bbno$

Did I really just forget that melody? That was the actual take. That's crazy. Dude, yeah, my life basically changed like immediately. It was nuts. Ladies and gentlemen, get on your feet. For Phoebe, no money. This track is insane when it comes to online numbers. I want to make a hit song.

Did I really just forget that melody? That was the actual take. That's crazy. Dude, yeah, my life basically changed like immediately. It was nuts. Ladies and gentlemen, get on your feet. For Phoebe, no money. This track is insane when it comes to online numbers. I want to make a hit song.

That was the longest I think I've gone without technology, which is like fucked up to say.

That was the longest I think I've gone without technology, which is like fucked up to say.

amazing like i was exhausted by 7 p.m because i was like absorbing normal stimulation and like doing what was and yeah it kind of blew me away a little bit because nobody steps away yeah like it's it's bad do you feel okay did you feel guilty at all like not working not being online like feeling that at all

amazing like i was exhausted by 7 p.m because i was like absorbing normal stimulation and like doing what was and yeah it kind of blew me away a little bit because nobody steps away yeah like it's it's bad do you feel okay did you feel guilty at all like not working not being online like feeling that at all

So I spent four and a half hours articulating to my team exactly what we're going to post, exactly what we're going to do this. So they did it. So I didn't have a worry there because I was like, I don't want to have to worry that we also had a tour announcement. We were announcing tour. So I was like, well, shit, I need to I need to leave. You guys need to do this. So they did that.

So I spent four and a half hours articulating to my team exactly what we're going to post, exactly what we're going to do this. So they did it. So I didn't have a worry there because I was like, I don't want to have to worry that we also had a tour announcement. We were announcing tour. So I was like, well, shit, I need to I need to leave. You guys need to do this. So they did that.

But I came back online, sold the most tickets we ever have. Incredible. And I was like, that's good news, man. And it was a very, very peaceful experience because I was there. It was like a therapy retreat kind of thing. And the lady I was there with was so spiritual, so grounded and has... Easily like the most enlightenment I've ever seen in anyone.

But I came back online, sold the most tickets we ever have. Incredible. And I was like, that's good news, man. And it was a very, very peaceful experience because I was there. It was like a therapy retreat kind of thing. And the lady I was there with was so spiritual, so grounded and has... Easily like the most enlightenment I've ever seen in anyone.

And I was just like experiencing sun up, sun down and meditating. It was very nice. And like I wouldn't say I'm like a spiritual person like that. Like I'm not. But doing things that you love.

And I was just like experiencing sun up, sun down and meditating. It was very nice. And like I wouldn't say I'm like a spiritual person like that. Like I'm not. But doing things that you love.

don't typically do very often is something that i i think baby no money stands for it's like i wouldn't really just be like oh i need to go meditate for four days straight but it was a cool experience and now that i have that experience i can share with other people and it might be more applicable to someone else's life and uh i think it's just basically like i'm just blessed to be able to do whatever the fuck i want when i want all the time and it comes across that i think on my social media and stuff like that because i'm just fucking around having fun

don't typically do very often is something that i i think baby no money stands for it's like i wouldn't really just be like oh i need to go meditate for four days straight but it was a cool experience and now that i have that experience i can share with other people and it might be more applicable to someone else's life and uh i think it's just basically like i'm just blessed to be able to do whatever the fuck i want when i want all the time and it comes across that i think on my social media and stuff like that because i'm just fucking around having fun

As Baby No Money, probably like 500. yeah i've kind of broken it down every about every 300 songs i'm like a hit how many songs do you write for each album uh um so i wrote 100 songs from like november 2023 to like february and i've only released three of them so oh wow Yeah. But the thing is, is like I'm just being like ultra selective now. You know, I never really used to be.

As Baby No Money, probably like 500. yeah i've kind of broken it down every about every 300 songs i'm like a hit how many songs do you write for each album uh um so i wrote 100 songs from like november 2023 to like february and i've only released three of them so oh wow Yeah. But the thing is, is like I'm just being like ultra selective now. You know, I never really used to be.

Back when I first started, I would put out a song every week.

Back when I first started, I would put out a song every week.

Yeah. Yeah. It was very like Russ ideologies. But at the same time, I was like, I don't know any better. And also like. I was making songs. I wasn't perfecting them. I was mixing them myself and like nothing was like perfect, perfect, perfect. And at that time, I didn't really want to spend any money on it because I wasn't making much money. So there's no point. Yeah.

