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8. Slayter 10. jack boy 22. Tyla Yaweh 26. sebastian mikael 32. paloma ford 38. kaash paige
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Where are you from ? I was born in Puerto Rico, and spent a lot of time there as a kid. I would go back and forth between PR and New York to visit family often. Where did you grow up? I was raised in Dyckman, New York. I would spend time in different parts of the city too, but Dyckman has always been home. Nagle Ave to be specific, that block is where I built a lot of my earliest memories and met the people I’m closest with. When did you fall in love with music ? I think I was about 10 years old, I would record on my mom’s phone. Back when the phones with cameras first came out and they had voice memo capability. I would record voice notes of different ideas I had. My neighbor in Puerto Rico also had a studio in his crib. I used to record there all the time, I made my very first songs there. I eventually made a song so good, they decided to take me to a real studio in Puerto Rico. I went back to New York and continued recording on my own. More and more opportunity opened up for me. I took the momentum and continued building from there. What was your favorite song when you was growing up? I’m a 50 Cent fan, his music was in heavy rotation when I was a kid. My favorite songs are probably “Many Men” and “Piggy Bank”. Have you been able to create differently given so much isolation? Definitely - when quarantine began I got a studio in the crib. It’s given me a lot more freedom and helps me stay consistently recording. There’s also a level of comfort in the crib, I feel like I’m really in my element. How do you feel the world is handling it all? The world can be a dark place, but I think we have to collectively uplift each other as much as possible. The world definitely got me fucked up, but that’s the outlook I personally try to have. I do my best to stay positive. Look out for one another, stay safe, wear a mask. Describe your sound ? A few words that come to mind are.. melodic, sinister, New York. R&B songs about murder. Tell us about your music video and what it means to you? My favorite video to this day is the one we shot for “MHM”. Shout out Fred Focus. We did a lot of different creative set ups, shot in my neighborhood, and captured a lot of the energy I think is true to my lifestyle and where I come from. How much of the creative directing do you do with your visuals ? I’ve been hands on with the different treatments that we’ve come up with. It’s something I have fun with and have been wanting to explore more of. Visuals tell another part of the story, they’re equally as important as the music. I’ve been focusing on them more and lending my own ideas to help authentically capture another part of who I am as an artist. Are you releasing an album if so tell us about it ? I’m working on another project called World Got Me Fucked Up, Reloaded. It’s going to have some new tracks that complement the current version of WGMFU. Some of the same featured artists contributed to Reloaded, but I also got some new ones. I’m hype to share it with everyone. How do you feel about it’s sound compared to your previous released stuff? Since I’ve been recording more during quarantine, I’ve been rapping over different beats I might not have considered before. Having a home studio has helped a lot with this. I get to take the time I need to try new things. My lyrics, melodies, and rhyme schemes have all evolved. I’ve also been experimenting with new recording methods. What do you want your fans to know that they don’t know ? I want to make my own sitcom one day. Martin, George Lopez, and Full House combined.
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JACKBOY
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Jackboy is the heir to the throne of Florida’s eclectic hip-hop scene, and in 2020 he’s proven exactly why he hold’s that esteemed title. He’s dropped two full-length projects, the self-titled album Jackboy and his most recent tape, Living History, both of which have created serious waves in the music industry. Through his diverse range of talent and his never-ending hunger for development, Jackboy has been able to arise as one of the major acts coming out of South Florida, and there is no stop in sight for him.
Q: One of the more notable aspects of your career is how much growth you’ve shown between records, where does the motivation for that development come from? A: It’s just when I make a song, when I see a songs gotten like a good review, I’m always like “I gotta top that, I gotta top that, I gotta top that.” But, while me trying to do that, we not knowing I’m making a lot of good songs that’s up to par with that song just by trying to top it. But until I get a song like “Alright y’all finally topped it”. Till then it’s like, what a new sound I can bring to it, what’s a new bar I can think of, what’s a new thing I can add.
