with samples! Usually one process at a time for a few months then I change it. I enjoy working on music in the morning, listening to what I worked on as a voice memo and the continuing to work on it at night. I try to always do something everyday even if it is playing 3 chords one time through. Your debut album, “BLOSSOM” is such a strong and promising project. How was that album created? What is your personal favorite track on that album? Thank you!! It’s really more like a mix tape to me. After college I was feeling a bit bummed a lost….. This mixtape is a compilation of some of my favorite tracks I made that year. I think my favorite song is probably What!? I just love the production! I worked with an amazing Guitarist and Engineer named Sam Harding! Finsta and December 14 were made two days apart when I was challenging myself to make a song a day. I love that people have connected to Finsta because I made that on my computer late one night, then when I was complaining these songs I only had a wav file of the track. So we couldn’t change anything, just master it. How’d you first get into making music? I started writing with guitar in middle school! My dads friend gave him an acoustic he never ending up learning to play so I got to have it. I was very dramatic and sensitive so I was always writing and watching guitar YouTube videos… Also very stubborn so I refused to take lessons until I was in high school. Where do you find the inspiration to create music? My inspiration comes from the way songs decorate rooms, moments and parties with ambiance. I love to be in a moment and imagine how the perfect song for that moment would start… maybe with a trumpet? I love looking at people and imagining what they would want to listen to and why? Listen to feel understood or to get lost? Listen to wallow or escape? Listen to walk more confidently? I like imagining new songs up for people, and imagining what I want to hear. Any new music soon? Yes!! Ideally as much music as I can finish. I am really bad about finishing projects and just leaving them on my computer. 100% another song very soon. What music have you been listening to lately? Blood Orange! How could I be so stupid as to not listen sooner . I am also enjoying Amy, and some Frank Ocean.

ARTIST SPOTLIGHT Bundy Santana January 3rd 2025 Describe the sound of your music for unfamiliar listeners the best way i’ve heard someone describe my music is “mystic street poetry” which feels pretty fitting, but i simply like to call it “warlock rap”. alternative and traditional hip hop elements blended with lyrical themes of spirituality and brujeria How and when did you get into music? i started writing songs when i was 7 because my parents used to manage a close family friend that made music. i never really planned to do anything with the songs i was writing until one day i was about 13 and i downloaded rapchat to see what recording a song was like. from there, i got immediately hooked and i eventually moved on to garageband, and then going to an actual studio Your latest single, "Steamy Windows", was a song that I was really excited about being released, how was that song created it’s a song about a girl i was involved with two years ago. i was working at a Pet Supplies Plus and a girl i recognized from back in high school came in and we caught up. we continued talking for a few more weeks after that and i can vividly remember her being the only thing i thought about all day long. when we finally got the chance to spend some time together, my stomach full of butterflies. i wanted to make a song that described exactly what i was feeling during those times Where do you find inspiration? for me, inspiration can comes from from anything. i’ve got a list of song titles/concepts in my notes that i add to periodically so that’s where i go whenever i quickly wanna start working on a song Describe your creative process. i go through my list and see if any of the concepts jump out at me while i go through beats. depending on the subject of the song and the specific emotion i’m trying to convey, the writing process can take anywhere from an hour to six. admittedly, sometimes i don’t even wanna stop writing What song/project do you recommend for unfamiliar listeners? i feel like heddhunnerz and duppymon* are staple tracks in understanding exactly what “warlock rap” really means and how diverse i can be with it. some clever wordplay, spiritual reflection, and of course brujeria and ghost imagery making their way in too Any new music soon? Anything you'd like to promote? i’ve got two new singles dropping this month (pardon my slime & island) i’m also working on a project that’ll be dropping before the end of the year called BRUJO. it’s a deeply reflective piece about my spiritual journey and how my upbringing and environment influenced said jorurney. to summarize it as simply as possible, this album is all about growth and development not just physically, but mentally and emotionally. one of the biggest questions i asked myself when i first started writing for the album was “is growth something that i truly desire for myself? and if so, what would i be willing to do to achieve it?”