Yeah. Yeah. It was very like Russ ideologies. But at the same time, I was like, I don't know any better. And also like. I was making songs. I wasn't perfecting them. I was mixing them myself and like nothing was like perfect, perfect, perfect. And at that time, I didn't really want to spend any money on it because I wasn't making much money. So there's no point. Yeah.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Whereas I still think that fundamentally that is the best way to go about making music because you're also competing with like 3,000 songs every day, 4,000 songs that are being released every day. And it's like, how do you get people's attention? How do you hold people's attention? It's just like constantly be in everyone's face. And if a song isn't working, this is my largest gripe. Okay.

Whereas I still think that fundamentally that is the best way to go about making music because you're also competing with like 3,000 songs every day, 4,000 songs that are being released every day. And it's like, how do you get people's attention? How do you hold people's attention? It's just like constantly be in everyone's face. And if a song isn't working, this is my largest gripe. Okay.

That's... Dude, you know like the dentist, like the TikToker, the dentist guy?

That's... Dude, you know like the dentist, like the TikToker, the dentist guy?

If a song isn't working on social media because of the quote algorithm or like literally like the sonics just don't make sense with someone's phone. So someone hears it and they don't like it. But the song is fundamentally a good song. If I were to show you this song that we had recently and it just doesn't work on social media and it's just like just doesn't work. You're fucked.

If a song isn't working on social media because of the quote algorithm or like literally like the sonics just don't make sense with someone's phone. So someone hears it and they don't like it. But the song is fundamentally a good song. If I were to show you this song that we had recently and it just doesn't work on social media and it's just like just doesn't work. You're fucked.

So, like, testing music before it comes out is something that is, if you're not like a AAA artist, is something that you kind of have to do. And I think that is the lamest shit. Because... It's like, what if you create this cool plan where you're like, I'm going to storm all the toilet stores in all of America and shit on the floor. But like, that's the whole marketing campaign. Like, boom.

So, like, testing music before it comes out is something that is, if you're not like a AAA artist, is something that you kind of have to do. And I think that is the lamest shit. Because... It's like, what if you create this cool plan where you're like, I'm going to storm all the toilet stores in all of America and shit on the floor. But like, that's the whole marketing campaign. Like, boom.

I'm sure you've seen it. He doesn't brush his teeth, but he brushes other people's teeth. He's a fucking dentist. I remember he called me one day.

I'm sure you've seen it. He doesn't brush his teeth, but he brushes other people's teeth. He's a fucking dentist. I remember he called me one day.

You know, let's say this is for Baby No Money. It's like, I'm going to go to every single, it's like, I'm going to go to every single, you know what I mean? And shit on the floor, not in a toilet. Yeah. And like the, the song is called toilet and you, you, they all love the song. Like the song is a 10 out of 10. Every single person I show them is like, damn, this shit's hard.

You know, let's say this is for Baby No Money. It's like, I'm going to go to every single, it's like, I'm going to go to every single, you know what I mean? And shit on the floor, not in a toilet. Yeah. And like the, the song is called toilet and you, you, they all love the song. Like the song is a 10 out of 10. Every single person I show them is like, damn, this shit's hard.

Like there's nothing wrong with it. And then this marketing campaign, let's say it's full proof, like a hundred thousand dollars. You're like, oh, I show it to you conceptually. You're like, this is gonna go crazy. There's no doubt. Like already have CNN or all these like news broadcast radio stations, like already tuned into, like they know it's coming.

Like there's nothing wrong with it. And then this marketing campaign, let's say it's full proof, like a hundred thousand dollars. You're like, oh, I show it to you conceptually. You're like, this is gonna go crazy. There's no doubt. Like already have CNN or all these like news broadcast radio stations, like already tuned into, like they know it's coming.

All of it could do terrible if it doesn't do well in the algorithm. It makes no fucking sense. It's very frustrating. And sometimes, like, you make a song... You post it once, it gets a million likes. And it's just like, you're just looking at the camera going like, and a million, boom, million likes.

All of it could do terrible if it doesn't do well in the algorithm. It makes no fucking sense. It's very frustrating. And sometimes, like, you make a song... You post it once, it gets a million likes. And it's just like, you're just looking at the camera going like, and a million, boom, million likes.

