J French – On & On

By starrymag | April 24, 2025

By: Karly Bacon

 

 

Q) How would you describe the sound of the music that you make?

 

A) Uplifting, Optimistic, Overcoming 

 

Q) Who are some artists that influenced you when you were growing up?

 

A) Michael Jackson, A Tribe Called Quest, Jay Z, Lil Wayne, TI

 

Q) You had an insightful encounter with Drake’s father when you attended the Grammys. How did this meeting impact the music that you make?

 

A) It made me make fair judgements on the things I hear about people, humans are human. We can’t judge people we don’t know that much about only based on something someone said. After meeting him now, I want to battle Kendrick Lamar. I would smoke that guy in a rap battle. 

 

Q) You just released your new single “On On & On” – what inspired you to write the lyrics?

 

A) The state of the world. It seems like people are constantly at war and forget to stop and think about the world and where they actually fit in. 

 

Q) What does “On & On” mean to you both on an artistic and personal level?

 

A) It means that things never stop, so we must adapt to the constant cycle of the universe. The same things that are going on now were going on two thousand years ago. 

 

Q)  The single harkens back to the older hip-hop days. Was that intentional on your part?

 

A) No. It’s the simplicity of style that I wanted to use to make the point. This is the modernization of hip hop all over again. 

 

Q) How was working with Seer Wilson as the director for your music video, and as its co-director, what was your significant contribution to it?

 

A) I came up with the whole idea for the video, And the shots, Seer was the shooter and he did a great job with the shots. I wanted it to be as plain as possible. 

 

Q) The “On & On” music video was filmed in Los Angeles. Why did you feel that particular location was right for the song?

 

A) The West Coast has the best weather in the winter. That’s all. 

 

Q) Incorporating different musical instruments, such as the saxophone and violins, is a nice touch in the song; How did you decide on how you would include them?

 

A) When Matt Monaco sent me a beat, I didn’t like it at first. But he had those sounds in the beat, so I decided to get these stems to the beat and I restructured it completely – changed everything. I added more saxophone amongst other things. I wanted it to sound the way I wanna live band to play it. 

 

Q) You mentioned that you reconstructed the beat for “On & On” based on an original production by Matt Monaco. What prompted you to remix it rather than use its original sound?

 

A) The original beat he sent me was too full, too many highs. I felt that I should focus more on base and saxophone so that my vocals could fit on it. 

 

Q) What is next for you? A full album or EP? 

 

A) I have four albums coming this year. One of them is done now and coming soon. 

 

Q) Who are some artists that you would love to collaborate with in the future? 

 

A) I never really wanted to collaborate with anybody, But now I would love to collaborate with Kanye West. 

 

Q) What would you like to say to everyone who are fans and supporters of you and the music you make?

 

A) Don’t be fooled by the world of entertainment. Everyone’s lying to you, including me. I’m more talented than I say I am just to fit in. Most people are not as talented as they say they are just to fit in.