ARTIST SPOTLIGHT Curt Tha Kreator August 6th 2025 Describe your music for unfamiliar listeners “ Lyrical Music Theater ” a fun, whimsical, Disney Fairytale sound but when you actually pay attention to the lyrics you realize I’m a Lyricist Describe your creative process I play with words until I get a Bar or a Phrase that I like. Then I freestyle & build a song around it i.e. “Teal until, un-Teal it wasn’t teal” “if I break my AirPods do they heal in a Pod- Cast” Then I add a bunch of harmonies & play with my Delivery My personal favorite song of yours is “Broken AirPods”, what went into making that song? I got these knockoff AirPods for Christmas that started glitching. I heard this sad beat & I was like “I’m going to make a heart wrenching break up song about these AirPods”. I was focused on capturing the emotion in my voice How’d you first get into making music? I grew up around music. My grandmother was a piano teacher. I used to played violin, piano, & sing in church. I started writing raps in elementary school for school projects & it kinda became my thing. I would just rap for fun about Anything ( the Water Cycle, Digestive System, Thomas Edison vs Albert Einstein ) You’re well known for videos of you dancing to your music. How’d you get into dancing? Did you take classes? I’ve never taken any dances classes. Growing up in the 2000s we all used to do dances i.e. Crank that Soulja Boy, Dougie, Jerk, Hit them Folks. Once social media came around I started making dance videos on Trillers. Also I Growing up watching So you think you can dance, Americas Best Dance Crew, the Step Up Movies, Shake it Up, etc … What have you been working on lately? Any new music soon? Right now I’ve been putting myself through Artist Development. Writing a song a week, recording 3 times a week, Cover Songs, studying Music Theory, Voacl exercises. The goal is Not to just make a Hit & Blow Up. I’m growing with my audience & building a team. Your music has a super original sound. How’d you come across this sound? Being exposed to different types of music growing up. Gospel, Rap, Pop, Dance, Jazz, Soul/RnB, Classical, and whatever genre Avril Lavigne considers her self to be lol. What music have you been listening to lately? Nat King Coal, Dionne warwick, Stevie wonder. I want to hear the Legends that have come before Michael Jackson, Whitney Huston, Mariah Carey, & Beyoncé. What inspired the people that Inspire me.

ARTIST SPOTLIGHT marado February 21st 2025 Describe your music for unfamiliar listeners Rock & Boom rnb with the intensity of rock as teezotouchdown once said and alt rnb I didn’t grow up listening to a lot of music because allow to listen to most music. I think this gives me an advantage of being unbiased when creating, and not being a copycat. HxH is a song that’s been popping off on social media and has a really inspiring story behind it, describe your process for making that song That was the most organic song I’ve made because it took a couple years to completely finish. The first part of that song was recorded when I was at work one day and happened to call a friend while doing a training sales video. I found the beat on YouTube years ago and it had almost no views at all less than 400 I think. I made the intro and put the beat together, but I wouldn’t completely write the song until a year later when I was homeless. Actually no I wrote the first part of the song when I I had a job, but I couldn’t write the second part of the song so I kind of gave up on it. Sometime later, when I I was periodically sleeping on my friends floor of the studio apartment I finished writing the lyrics there. I was thinking about killing myself how it would be a little bit easier than going on being a loser that no one kind of cared about. But I made a deal with God that if he helped me out in this moment and help me find something I was good at I would keep living. Then I freestyle the last part of the song after I was watching Hunter Hunter. The song was written and not recorded until a year later cause I didn’t have the money, but I found a Producer for my vocal class named Aaron Ruperto who is willing to record this song. Shout to Aaron and shout out to the main proper liamonthaaux How’d you first get into making music? This is a really long story, but basically when I had left being one of Jehovah’s Witnesses, I told myself that at least I would have money if I