And you're like, oh, now I actually should just spend all of the money I've ever made on music into this song to make this song bigger because it's working. And it could be like a garbage song. Or someone could have just made a hook and posted the hook and be like, what do you guys think? And it goes gigaviral. Then you have to rush to the studio to finish it.

And you're like, oh, now I actually should just spend all of the money I've ever made on music into this song to make this song bigger because it's working. And it could be like a garbage song. Or someone could have just made a hook and posted the hook and be like, what do you guys think? And it goes gigaviral. Then you have to rush to the studio to finish it.

And it's like, I don't think that helps the...

And it's like, I don't think that helps the...

artistic integrity perspective but i mean it makes it easier it makes it more democratic for artists to be able to just market their own music which is there's there's give and take because i don't want to be playing in a game of like i don't want to be playing monopoly with the majors and i know the majors right now are falling apart like very fast and it's pretty apparent because the music industry is becoming so much more democratic

artistic integrity perspective but i mean it makes it easier it makes it more democratic for artists to be able to just market their own music which is there's there's give and take because i don't want to be playing in a game of like i don't want to be playing monopoly with the majors and i know the majors right now are falling apart like very fast and it's pretty apparent because the music industry is becoming so much more democratic

Yeah. I know that he knew it was going to be a big song. Nobody could have told that. It's like one of the biggest songs on Spotify of all time. I remember making Edamame. Then we put it out on a Wednesday and it did like 400,000 streams on a Wednesday. And I called Brian. I was like, is this usually how your music performs? And he's like, hell no. Wow. Oh, we're viral, boys.

Yeah. I know that he knew it was going to be a big song. Nobody could have told that. It's like one of the biggest songs on Spotify of all time. I remember making Edamame. Then we put it out on a Wednesday and it did like 400,000 streams on a Wednesday. And I called Brian. I was like, is this usually how your music performs? And he's like, hell no. Wow. Oh, we're viral, boys.

And independent. And I'm independent. And, you know, I'm not the biggest artist in the world, but there's definitely way more independent artists. There's, like, yeah.

And independent. And I'm independent. And, you know, I'm not the biggest artist in the world, but there's definitely way more independent artists. There's, like, yeah.

really nice guy really sweet sweetheart and he called me and he was like dude i'm like what he's like everyone is using the song on your on the app and i was like what does that mean because at that time i was like what do you mean and we basically had the first day out on spotify i did like 70k and at that time i was doing like 20k first days and i was like whoa

really nice guy really sweet sweetheart and he called me and he was like dude i'm like what he's like everyone is using the song on your on the app and i was like what does that mean because at that time i was like what do you mean and we basically had the first day out on spotify i did like 70k and at that time i was doing like 20k first days and i was like whoa

So I sat down with Y2K. This was like the second session I think we've ever done. Josh Pan texted me or texted us and was like, hey, you guys should work together. So I sat down. And I was like, man. I just got back off tour, and a lot of my music was very percussive, like Timbaland-esque. Yeah. A lot of my OG stuff. Shout out Lentra.

So I sat down with Y2K. This was like the second session I think we've ever done. Josh Pan texted me or texted us and was like, hey, you guys should work together. So I sat down. And I was like, man. I just got back off tour, and a lot of my music was very percussive, like Timbaland-esque. Yeah. A lot of my OG stuff. Shout out Lentra.

And I was like, I feel like my music people can't really jump to. Because when it goes like... Like, you can't really, like, jump to it. There's not, like, a direct bounce. And he's like, okay, like, I was like, let's make some 130 Latin sounding shit. He's like, cool.

And I was like, I feel like my music people can't really jump to. Because when it goes like... Like, you can't really, like, jump to it. There's not, like, a direct bounce. And he's like, okay, like, I was like, let's make some 130 Latin sounding shit. He's like, cool.

Went on to the keyboard, went to, like, Latin Spanish guitar, and just went... And I was just like, oh, yo, I think I got something. And then...

