5 minute read
Norman Perry
Norman Perry belongs to the new generation of artists who will help shaping the R&B sound of tomorrow. Coming from New Haven, Connecticut, the singer is set to achieve big things in the near future. After unveiling his debut album 'Play By Play' at the beginning of the year, Norman is already ready to drop a new project in the next couple of weeks. The young singer skillfully blends mellow but atmospheric R&B and Hip- Hop bars while displaying his soulful vocals on well-crafted tracks. If 'Play By Play' is a good overview of the artist’s universe, there’s no doubt that the best is still yet to come. Get to know Norman Perry and thank us later.
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On The Move: Hi Norman! For those who don’t know you yet, could you tell us about how you started getting into music?
Norman Perry: I started music when I was 13 but I started to take it seriously around 16. I did a lot of Hip-Hop stuff so I think that’s something you can hear a lot in my lyricism. One day I was like I need to take a break to figure out what I really wanted to do and what made me happy instead of what made me feel like it was a job. I wanted to make it feel like it was a hobby, making money off of it and doing what I really liked. So it just naturally happened.
On The Move: Did you always want to get in music at some point or was it something you got an interest, as a daily job, along the way?
Norman Perry: I always wanted to do music. My father plays music, he had a Jazz band that was pretty dope so I’ve always been a great fan of music.
On The Move: You’re from New Haven but you now live in Boston. Did this change of environment help you to shape your sound?
Norman Perry: I actually lived in Boston for 9 years but I am back in New Haven actually, just working and going hard. I love my city.
On The Move: Who are your music inspirations?
Norman Perry: I really love early Drake, like « Comeback Season » Drake is really dope to me. Other than that for lyricism, I’d say Nas and Jay-Z, I’m a huge fan of those two. Also Biggie but I ride with New-York Hip-Hop to the death. This is where I’m from you know, supporting the city.
On The Move: How would you describe your sound?
Norman Perry: I would describe my sound as trap RnB basically, the boy with the vocals in the back (laughs)
On The Move: How do you process when you want to create a song?
Norman Perry: Just the vibe. Being around people who’s going to keep me in a good mood to want to record. Being around people who are giving me inspiration. It has to be more inspiration than determination. It has to be more than just wanting it. I need to feel my vibe and to just play it up. I usually take out my phone, vibe out and do some vocal recordings and melodies and stuff. When I was making 'Alive' I was just humming it out and once I got the whole melody, I started playing with the lyrics. I would change the melody for that songs like 10 times (laughs), I think it worked out for the best.
On The Move: What do you think about the state of Hip-Hop right now?
Norman Perry: I think it’s cool, I think it’s creative. I think a lot of stuff is overrated but I think a lot of stuff is under-appreciated as well so I’m pretty 50/50 on it. I don’t really hate anything right now, I am so serious about positive vibes so I support everything because I just hope that anybody who comes across my music, they’d actually see the good and creative side out of it and support it as well. I think there was a better time of it but it’s still dope, I love Hip-Hop. I can’t complain about music (laughs).
On The Move: Why did you choose to name your debut album 'Play By Play' ?
Norman Perry: I made this song named 'Royal Sonesta' and when I did that I was with my roommate and I was like I need to get out of here, it sucks in here. So I leave and I go to an hotel named 'Royal Sonesta'. So I go to the hotel, I start making the song, I am a little fucked up and just chilling and enjoying my time there, by myself. I started saying 'I gotta to take it play by play', just freestyling. Sometimes I don’t write, I just feel it and it’s the best way to get the vibe of the song. I started to tell myself that it was real, that I take it day by day and play by play. I thought it was really relatable.
On The Move: You’re currently independent and trying to make things happen with your team. What do you think is the biggest challenge as an independent artist?
Norman Perry: The biggest challenge to me is the resources, the people you run into and the networking. Sometimes it’s hard, it takes time to do it but it’s a part of the process and the game so I don’t see it as a hard time. I look at it as anything that’s worth having is not gonna come easy. It’s more rewarding so I’m up for it.
On The Move: Do you have a special song in your album that you feel particularly connected to?
Norman Perry: I’m in a debate between 'Slide' and 'Hate' all the time, but I really love 'Slide' . That’s really dope to me, I feel like the song is not just for one crowd, I feel like it’s for anybody. It could be about a friend that you miss, or a girl that you miss. It could be about anything.
On The Move: Do you write from personal experiences or you’re trying to put yourself in someone else’s shoes?
Norman Perry: A little bit of both, I would say. Sometimes it’s about things that I might see myself wanting to do. I just want to be relatable for people and people saying that it helped them to get through the day.
On The Move: What are you listening to the most at the moment?
Norman Perry: I like Lil’ Baby. Lil’ Baby is dope and has a solid project! (laughs)
On The Move: What can we expect from you in the next upcoming months?
Norman Perry: Big things! We have 'XX 2' coming up, that’s gonna be crazy. I got some dope producers on that, we got possibly DJ Mustard on it, we’ve got K.Swisha… some big names on it. I am looking forward to working with more producers and make the best music possible but 'XX 2' is gonna be very huge and we are currently planning on doing some shows and stuff.
Interview Pam Charbit | Photos by Trevor browning exclusively for On The Move