wasn’t gonna be as close to God(or be in a religion) I got a sales job that ended up paying me about six figures but deep down I really wanted to be a singer. I happen to get some free time from work and I drove down to Florida and met a girl who happened to lose my virginity to while listening to Frank Ocean. We were hanging out when I was singing after and she said I sounded just like him. She told me I should make music. Deep down I always wanted to anyways, so it kind of came full circle. This is just a really fast version of the story lol Where do you find the inspiration to create music? I find my inspiration to create music from the same place you find yourself when you’re wondering how you came to be here what it all means. I find inspiration the same way one would look at their vocabulary and wouldn’t use it. I also find inspiration in truth. Perspective truth, and absolute truth. You cannot lie and do music but you can entertain a reality that is untrue, but mean it. What song/project should unfamiliar listeners start with? If you love music, then the song for you is Hennessy & Honey If you’re a fan of art, figure it out outro is my favorite. So much of my personality and being is in that song. It’s completely one take. It was a random freestyle that just happened to come out of me when I was trying to figure out a way to win the industry in a way that wouldn’t make the industry happy but make everyone around me Happy. What’s next for Marado? What are some goals for 2025? I think this year that goes to drop a little bit of a longer project. People can enjoy and possibly working with more artist who care about the same things I care about. I wanna work with anybody in any genre, but they have to care about the things I care about. What music have you been listening to lately? Ive been listening to Roy Blair, Jean Dawson, & Mustafa

ARTIST SPOTLIGHT Jardin February 28th 2025 Describe the sound of your music for unfamiliar listeners my music goes all over the place, i like to do many different genres like indie rock in English and corridos tumbados in Spanish. i believe the versatility in my music represents me as a person and gives me no boundaries as an artist. “Lose Control” is my personal favorite song of yours, describe your creative process for that song. Lose Control was the first song i ever put vocals on, i had made the instrumental with my pawned guitar and midi keyboard on garageband and felt motivated to start singing. i loaded up bandlab with the regular apple headphones and just wrote what felt right for the song. it was really interesting trying to figure out how to do everything and i’m happy with how it came out. How’d you first get into making music? i started playing guitar when i was 15, but i never really thought about making music until my senior year of high school. Me and my friend Pablo, who helps me with my music a lot, started writing songs in the school parking lot. after i graduated, i started recording instrumentals and started writing songs from there. Where do you find the inspiration to create music? my influences and the music i listen to on the regular inspire me to keep creating. Steve Lacy is definitely one of my biggest influences, with his ‘bare maximum’ concept, seeing someone making such great music without using crazy expensive equipment was very inspirational and motivates me to get to that level of talent. What song/project should unfamiliar listeners start with? i would definitely recommend “FAST TRAK”, its my favorite song that i’ve released. hard hitting drums with chorus guitar and electric piano, very inspired by mac demarco’s style of music. i called it FAST TRAK because i made the instrumental and lyrics in one day. What’s next for Jardin? What are some goals for 2025? i want to improve the quality of my music and release more consistently this year. i also just want to have fun with what i’m doing and try new things like making music videos or collaborating with different artists. i would want to release an album in April with singles in March if everything goes well. What music have you been listening to recently? i’m always listening to artists like Steve Lacy, Mac Miller, Deftones and artists in spanish like Ivan Cornejo and DannyLux. i’ve also been listening to smaller artists doing really cool stuff like Sexto Sentimiento and Yrs Ant, hoping to collab with both of them in the future.