Went on to the keyboard, went to, like, Latin Spanish guitar, and just went... And I was just like, oh, yo, I think I got something. And then...

basically i wrote like when i popped off there and i wrote that and i went to the mic and the first take that i went to the mic with uh this is something that i actually have a problem with is i forget the melodies like unironically like i'll come up with something good and then i'll turn around to everyone in the room be like yo fuck what was that what was that and

basically i wrote like when i popped off there and i wrote that and i went to the mic and the first take that i went to the mic with uh this is something that i actually have a problem with is i forget the melodies like unironically like i'll come up with something good and then i'll turn around to everyone in the room be like yo fuck what was that what was that and

uh i basically just in that first take i was like oh did i really just forget that melody and you see how like authentic it sounds because it was it was that first take and he's like nah and i was like okay cool and then i jumped back in and that first take at least for the first like two or three bars or like two bars of like when i bought that was the actual take that's crazy and i remember when we were when we finished the song where we made the hook ari stands up he's like

uh i basically just in that first take i was like oh did i really just forget that melody and you see how like authentic it sounds because it was it was that first take and he's like nah and i was like okay cool and then i jumped back in and that first take at least for the first like two or three bars or like two bars of like when i bought that was the actual take that's crazy and i remember when we were when we finished the song where we made the hook ari stands up he's like

this one's fire we should start working on it now and i'm like really i was like why don't we just keep going he's like no no no this one is fire i was like okay cool he's like let's go get some breakfast and we went and got breakfast he's like i don't want to touch that song today i need to sit on it it's so good i was like okay cool i didn't really know what we made at that point uh

this one's fire we should start working on it now and i'm like really i was like why don't we just keep going he's like no no no this one is fire i was like okay cool he's like let's go get some breakfast and we went and got breakfast he's like i don't want to touch that song today i need to sit on it it's so good i was like okay cool i didn't really know what we made at that point uh

I know that he knew it was going to be a big song. Nobody could have told that. It's one of the fucking biggest songs on Spotify of all time.

I know that he knew it was going to be a big song. Nobody could have told that. It's one of the fucking biggest songs on Spotify of all time.

It's stupid.

It's stupid.

Yeah. I'm really excited for that. Which is crazy. I'm going to figure out a funny ass plaque for my parents for that one. Like a billion dots on the board or something.

Yeah. I'm really excited for that. Which is crazy. I'm going to figure out a funny ass plaque for my parents for that one. Like a billion dots on the board or something.

that's insane that's insane and we had no playlisting because i was just like a i was like an artist doing like okay you know i had i think i was making about like 15k a month from streaming revenue and i was like okay before the song yeah before the song came out i because i had a fucking huge ass catalog i had three albums out yeah so many songs were on each album like 13 got it

that's insane that's insane and we had no playlisting because i was just like a i was like an artist doing like okay you know i had i think i was making about like 15k a month from streaming revenue and i was like okay before the song yeah before the song came out i because i had a fucking huge ass catalog i had three albums out yeah so many songs were on each album like 13 got it

That was actually how it happened.

That was actually how it happened.

It's nuts. And I remember we were going to take it out. Okay. We were driving back from Highland Park Cafe, which, bro... I remember at that time, that was this Highland Park Cafe was the cafe we would go to. And I would get this breakfast sandwich every single fucking day. Like, no joke. The breakfast sandwich with a mocha. So good. And we would go there every day.

It's nuts. And I remember we were going to take it out. Okay. We were driving back from Highland Park Cafe, which, bro... I remember at that time, that was this Highland Park Cafe was the cafe we would go to. And I would get this breakfast sandwich every single fucking day. Like, no joke. The breakfast sandwich with a mocha. So good. And we would go there every day.

And on the Genius interview, I said, hey, guys, please, I want to shout them out. Highland Park Cafe, leave this in there. I said verbatim on Genius. Nothing against Genius. They're dope. But I said, please leave it in there. Highland Park Cafe is fire as hell. Their bacon is super good. Their chipotle mayo is crazy. And the eggs, they're just so fluffy.

And on the Genius interview, I said, hey, guys, please, I want to shout them out. Highland Park Cafe, leave this in there. I said verbatim on Genius. Nothing against Genius. They're dope. But I said, please leave it in there. Highland Park Cafe is fire as hell. Their bacon is super good. Their chipotle mayo is crazy. And the eggs, they're just so fluffy.

They didn't leave it in there and I was so pissed. I was like, this is the singular reason why I made so much good music with Y2K. In two and a half weeks, three weeks, we wrote a full album and la la la and a couple other huge songs that I have. I just remember them taking it out, and I was like, God damn it. I was just pissed. But yeah, Highland Park Cafe, great place.

They didn't leave it in there and I was so pissed. I was like, this is the singular reason why I made so much good music with Y2K. In two and a half weeks, three weeks, we wrote a full album and la la la and a couple other huge songs that I have. I just remember them taking it out, and I was like, God damn it. I was just pissed. But yeah, Highland Park Cafe, great place.