Q: How does your own experiences with law enforcement shape your perception of what’s going on in the country right now? A: It just got me looking like “Dang they finally tryin’ to understand something about it!”. Like, it’s finally being brought to light. But I still feel like theres a lot of stuff that’s being overlooked and I feel like a lot of celebrities that real-deal speak on the situation, they’re just speaking on it like for the moment thing. It’s not real-deal, cause some of them ain’t really go through it and even the ones that went through it, they didn’t really go through it cause it’s like you “you were a millionaire going through it!”. You ain’t go through what all of us went through. Q: I feel like some artists speak on it for good publicity, not to actually elicit real change.
Q: How do you see the state of hip-hop in Florida right now? I feel like it’s real good right now. I feel like we got a lot of Florida artists at the front of a lot of things going on in hip-hop right now. We kinda getting looked at more right now. I feel like it’s flowing, things change, but you know, it’s just new lanes, new ideas and new ways to make music. But, I feel like it’s going right now. Q: Where do you see your career trajectory in the next 5 years? A: I don’t really wanna say where I see myself cause like, 3 years ago I didn’t see myself where I am right now. So, I don’t wanna put no limit to it. I just know I’m gonna be successful in the next 5 years. I don’t know where I’m gonna see myself, but I know it’s gonna be something real, real big. Q: So what’s your biggest goal for the next 5 years? I’ll switch up the question. What do you hope to accomplish? A: My biggest goal, I wanna like at least get a couple Platinums in there, but it’s not really about the music. My biggest goal is just to use the music platform and just create other things. Like open businesses….have more than one thing going on. Just be successful in every hustle I have going on, from the music. That’s really like my biggest goals, I have a lot of other things going on. Q: What’s been the most difficult part of quarantine for you personally? A: Actually quarantine hasn’t been too difficult cause I kinda used the quarantine to my advantage. But, as far as the working part, I probably could have done a little more networking, as far as interviews and stuff like that, that might be the hardest part.
A: Yeah, good publicity. They just do it, know what I’m sayin’, cause it’s the cool thing going on at the moment and people just, it’s just politics. They just do it for that. But I feel like, even if you got arrested as a millionaire or whatever, if you did time, you had the whole world vouching for you. You can’t really speak on jail or anything like that cause it’s kids out here with zero dollars, with nobody vouching for them. Not even their families. Q: How does the state of the world in regards to police violence affect your perception of what’s allegedly going on with Kodak in prison? A: Yeah, see that’s another thing it’s like, I already know like all that. It’s going to have you frustrated, but I went to prison too and I went through the same thing he went through. That’s why I say, like a lot of artists speak on it, but they went to county jail or something and they are trying to be the voice for that. It’s like, “No you can’t be the voice for that cause you ain’t go through that.” But it’s like, what he going through, I already kinda figured it was going to kinda be that because it’s gonna feel like a lot of jealousy, all that. But he’s pretty tough though I think everything will be good. But, I feel like it should be spoken on more how these celebrities tryin’ to just find one that’s just like, “Alright, this a random person, and it’s blowing right now, we’re gonna speak on this”, it’s like hold on—this man was just doing features with y’all, y’all should speak this and not just overlook it. But that’s just how it goes. Q: It kinda feels like Florida artists have a particularly abusive relationship with the law, like most Florida artists I know have had serious troubles with the police; do you think it’s something specific about Florida? A: Yeah, definitely something specific about Florida. Probably cause a lot of people out here just do whatever pretty much and the police just hate that influence that you have on someone else. They hate that. They [the police] don’t want you to get too much power, or anything to influence. Or even if you’re doing something good for the community, like tryin’ to give back. They really don’t want you out there cause they know, “Alright, everybody likin’ him”—they don’t want it like that. They want you far away, “go make money somewhere else.” When you’re down here—Florida Police—if you do anything, they’ll tend to try attack you and provoke you to do even more things. Q: How have the world-wide protests made you feel personally?
Q: When you say interviews, do you like doing interviews? Do you not like doing interviews? A: Yeah, I like doing interviews, but I like being in person, things like that. Every interview now is just over the phone, Zoom, stuff like that, it’s like, aight quarantine kinda messed that up. You know you can just feel a person more better out and understand what a person’s trying to say just in person, just getting a whole vibe.