ARTIST SPOTLIGHT BaeAk August 1st 2025 Describe your music for unfamiliar listeners I would describe my music as fresh yet nostalgic. I’m trying to create something unique to me and my ggang’s personal stories, while painting a broad picture most people can delve into. Describe your creative process It varies GREATLY, depending on the project. With any song it starts with a concept, and I might get the inspo for that doing literally anything. Sometimes I hear a beat that moves me, and I just start talking until the song is done. Or a lyric pops into my head, and it sticks with me until I’ve written a whole song. I’ve also been known to hear a beat, pull out my notebook, and have a whole hook and verse done in 15 minutes. It all just depends on how inspired I am in the moment. Your new, 4 track EP, “#BaeLovesYou3” has no skips. What went into making it? Do you have a favorite song on it? With the #BaeLovesYou series, my goal is to make 4 songs that sound good, and encapsulate whatever saga of life is ending. Going into the third installment, my only goal was to show how much we’ve evolved. Ggang is healthy, family’s good, bitches badder than ever, I moved outta my mum’s crib, shows are getting booked, and money is STILL green. I wanted to show off in style, and create something unique that only N2K could make. How’d you first get into making music? Brah, I’ve been making music since I could have my own thoughts. My first memories all revolve around a stage, some instrument, a microphone, or theater performance. The second I learned how to read and write, I started writing songs with Usher and T-Pain type beats on YouTube. I got my start performing with choirs, school bands, and in talent shows. Around age 15 I was producing beats on GarageBand and fooling around with online DAWs and shitty mics. I didn’t really start releasing a lot of music until late 2020, when I met Gerk. We started the first iteration of the clique and the rest is history. Where do you find the inspiration to create music? In my soul. Through the faith of my convictions and faith in Allah’s plan for me. In my everyday experiences and mistakes/lessons of my past, and in the assertion that the path to the future is guaranteed. You’ll hear me talk about the future a lot, because I believe we’re the generation that’s gonna change how things really run. We’ve already started influencing thought, how music is made, and events run in our cities. It’s only a matter of time and hard work. What have you been working on lately? Any new music soon? I’m working on a lot of music. New singles with big features, and music videos. My next project will probably come out in 2k26, it’s gonna be a lot more jazz and DnB influenced. I’m not slowing up though. A lot of singles in this current style in the meantime, to please the people. Other than music, what else have you been up to? I got a lot of other stuff in the works — merch, streaming, and vlogs. I’m trying to create a window into my life for everyone to enjoy. Also been playing Fortnite, gooning, learning and studying politics. Me and Gerk boutta go to Montana. I just been living life fr. What music have you been listening to lately? A lot of Che, Nettspend, 2Hollis. I fucked w some songs off that Tyler project, Clipse project was phenomenal. I’m a big album listener, so this what I had on repeat for some weeks: Lil old Town – DJ Lucas Star – 2Hollis Hood Luva Vol. 3 – Chavo Oi! – YT Fancy – That PinkPanthress

ARTIST SPOTLIGHT JOEY AICH December 6th 2024 Describe your music for unfamiliar listeners. My music is a modern twist on the 90s (Pharcyde, A Tribe Called Quest, Digable Planets, De La Soul, etc) and 2010s blog era (Lupe, J Cole, Kid Cudi, Mac Miller, Asher Roth, and many more). A big emphasis on storytelling and using my personal experiences to paint on the canvas that is recorded music and stage performances. I'm a professional dreamer and hopefully my music inspires others to dream as well. How and when did you get into music? I got into entertainment at an early age. I was always involved with church and school plays and choir. Once I got older I gravitated towards poetry and the meanings of lyrics and storytelling. I would print and read lyrics of my favorite songs to try to figure out metaphors, entendres, connections to life events, and that shaped what I wanted to be as a writer. Growing up in Woodmere Village, a suburb outside of Cleveland, OH, I was very anti to the idea of being a "Rapper" in high school. I would hear people around the area who called themselves rappers and everything felt fake (lyrics and image) and I didn't want to be considered similar so I kept my songs to myself and used it more as a diary. I gained more confidence right before going to college and that's when I started to release my own original music and the first time I performed my own music I was hooked and realized this is what I wanted to do. I got that same feeling as a kid when I started entertaining to begin with! Creative Process? My process goes in a cycle. Since my lyrics are very personal experience based, I use my life to fuel the lyrics. So I have to live, I have to go through new experiences so I can share and relate to those who listen. After