And we were driving back from Highland Park Cafe, and I remember being like, should we take the intro out? It's kind of fucking stupid. And he's like, eh. And I was like, well, how many streams do you think realistically... it will garner. And he's like, it's going to be your biggest song, bro. Like 35 million. And I was like, shit, that's a lot of streams. That's like a hundred thousand dollars.

And we were driving back from Highland Park Cafe, and I remember being like, should we take the intro out? It's kind of fucking stupid. And he's like, eh. And I was like, well, how many streams do you think realistically... it will garner. And he's like, it's going to be your biggest song, bro. Like 35 million. And I was like, shit, that's a lot of streams. That's like a hundred thousand dollars.

And yeah, we did like 27 million in the first like seven days.

And yeah, we did like 27 million in the first like seven days.

Yeah. It was nuts.

Yeah. It was nuts.

So Vonson gravy's best friend, I was playing it on tour right before a song came out.

So Vonson gravy's best friend, I was playing it on tour right before a song came out.

Every night I'd be like, you guys want some unreleased shit? Yeah. And I remember the first time I played it, I walked off stage. And Vonson was like, you think this song is going to blow up? And I was like, I promise you it's going to blow up. And to this day, he turns to me every single time. He's like, I remember that day that you just looked at me. You're like, I promise it's going to blow up.

Every night I'd be like, you guys want some unreleased shit? Yeah. And I remember the first time I played it, I walked off stage. And Vonson was like, you think this song is going to blow up? And I was like, I promise you it's going to blow up. And to this day, he turns to me every single time. He's like, I remember that day that you just looked at me. You're like, I promise it's going to blow up.

And he said, he's like, he said, he's like, you said it was so much conviction that like, I just spoke the truth into it. Like, I just believed. I remember when I had that, I showed my videographer, he hated the song. He was like, I don't even want to shoot this. And I was like, well, you fumble that bag, brother, man. And I love my videographer, but I was like,

And he said, he's like, he said, he's like, you said it was so much conviction that like, I just spoke the truth into it. Like, I just believed. I remember when I had that, I showed my videographer, he hated the song. He was like, I don't even want to shoot this. And I was like, well, you fumble that bag, brother, man. And I love my videographer, but I was like,

i don't know it was one of the first songs that i sang on it's very like it's very like some of the melodies are very like arabic-esque and like i'm armenian so there's like a little tie in there um but yeah i don't know like it was one of the first songs that i was singing on i didn't really know how to expect like what to expect it was one of the first songs that i marketed i knew it was gonna do fine but

i don't know it was one of the first songs that i sang on it's very like it's very like some of the melodies are very like arabic-esque and like i'm armenian so there's like a little tie in there um but yeah i don't know like it was one of the first songs that i was singing on i didn't really know how to expect like what to expect it was one of the first songs that i marketed i knew it was gonna do fine but

You can't gauge that shit. It was out of my hands.

You can't gauge that shit. It was out of my hands.

So I'm a prolific writer for sure or slash I just make a lot of music and I have an ego and I want to put it all out whether or not it's good for me or not. I think that's a conflict that my management and I have all the time. I'm like, I want to fucking put it out. But I'm definitely getting better at being a little bit more intentional with my music. But yeah, after I dropped that song,

So I'm a prolific writer for sure or slash I just make a lot of music and I have an ego and I want to put it all out whether or not it's good for me or not. I think that's a conflict that my management and I have all the time. I'm like, I want to fucking put it out. But I'm definitely getting better at being a little bit more intentional with my music. But yeah, after I dropped that song,

So yeah, this is something that... Interestingly enough, this is something that I'm working on as in my team, because what you're saying, it's like I honestly still think that I have a massive disconnect between fan fandom and and my listenership, because I have like. Billions of fucking streams.

So yeah, this is something that... Interestingly enough, this is something that I'm working on as in my team, because what you're saying, it's like I honestly still think that I have a massive disconnect between fan fandom and and my listenership, because I have like. Billions of fucking streams.

But let's say you give these billions of streams to like a, I don't know, like a more niche punk band. They're going to be selling 15,000 tickets across the board. You know what I mean? So is it a product of the space I'm in? Is it a product of how music is consumed nowadays? Is it a product of maybe my brand not being as accessible or simply as accessible? I don't know.