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A: It actually made me feel like, “Damn alright”; I knew it wasn’t gonna stop, cause nothings gonna stop like that. But it was like, it’s being spoken about. Not everywhere where we need it being spoken about, or we not speaking on everything we need to, but at least the conversation started. Q: Where do you want to see the conversation go from here? A: I want to see it go more than just the celebrities, I wanna see it help everyone out in an aspect. Not just this one celebrity, and this one person or just this one person this and that, or you have to have a relationship with somebody to get helped out. Nah, I feel like everybody should just get helped out. That’s where the conversation should be going. Or even more so, even if we are talking about police and how they come. It’s like, you have the authority, you don’t have to force your authority on me or force it on me and be known. I feel like a lot of different conversations should be spoke upon. Even judges and court, how they sentence people with over-sentencing. All that.
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Q: How has your relationship changed with police now that you’ve gotten famous. Do you see a difference, now that you’re famous, from back in the day? A: I definitely don’t see a difference. I kinda see more hatred cause now it’s like, “Oh shit, that’s that same one that told me to ‘suck my dick’? That broke ‘lil black kid got a Lamborghini now?”—It’s like—“Aw shit, we gotta arrest him!” It’s a little more hatred, but as far as the world, nah. Some people I see different but some people still don’t respect it cause it’s like “Damn, how he get that money?”—in their head it’s off rip. If you don’t know I’m a artist, you just think “Oh drug dealer”—whatever you’re thinking in your head. That’s what they thinking, so that’s the energy they giving me. Q: Well, I assume you get recognized in Florida all the time… A: Yeah definitely. I always get recognized in Florida. But you know it’s sometimes might you go in the bank and there might be whoever in there, somebody grandpa, and they don’t really know you. So now they looking at you like “How the fuck he got all this in his account?” It’s something extra; cause now you just gave out your money that you usually do, now you gotta sign this, talk to this person and it’s like damn, I never had to do none of this before. Q: So what’s been the most stressful part about being successful now? A: The most stressful part is actually like a blessing and a curse kinda, is being noticed. Cause being noticed, the more you’re noticed of course, the more your bag is coming cause you getting more and more known and people coming to you. But sometimes, it’s like damn, let me grab a drink right quick. But sometimes you just wanna chill, just vibe. Even if I’m recognized, like sometimes you just wanna walk by and be regular. But I don’t really trip too much about it cause it’s all blessings with it. That’s what I signed up for, that’s what I asked for, so it’s all blessings with it. It just makes you move smarter and more strategic. Q: Is it a weird experience making party music for a world that is socially distancing for the near future? A: Actually it isn’t making for them cause it’s like, sooner or later it’s gonna open back up and even though we might be social distancing—people are just dealing with their families, and like aight, it’s sad. I don’t gotta make sad music for y’all while we going through this. I can still make stuff that makes you happy and gets you turnt up. You can be in the house by yourself, you don’t need a whole club. I don’t need the club, I am the party. Q: What’s the most personal song on Living In History and why? A: The most personal song on Living History is “Pray to God.” Just by the things I’m saying in there. It’s like, closer to me. It’s more personal. It’s like, the other songs I’m rapping, I’m giving you the flow, I’m giving you whatever, but that one it’s like I’m letting you in a little bit on how I real deal feel. The music just hit more. Q: How was your collaborative energy with Tee Grizzley? A: I rock with Tee Grizzley, Tee Grizzley cool. The energy was up to par. We work pretty smooth together, and we got a couple more in the cut that we just holdin’ up on. Q: Can you take me through the thought process behind the album cover for Living In History? A: The thought process—really my designer is super GOATED, super GOATED—we just told him we wanted something different, and like pretty much speaking on what’s going on right now, through a picture. Like everything that’s happening right now, we want that through the picture and he pretty much brought that alive. He had like, the police, it shows that—it shows me in the middle, it shows the shackles on, and I like how he put the newspaper kinda style. I like Dior a lot, they have a newspaper style of clothing—it just all came together.