that, I reach out to my team of producers who I've worked with over the years and then the stories and production form where I'm headed and I go from there. Outside of that, I am the owner of Joey Aich Entertainment, LLC, so I run the show and operate my Patreon, study analytics, research opportunities to perform, craft release strategies, and find ways to be useful in multiple capacities within the community. ink of a feeling or memory, lots of the time having to do with nostalgia, and I try to capture how that would sound and feel to me. Where do you find inspiration? I find my inspiration from my lived experiences. As a fan of music first, I knew when I was younger the songs that really resonated with me were the ones that hit my spirit during times where music was the only thing that could heal or amplify the time. To write songs like that are my own stories and others relate and tell me how it impacted them is special to me. I'm also inspired by my family and friends. I've been very blessed with incredible people around me and I never have to look far outside of my circle to be inspired. First and foremost, my parents are true examples of what I want to be, so talking to them and watching them inspires me to ALWAYS want to make them proud. Everyone around me does something special and it's almost like - How can I be the one that DOESN'T do something great too. What song/project should unfamiliar listeners begin with? Ooooh this is a hard one. So I'm big into sports and have built my brand with music and sports combined so I'll give a starting five of songs. I feel like Brown Liquor, Rope Break, Rossi on the Deck, Zoom, and Jenga III, are a good reflection of who I am as an artist. If you give those a try and enjoy what you hear, I know you'll like everything else because it's something in the catalog for you. Project wise, I'm into universe building and I feel like I'm creating a catalog that people can find easter eggs in so right now the center of the universe is Open Treehouse (Deluxe), it's a long album, but it tells you exactly who I am and how you can revisit albums like If Money Grew on Trees and AichFiles. But also, if you just like starting from the beginning, knock yourself out and start at AichFiles and enjoy the ride! Any new projects soon? Anything you'd like to promote Yes, currently I'm in a groove and working on a bunch of music and ready to unload the vault. I have a collaborative album on the way with my brother and frequent collaborator, Dave Zup, titled DUO. After that, in 2025 I am releasing a solo album. Also, I have a side project as well under a pseudonym where I will be releasing music very often. A lot to look forward to. What music have you been listening to recently? I've been running a melting pot of music so I'm just gonna list a few - that new Kendrick (obviously), Brijean (probably my most listened to group of the year, I gotta see them live), Dan Kye, Leon Thomas, Grandace, Liteweight Champion, and Tommy Richman and Tommy Richman adjacent music, Channel Tres, and the Ohio homies!

ARTIST SPOTLIGHT Michael TA June 27th 2025 Describe your music for unfamiliar listeners I think my sound is honest and a mirror of who I am. It’s a place where I can process my emotions and everything in between. Through my music I can reflect on where I’m from, who I am, and I’m who I’m becoming. It’s almost like a form of self therapy and conversation. Describe your creative process The majority of my time is spent trying to find the right beats that speak to me. There’s some very talented producers on YouTube to whom I owe a lot of credit. From there, I usually just drink some caffeine, enjoy the sounds, and get to writing. Your latest song, “fly” is really touching. What went into making it? I feel as though sometimes the lyrics come from something greater than us. We can never repay those who came before us, but we can at least try to make them proud of who we’re becoming. That’s just what I felt when writing that song. How’d you first get into making music? My homie Jason created a song on BandLab in high school, we must’ve been like 16 at the time, but he wanted me to drop a verse on it. Based off the reactions I received from the verse I dropped, I figured it was something I should stick with and dedicate more time to. Where do you find the inspiration to create music? The people I interact with on the daily who tell me to stick with it and keep creating really inspires me. Or when someone tells me that one of my songs impacted them in some way. It’s just nice to know that people resonate with the sound, and that I’m doing something right with it. What have you been working on lately? Any new music soon? I’ll be releasing an album titled, “Sonder Perspectives” this summer. Really excited for the world to hear that one. Other than music, what else have you been up to? I’ve been playing pick up basketball and skating. Oh and trying to land a summer job. Also prepping for my last semester at my university in the Bay Area, I’ll be needing to write a thesis, so looking forward to that hahah. What music have you been listening to lately? It’s always all over the place, but I’ve been bumping Steve Lacy, untiljapan, and gqbec lately.