But let's say you give these billions of streams to like a, I don't know, like a more niche punk band. They're going to be selling 15,000 tickets across the board. You know what I mean? So is it a product of the space I'm in? Is it a product of how music is consumed nowadays? Is it a product of maybe my brand not being as accessible or simply as accessible? I don't know.

Nobody really knows because this day and age of being a musician and an artist is very, very, very different than it has been in the past. So there's not enough like full blown case study. But my take is songs are going to be bigger than the artist. A lot of the time until you have exclusively an artist with no virality that is selling tickets because just fandom.

Nobody really knows because this day and age of being a musician and an artist is very, very, very different than it has been in the past. So there's not enough like full blown case study. But my take is songs are going to be bigger than the artist. A lot of the time until you have exclusively an artist with no virality that is selling tickets because just fandom.

And I think a really good example of this in the hip hop space. Even though they're like top of the food chain, Suicide Boys, they have zero, zero pop appeal. Well, no, their pop is fucked. Their music is fire. They're popular. You know what I mean? But they don't hit radio. They don't do interviews.

And I think a really good example of this in the hip hop space. Even though they're like top of the food chain, Suicide Boys, they have zero, zero pop appeal. Well, no, their pop is fucked. Their music is fire. They're popular. You know what I mean? But they don't hit radio. They don't do interviews.

They don't do anything except for make fire-ass music and sell out 20,000 tickets and stream harder than AAA artists. They're like quadruple it because they like crack the code. They have such a diehard fan base. There's a new statistic or analytic on like Spotify for artists that shows your typical fan will stream how many times? Will stream the song how many times? I usually sit at about five.

They don't do anything except for make fire-ass music and sell out 20,000 tickets and stream harder than AAA artists. They're like quadruple it because they like crack the code. They have such a diehard fan base. There's a new statistic or analytic on like Spotify for artists that shows your typical fan will stream how many times? Will stream the song how many times? I usually sit at about five.

So like, let's say I have one follower. He will stream the song, let's say five times over a year or over this month period. They probably have like per fan streaming it like 40, 50, 60 times. They stream. You know, they stream more than Nicki Minaj. Yeah. They stream more than like. Dude. I think they do like 15 million streams a day. That's crazy. It's crazy. Yeah. It's like nuts.

So like, let's say I have one follower. He will stream the song, let's say five times over a year or over this month period. They probably have like per fan streaming it like 40, 50, 60 times. They stream. You know, they stream more than Nicki Minaj. Yeah. They stream more than like. Dude. I think they do like 15 million streams a day. That's crazy. It's crazy. Yeah. It's like nuts.

Like absolutely nuts. And like they just came from the under the kings of the underground.

Like absolutely nuts. And like they just came from the under the kings of the underground.

And they sell more tickets than most artists will ever be able to. Globally, across the board. Like, dude, it's crazy. And I think they're the perfect example of does it even matter, this argument or this question? Because they have all these viral songs. But they're not taking the typical route, which is like, how do we draw to their branding or their identity?

And they sell more tickets than most artists will ever be able to. Globally, across the board. Like, dude, it's crazy. And I think they're the perfect example of does it even matter, this argument or this question? Because they have all these viral songs. But they're not taking the typical route, which is like, how do we draw to their branding or their identity?

And it's just their music that is speaking to them. So then I question myself sometimes. I'm like, is it the music that is not accessible? Is it the branding that's not accessible? But at the end of the day, I'm also doing a podcast about my music with you right now in L.A. Flew my parents in, going to Mexico City to perform in Mexico for the first time. My life's great.

And it's just their music that is speaking to them. So then I question myself sometimes. I'm like, is it the music that is not accessible? Is it the branding that's not accessible? But at the end of the day, I'm also doing a podcast about my music with you right now in L.A. Flew my parents in, going to Mexico City to perform in Mexico for the first time. My life's great.

It's incredible. So it's like it's cool because it's still a business in the end of the day. And you have to like figure out ways to make it more sustainable or more effective. And I think it's just like food for thought, I guess.

It's incredible. So it's like it's cool because it's still a business in the end of the day. And you have to like figure out ways to make it more sustainable or more effective. And I think it's just like food for thought, I guess.

yeah when when you have that crazy hit with la la la was there a lot of pressure to perform again yeah big time what happened that doesn't happen to most people i would say yeah like fundamentally i mean i would assume how many people do you think have a giga hit like that like 25 a year that's like not used to it or like not going to have it.

yeah when when you have that crazy hit with la la la was there a lot of pressure to perform again yeah big time what happened that doesn't happen to most people i would say yeah like fundamentally i mean i would assume how many people do you think have a giga hit like that like 25 a year that's like not used to it or like not going to have it.