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Q: Musically, what is your dream collaboration? A: My dream collaboration is Ed Sheeran. Q: How do you think that record would sound between you too? Would you want it to be more like his record, or do you want him to make music more like your music? A: Man, I want it to be more like his record. I got some songs, let him know. Q: Do you like that type of music? A: Yeah, I listen to Ed Sheeran, I listen to some Sam Smith. I listen to everything, I listen to Adele. I listen to some of Camila Cabello songs. But I feel like Adele just GOATED in that. Q: Adele is the GOAT. A: And then I feel like Ed Sheeran for the males, he just—he showin’ out right now. A collab like that, that’d be a next level collab. Q: So you want to go more pop in the future? A: Yeah. I’m still definitely gonna give this, I’m not gonna go more pop. I’m gonna get Jackboy. And that’s Jackboy —on this part of the song, he’s versatile, and on this part of the tape, you might hear me make a couple pop tracks, on this part you hear straight couple street, thugged out tracks, on this part you hear some real-life raps, reality raps—this part you might get drip. This all Jackboy in one, this how he feel like a love song should sound—if we talkin’ about a girl, like he should come on this Ed Sheeran type flow, but if we talkin’ about the streets we can’t rap like that. We gotta give it to them like the streets will understand it. Q: What will be the first thing you do if this pandemic ever ends? A: First thing I do, if this pandemic ever ends, I’ll give my enemy his bitch back. Cause I’ve had her with me the whole pandemic.
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RAGER BØY Coming off the success of "Tommy Lee'' and "Stuntin' On You", Tyla Yaweh is cementing his name as one of music's rising stars. The malleability of Yaweh's delivery has given him an edge over the leaders of the post-genre era. As some attempt to classify Yaweh's music as rap, emo, pop, or rock, more often than not, no one tag solely applies. He is continuously layering and contrasting sounds- light with dark, somber with glee, smooth with raw- the tracks off his debut album Heart Full of Rage tend to shift with his mood. Tylah Yaweh's sound is unconventionally orchestrated. The pursuit of raw originality and boundless creativity drives Tyla Yaweh sophomore album, RAGERBØY. The album has been in the offing for several months due to the pandemic, which has granted Yaweh additional opportunity to "sit with the music, create a vibe, and strategize a whole album."
On an August evening, the 25-year-old Angeleno transplant dials in from his home, where he has spent most of his time tinkering and reflecting. He describes his time in quarantine as a "blessing, although it's not the best of times right now. We're still alive. Can't stop won't stop!" This energy carries into our interview as we discuss the process of dropping an album during a pandemic, early successes in his career, and some lessons he's learned along the way.
Tiffany: How has the pandemic affected making/ finalizing RAGERBØY? Tyla Yaweh: The pandemic made it easier, to be honest. We got everything done with all the features we wanted. I got a chance to sit with the music, create a vibe, and strategize a whole album. It's a blessing to create more songs for RAGERBØY! A better vibe, a breath of fresh air for people's ears. Tiffany: Stuntin' On You is a hit! During the creative process for the track, did you know you wanted DaBaby featured on it?
Tyla Yaweh: Yes, I did! It was such a fun process making the track Stuntin' On You. Making the music video made the whole process even better because we got to vibe and get to know each other's energy. Tiffany: What inspired the visuals for the music video for Stuntin' On You?
Tyla Yaweh: We just wanted to stunt. It was so hard to create the visuals during the pandemic, but we made it happen. It's so cool that we were able to do safely. It came out perfectly- it was a movie!
Tiffany: With the pandemic, what hurdles did you encounter while making the music video for Stuntin' On You? Tyla Yaweh: Man permits. How many people we could have on set. All the restrictions that come with COVID. It was different but we figured it out. Once we met all the requirements- that was all that mattered. We got the video done and were able to release the song on time. We are going to keep stepping on people's necks with this good music. Tiffany: To look back a bit, "Tommy Lee" has had massive success. Has that created the pressure to make another hit?
