By: Mariah Thomas
Photo By WUZO ENTERTAINMENT
Q) How would you describe your solo sound outside of BLITZERS and NPC?
A) I’d like to say that this is composed based on the genres and sounds that I personally like. I think trending sounds or genres tend to be somewhat short-lived, so I try to avoid those as much as possible.
Q) Who are artists that have inspired your love for music growing up?
A) I really like Post Malone and I was heavily influenced by his albums.
Q) Congratulations on the release of your first solo album! The title 23:24 is meant to capture the transition between the two ages. What are some of the biggest reflections you made in that time that you sing about in the album?
A) First of all, I’d like to say that I expressed all of my messages through songs. In the first half of the album, the theme of money is mentioned the most and I found myself thinking deeply about how to portray and interpret this subject of money, as well as what kind of artist I should become moving forward
Q) You played a part in every aspect of creating this album from writing, composing and underscoring. Why was it so important to you to be so hands on with this project?
A) Since this album contains my own story, I felt it wouldn’t have meaning if I didn’t create and take part in it myself. That’s why I ended up producing the entire album on my own.
Q) You worked with fellow BLITZERS member Wooju on the track “235803.” Talk about the inspiration behind the song and how collaborating with Wooju made the song come to life.
A) First, I thought it would be nice to have vocals on the track, so I asked Wooju to feature on it. I shared a reference and told him I was hoping for a certain vibe and I was really happy that he captured that feeling so well. Thanks to this song, I think the album gained a bit more variety in its overall sound, which I’m really pleased about.
Q) Given the importance of numbers in the album title, what is the significance of the numbers of the track “235803?”
A) The length of this track is 1 minute and 57 seconds. I structured it so that once this song ends, it transitions into “24” and I decided on that timing to create that specific effect.
Q) What were some of the biggest differences in navigating the creation of a solo project over a group project?
A) The biggest difference was that I was making the songs on my own. Since there were so many things to consider when creating an album, I found those aspects a bit challenging.
Q) Every track on the album is in uppercase with the exception of “Right Back” and “Actually.” Is there an intentional reason for this?
A) There isn’t any particularly big reason. [laughs] When I decide on song titles, I value ones that are easy to read, concise and visually appealing. In the case of those two tracks, I just felt that writing them that way looked nice.
Q) You filmed a music video for “STAY.” There are so many beautiful shots set up! Do you have a favorite aspect of the video that you filmed?
A) First of all, I remember how incredibly cold the weather was. It was my first time planning a music video and it was much more difficult and complicated than I expected, so I kept thinking about it constantly. Maybe because of that, the actual shoot went much more smoothly than I had worried it would.
Q) The other tracks have short “Track Films” previewing the songs ahead of the release. Will these all be future music videos?
A) I’d like you to think of the track film as more of a teaser; it probably won’t continue as a full official music video.
Q) From these tracks, which one(s) are you most proud of finally putting into the world?
A) The track “Landfill” was the foundational song of this album and carries deep meaning, so I feel the greatest sense of pride in having released it to the world
Q) Is there a tour or live shows in the works fans can expect?
A) “I don’t have any concrete plans yet, but if the opportunity arises, I definitely want to show live performances or go on tour.
Q) What do you hope fans and listeners take away after listening to this album?
A) I think I’ve left messages throughout the album in a way that’s easy for listeners to understand, so rather than me explaining the emotions or messages and limiting interpretations, I hope people will interpret them in various ways
Q) Who would you love to collaborate with on music in the future?
A) Since B.I is my role model, if the opportunity ever arises, I would really love to collaborate with him.
Q) What would you like to say to fans and supporters of you and your work?
A) Thank you for waiting for my full-length album, and I will continue to repay your support with even better music in the future