Dude, shit went crazy. You know, I remember when I signed the song. I haven't really ever said this, but I remember when I signed the song, I was telling my lawyer, I was like, I don't care about money up front. I don't want an advance. I just want them to actually do something. And in my mind, I was like, well, they would be more incentivized to be making money immediately.

Dude, shit went crazy. You know, I remember when I signed the song. I haven't really ever said this, but I remember when I signed the song, I was telling my lawyer, I was like, I don't care about money up front. I don't want an advance. I just want them to actually do something. And in my mind, I was like, well, they would be more incentivized to be making money immediately.

Like Drake will have hits for eternity, you know, like a newer artist.

Like Drake will have hits for eternity, you know, like a newer artist.

Yeah, it probably went up. So let's say like, let's say 20, 20 a year. There is no psychological help for that. There is no rhetoric in understanding what that's going to do on your mental.

Yeah, it probably went up. So let's say like, let's say 20, 20 a year. There is no psychological help for that. There is no rhetoric in understanding what that's going to do on your mental.

Because why would there be? I feel like it's a waste of research, a waste of like finance in a school's study and like departments. Like, oh, you know what? We should study about the effects of having a hit. why the fuck would they study that? Why don't they just do something more like useful for like the general public? So I was sitting there every day.

Because why would there be? I feel like it's a waste of research, a waste of like finance in a school's study and like departments. Like, oh, you know what? We should study about the effects of having a hit. why the fuck would they study that? Why don't they just do something more like useful for like the general public? So I was sitting there every day.

I'm like Latin song, Latin sample, hit me with it, run it again, run it again. And I was just beating the fence. I was beating the dead horse. And it really, it really got to me for sure. Cause I was like, You know, I was trying to one up myself, but you just can't. You just can't have that expectation. And the reason why I made that song and when I made that song, I was just having fun.

I'm like Latin song, Latin sample, hit me with it, run it again, run it again. And I was just beating the fence. I was beating the dead horse. And it really, it really got to me for sure. Cause I was like, You know, I was trying to one up myself, but you just can't. You just can't have that expectation. And the reason why I made that song and when I made that song, I was just having fun.

And that's it. That was it. I was just like, yeah, I was obviously frustrated. You know, I was like, I need a hit. I need a hit. Obviously, that's kind of the nature of things. But when I got it, I was like, oh, my God, I got a hit. And. I've wanted another one. And I've had several since. You know, obviously not la-la-la territory, but I've had a bunch of really big fucking songs.

And that's it. That was it. I was just like, yeah, I was obviously frustrated. You know, I was like, I need a hit. I need a hit. Obviously, that's kind of the nature of things. But when I got it, I was like, oh, my God, I got a hit. And. I've wanted another one. And I've had several since. You know, obviously not la-la-la territory, but I've had a bunch of really big fucking songs.

And every time I look back, I'm like, what was I feeling in that moment?

And every time I look back, I'm like, what was I feeling in that moment?

And I was just having fun. Like, shirts off with the boys, you know what I'm saying? Like, just saying dumb shit. And... When you get in the headspace when you're not having fun, it comes across. And I think especially Baby No Money is fun. Even when I'm making sad songs, it's fun. I'm just like giggling in the studio with boys. Yo, how sad could we get? Oh, this one's sad. This is a sad lyric.

And I was just having fun. Like, shirts off with the boys, you know what I'm saying? Like, just saying dumb shit. And... When you get in the headspace when you're not having fun, it comes across. And I think especially Baby No Money is fun. Even when I'm making sad songs, it's fun. I'm just like giggling in the studio with boys. Yo, how sad could we get? Oh, this one's sad. This is a sad lyric.

Yeah, make me emotional, you know? So...