Tyla Yaweh: No, not at all. Tommy Lee was created for that moment in time. There will be other moments with songs that people would say, "Can you recreate this song?" I'm going to keep creating songs and vibes that reflect the time we are living in. Tiffany: You consider RAGERBØY and all of your music to be genre-less. What do you find limiting about fitting into one genre? Tylah Yaweh: It limits you. I don't go into the studio and say, "I'm going to make a rap song today, a trap song, a pop song." It's whatever my vibe and my mood is. When I make a song, it's not for a specific crowd. I want it to sound new with different layers and a mixture of sounds. You never know who will relate to the music from a business person to someone from the hood. I am just making creative music.
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Tiffany: Do you think it is because you are a black artist, people try to put you into a category? Tyla Yaweh: No, not at all! I just got the cover of a rock playlist on Spotify. It doesn't matter what color you are, who you are, or what gender you identify with music is a frequency. It will be here when we are dead and gone. Tiffany: You have a lot of rock influence in your music. What was your introduction to rock music? Why did you gravitate to that genre? Tyla Yaweh: The internet and my parents-they listen to everything. I found a lot of music on my own. I fell in love with the rock lifestyle. Green Day, My Chemical Romance, Hawthorne Heights, Jim Morrison, Sex Pistols, that whole lifestyle is so rebellious and [represents] not giving a fuck. It's about being the black sheep and doing whatever you want. Rock went from not being the wave to labels going to shows wanting to sign these David Bowe's and Madonna's. There will always be a new wave that people aren't going to accept first, and then everybody wants it. Tiffany: Do you look at yourself as a black sheep? Was that the relatability factor in rock music? Tyla Yaweh: Definitely! In the beginning, no one believed in me. I had my team, and they were pushing me, and people kept saying, "No, that's not it." We kept working, grinding, and putting out quality music. We were the black sheep, and now we are the sheep that the other sheep follow.
Tiffany: What has it been like working with your idols like Billie Joe Armstrong, Blink 182, and Travis Barker? Tylah Yaweh: Damn, It's fucking crazy. I still reflect on it because these are legends. The music we have isn't out yet. But I can't wait for people to hear it and see we are breaking barriers out here. Anyone else can do the same thing! If you want to meet your idol, you can. You have to believe and not give up. Tiffany: Has it always been that sentiment for you: pushing yourself, never wanting to give up? Tylah Yaweh: To be honest, I've never feared giving up. No matter what. A weird obstacle would come my way, and I always make it happen. I still smile at the end of the day and keep moving forward. Tiffany: What was the significant driving factor in moving from Florida to Los Angeles? Tylah Yaweh: The drive was-this is it. I have to do it! I have a plan, and now is the time to attack it. I built up a blueprint for my confidence level. It was time to go into the real world and chase this dream. People loved it [locally], and I was growing a fan base. So I had to ask myself, "What's stopping me from growing my fan base bigger?" It got to a point where I said, "Fuck it, I'm going full throttle!" Tiffany: What attracted you to Los Angeles, specifically? Why not Atlanta or New York? Tylah Yaweh: This where the music industry is. It's the world of entertainment, where the labels are, producers, and where many artists live. LA is the place to be, for sure! Atlanta and New York is the place to be as well for certain people's comfort zones. LA was just my comfort zone. If I didn't come to LA, I wouldn't be talking to you right now. So everything happens for a reason. Tiffany: Was there a significant moment before you moved to LA, which helped you realize that you had to get out of Florida? Tylah Yaweh: I was around Birdman and the whole Cash Money crew working at the hit factory, doing music videos, along with him potentially trying to sign me. But, I was in such a weird situation that was blocking my blessings, and the only way to get out was to move. Hit the streets and make it happen.
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Tiffany: You've toured and opened up for big names early on in your career. What was the biggest lesson they've taught you about your artistry? Tylah Yaweh: The growth! I went on the tour with Saint Jhn earlier on in his career and look how big Saint Jhn is now. That's my guy! We talk every day. But, watching him go from where we started to where he is now, it's the same thing. It's the growth, the growth of everything. Tiffany: With RAGER BOY, what can people expect from the album without giving too much away? Tylah Yaweh: I don't want them to expect anything. I want them to expect something new. If you are expecting something, then that is what you are going to get from that artist. Every time I drop an album, I want you guys not to guess what I'm going to do. You can't expect anything but the best. Tiffany: How do you want to be remembered? Tylah Yaweh: I want to be remembered as being light in people's lives. Having positive energy every single day. Being people's motivation and inspiration.
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Weems Stylist Assistant: Demetrius Simms
Photographer: Tyler Henry Creative Director + Stylist: Paco Lampecinado Grooming: Ruthie
Sebastian Mikael Your mother is ethiopian, Did you go to Ethiopia often? What can you tell us about your experience there? The culture, people, etc.
I’ve been to Ethiopia once as a kid when I was 9 and then I went to Eritrea when I was 15.
The people are warm and have a genuine happiness that’s not based on material things or money. It was also the first time I had seen poverty on that level. I met some of my cousins who had completely different lives than me. It made me appreciate what I had and I realized how privileged I was.
The culture is very rich and full of history. Ethiopia has one of the oldest African cultures so it was fascinating to see the monuments that date back to BC. As a kid I didn’t really appreciate it as much as I do now, so I’m dying to go back again and really soak all of it up.
Over the years, you’ve truly evolved and grown as an artist. Can you speak to your creative journey both aesthetically and sonically?
My creative journey has been about me morphing into who I am as an artist and human.
I took a two year hiatus just tapping into me, and the more I embraced what I genuinely loved- my sound just came together.
Sonically, I went back to my first love- which is soul music. When I was first starting out, before I put any music out, my sound was leaning more towards neo soul. I didn’t think I was musically inclined enough to pull it off and I thought labels wouldn’t get it, so I chose to go the label route following a direction they had for me. Now I’ve grown enough as an artist to go full throttle on what I love and believe in.
One thing about me, I’ve never been a one-dimensional artist. I incorporate so many different elements that make up who I am. Therefore, I call my music “alternative soul”.
How many instruments do you play and which ones?
I play two instruments, keys and guitar. I’m trying to learn bass, too.
When making music, how do you feel the musical instruments that are used connect with the vocals and the overall story being told?
When I make music my only focus is making a dope song, so it all has to feel connected sonically. I thrive off of being creative overall and not just singing. I look at myself as a producer before a singer and I use my voice as an instrument so tone wise, it has to connect with everything else in the song.
You were introduced to art through painting (before music). Can you tell us about the correlation between sounds and colors as you see and/or hear it?
Yes, before I started doing music I wanted to be a painter; I was actually better at painting than music! But later on in life music just became more and more intriguing. Music, painting, film and fashion have always gone hand in hand for me. I see colors when I think of visuals for my music and the style of songs I create can come from the way I dress. For example, a 70’s silhouette shot on expired film can shape my sound.
One of my favorite songs of yours is “Mission.” What is your overall mission?
2020 has been an unprecedented year. What has your experience been like during the COVID-19 pandemic and the racial unrest/call for justice?
My mission is to inspire and uplift the youth by telling my story about the things that I went through, like the injustice I experienced by the color of my skin, losing my best friend to gun violence and battling mental health. I believe God gave me this gift for that purpose, so that lives can be changed.
Since COVID hit it’s been very challenging for me to find inspiration to create. I draw a lot of my inspiration from people and just everyday life shit so it was hard not having that. I think I took a lot of stuff for granted before the pandemic.
Can you speak to your latest release “Exit” and the inspiration/meaning behind it?
Since the pandemic I’ve had a few losses in my family that hit us really hard and the desire to work was gone for a couple of months. On top of that we were seeing black people being killed for no reason at all and that took a toll on my mental.
Your relationship with music began with you picking up the guitar. How did that come about and when did you figure out that you could go full fledge and sing as well?
Drums was actually my first instrument and then I picked up the guitar around twelve or thirteen. Singing came in way later for me. I didn’t start until I was a senior in high school, but never took it seriously until I was about twenty-three.
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“Exit” is about a breakup I went through two years ago. I was feeling really lonely and felt like I had dropped the ball by leaving so I was destined to get my shit together so I could give her what she deserved. We ended up getting back together.
Can you tell us about any upcoming projects or plans?
I’m getting ready to release my third EP with “Exit” being the first single. It’s currently being mixed and mastered
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P A L O M A F O R D Creative Director/ Stylist: @philonthegoat MUA: @mua.alexander HAIR: @amazinglystyled Photographer/ Editor: @deensvision Assoc. Editor: @jalilmiles
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History is being written as we speak. What are your thoughts on the current social climate? We're in historical time and a time of revelation. We're experiencing a lot of growing pains and the social climate is tense because of that. So continuing to come together as a collective and taking stances to fight injustice and make change is necessary. Everyone plays a role, regardless of how big or small. Whether it's using your platform as a public figure to shine a light on a subject or uplifting people through your art, nothing is arbitrary. I do my best to push the ball forward and make a change. What matters most to Paloma Ford? My family. What do you practice self-care? I carve time out of the day; it doesn't matter how long, to be with self and spirit to collect my thoughts. In this business, it's important to have a sense of stillness and to keep a leveled mindset, despite all the moving parts. Most importantly, the moments spent with my son gives me peace of mind. Where are you from? The L.B.C. baby [laughs] What's one song that takes you back to growing up in Long Beach? Tony! Toni! Toné! — It Never Rains in Southern California Your sophomore EP X Tapes was released last month. How does it feel to have a new body of work out in the world? The countdown to releasing X Tapes was nerve-racking, but the reception it received and continues to receive makes all the long nights and sacrifices worth it. It's been a while since I released a body of work, so to have something out that I put my all into feels surreal. I feel accomplished.
We want to start by asking, how are you? How has 2020 as a whole been for you thus far?
Did you have any goals you wanted to accomplish with this release? Were those goals they achieved, if so? Yes. My goals were to push myself lyrically and vocally and to tell an honest, complete story. I wanted the world to get a sense of vulnerability that I've never shared before—something that could only come from me. At what point did you know X Tapes was complete? When I recorded Chrome in My Feelings, the live setup was the finishing touch — a cherry on top – that made this project different and unique. It's a new experience for my fans and it's not the end of the story, so it leaves you wondering what's next? We got a sneak peek of your new video, "All For Nothing," featuring Rick Ross. The visual has a lot of symbolism that weaves skillfully together. Speak to the inspiration behind the visual's direction. I wanted it to reflect my journey through love and loss and the spirituality behind it all. I used the death card and other symbols of loss to mirror the emotions felt on the record. It's one of my favorite visuals to date. I think anyone who has experienced loss, in any facet, can relate. At the end, there is a rebirth where you emerge from that emotionally weighing situation as a stronger and better version of yourself. Self-empowerment after a loss is powerful and necessary for healing. How much of the creative directing do you do with your visuals? I'm involved in every aspect of the creative process, even though it's tedious and stressful as an independent artist, it's important that I execute my vision and deliver to my fans. Every song on X tapes, I've visualized and want to film.
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My family and I are happy and healthy, so that's the biggest blessing. We take it day by day and try to preserve our inner peace; focus on staying positive and not evoking too much negative energy. This year has brought so many highlights while presenting so many challenges. I've used it as a time to reset and push forward to new beginnings. Have you been able to create differently given so much isolation? I have, the entire creative landscape is shifting and it would be foolish to try and approach it as if it wasn't. It's allowed me to step back to the drawing boards and explore the way I create naturally. It's pushed me to take my art and the way fans experience it to the next level. I have some great things that I can't wait to reveal across music and fashion
How has the climate of releasing music changed since you released your last project, Nearly Civilized? It's always changing— forever evolving. This is an excellent time for independent artists, as the power is shifting into artists' hands. You now have a direct means of communication to your core fanbase and the world at your fingertips. Tech is changing our music landscape every day to put more power back in the hands of the artists. How would you compare the direction you took with X Tapes compared to Nealy Civilized? Nearly Civilized was my first project, and my introduction to the world. It was a chance for me to experiment and learn. Everyone's first project tends to go that way. For X Tapes, I was able to tap into specific moments and experiences I've gone through to show the world another side of me. A more vulnerable side and I think people will resonate with that more. You channeled 90's fashion throughout our roll out for X Tapes and even with this photoshoot. How has that golden era influenced you? The late '90s is the ultimate inspiration. From Mary J and Lil Kim to Faith Evans and the legendary Misa Hylton, I owe so much to those women. Everything from the iconic Versace prints and shades to the Fendi and Chanel prints brings me to the highest form of nostalgia. I'm inspired every day by that pivotal and pure era and all the figures who evoked their uniqueness to create culture. What's the top skillset an artist must possess if they want to remain as an independent act? Resilience.
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How do you keep the pressure on yourself being your own boss and business owner? That's a great question. I take pride in being a boss, and I know every entrepreneur or creative who controls their business share the same feeling. You're a boss because you have a clear vision with set goals, and those goals continue to evolve with every achievement. That revolving process is how I keep the pressure on myself. There are no limits to what you can dream for yourself because a glass ceiling is not in place; nothing stops you from reaching that level of greatness. Which record was the most emotional to write or perform on X tapes for you? As far as writing, I would have to say Nights I Cry and Space. Space was the first song I wrote three years ago, so some of the experiences I touched on were still a bit fresh [laughs]. To record, I would say Chrome was the most emotional. That song is filled with so many feelings—hence why I named it Chrome In My Feelings Version What was your most memorable studio moment while recording X Tapes? The night I recorded All For Nothing. Everyone, including myself, had chills after making that record. I vividly remember sitting in the studio for almost six hours straight to write and record that song. The idea of getting it to perfection motivated us all. I only got up to use the bathroom and grab a coffee like once or twice. The moment we played the final version back was one of the best feelings. It had to have been about three or four in the morning, but it felt like the day was starting from the excitement. You've made quite the waves this year. Do tell us, what's next for you? This is just the beginning. You can expect more music and more projects I'm working on in the space of fashion and cannabis.
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What’s a fun fact that not too many people know about you? I love alternative rock music. I'm addicted to Mexican food and I'm just cool. Im goofy.
What’s your definition of love? I feel like love is a drug it's something that you can get addicted to or get to attached and I just hate that feeling
What’s your songwriting process like, does it usually take a while to translate your thoughts into a song? I just freestyle everything. I ask the room what the beat makes them think about and I usually go off that topic. I just go whatever comes to my brain.
Being a prominent figure in R&B, what’s one of the biggest learning moments you’ve had so far? To not take everything so personal. Maneuver how you wanna grow and worry about yourself. Everything will be good happiness over everything.
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As far as fashion goes, how do you feel clothing and personal style empowers you as a performer and artist? Whenever I wear my chill clothes I don’t look like a star but whenever im dressed in my female asap rocky swag it makes me wanna go out it makes me want to perform
Your debut album is out now, how long did it take you to perfect this one? While working on it, what are some of the things you absolutely wanted to make sure were on point? It took me months to perfect teenage fever. I was working on a song every single day, mixing and mastering every single day. Mixing and my vocals. I needed to make sure my vocals sounded like butter and the instrumentation was very loud and clear so you can hear every instrument being played
Isaiah Rashad doesn’t do too many features, how did that collaboration come about? My team. They helped that out. It was faith. He hit me up a day before the project and it just happened
When fans listen to Teenage Fever, what’s one thing you want them to take away from this project? I want to be able to relate. And I want them to know we are the same and we all go through different emotions on a daily.
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love alternative rock music love alternative rock music
love alternative rock music
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Obviously you can’t tour this year due to the pandemic, but if you could take three artists on the road with you, who would they be and why? Drake Brent and future. That would be one of the biggest tours in the world. Different types of music. We all sipping and we all toxic. Toxic Tour!
What’s an unpopular opinion you have? I don’t like Waffle House.
During times like these, many people turn to artists and other role models for happiness and strength to keep pushing. What message can you give to the younger women who look up to you? Continue to be yourself and know it's ok to have insecurities and to be discouraged sometimes. As humans we go through different emotions, especially girls.
In terms of longevity, what are some of the short-term and long-term goals you wish to accomplish during your career? Becoming the biggest artist in the world and putting on for the young kids.
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