Yeah, make me emotional, you know? So...

yeah it's a very very interesting thing because i was like what am i supposed to do and like you know i was i talked to rich brian about it for a little while i was like what do you do like he's like you just gotta like sit with it yeah you just gotta like marinate and sit with it and you know take your expectations off of what your music can and cannot do you know it's obviously healthy to have a relative expectation so you at least try to make it good to make it bang to make it blow up but

yeah it's a very very interesting thing because i was like what am i supposed to do and like you know i was i talked to rich brian about it for a little while i was like what do you do like he's like you just gotta like sit with it yeah you just gotta like marinate and sit with it and you know take your expectations off of what your music can and cannot do you know it's obviously healthy to have a relative expectation so you at least try to make it good to make it bang to make it blow up but

Who fucking cares, you know?

Who fucking cares, you know?

Oh, I mean, like, I was having fun, obviously. But it was, I was trying for a while. I mean, we're pairing it with COVID, me not being able to do a world tour because of COVID. So I was, like, pissed off, like, internally. Yeah. But I remember making Edamame. You know that song? Yes. Of course I know. So I remember making Edamame, and I made like three of their songs that day.

Oh, I mean, like, I was having fun, obviously. But it was, I was trying for a while. I mean, we're pairing it with COVID, me not being able to do a world tour because of COVID. So I was, like, pissed off, like, internally. Yeah. But I remember making Edamame. You know that song? Yes. Of course I know. So I remember making Edamame, and I made like three of their songs that day.

They're all great, and they all came out. And I remember he did the bass line, and he threw a clap on it. Okay. And I just was like, balls hanging low, wap-wap-wap, la-fi-ya, chain-swinging, cling-clang, and it cuts a lot. And then we just added another lyric and then it, whoa, which is something I do on a lot of songs. And I was like, because I know it's going to work.

They're all great, and they all came out. And I remember he did the bass line, and he threw a clap on it. Okay. And I just was like, balls hanging low, wap-wap-wap, la-fi-ya, chain-swinging, cling-clang, and it cuts a lot. And then we just added another lyric and then it, whoa, which is something I do on a lot of songs. And I was like, because I know it's going to work.

But in reality, they're just a business and a corporation that don't really give a fuck at all. And it's like... they put money down, they're still going to make it back no matter what. And I didn't realize that if I asked them for a million dollars for this song or something like that, then they're a little bit more on the hook. And I didn't think about that.

But in reality, they're just a business and a corporation that don't really give a fuck at all. And it's like... they put money down, they're still going to make it back no matter what. And I didn't realize that if I asked them for a million dollars for this song or something like that, then they're a little bit more on the hook. And I didn't think about that.

And I was like, I don't really know this type of like housey-esque, like semi-slowed house beat. I don't know how it's going to do. And then we added the horns at the end. And that was what sold the song. And I remember I sent it to Rich Brian. He was like, yo, this shit's fire. And I was like, cool, get on it. He's like, cool. Got on it same night. And I was like, whoa, okay.

And I was like, I don't really know this type of like housey-esque, like semi-slowed house beat. I don't know how it's going to do. And then we added the horns at the end. And that was what sold the song. And I remember I sent it to Rich Brian. He was like, yo, this shit's fire. And I was like, cool, get on it. He's like, cool. Got on it same night. And I was like, whoa, okay.

He must really like the song. And then we put it out on a Wednesday and it did like 400,000 streams on a Wednesday. And I called Brian. I was like. is this usually how your music performs? And he's like, hell no, this is, this is ripping. And I was like, cool. Shot a music video. And I was like, I don't really want to spend too much. Cause I don't know how this song is going to do.

He must really like the song. And then we put it out on a Wednesday and it did like 400,000 streams on a Wednesday. And I called Brian. I was like. is this usually how your music performs? And he's like, hell no, this is, this is ripping. And I was like, cool. Shot a music video. And I was like, I don't really want to spend too much. Cause I don't know how this song is going to do.

It's like $4,000. We just rented like a, the night armor. I posted that first clip from the intro of the song with the night armor. And it did a million. I like, I went out for some food with my ex at the time. And I did like a million likes on it. When I came back, when I came back and I was like, Oh, We're viral, boys. And then basically, I just shot a straight line.

It's like $4,000. We just rented like a, the night armor. I posted that first clip from the intro of the song with the night armor. And it did a million. I like, I went out for some food with my ex at the time. And I did like a million likes on it. When I came back, when I came back and I was like, Oh, We're viral, boys. And then basically, I just shot a straight line.

And I just kept on doing the exact same TikTok for like two and a half months straight. And I grew my following on TikTok, like 2 million followers. And it's... See, this is what I mean. It's like I didn't think that song was going to explode. Yeah. And but I understand why. Because when you listen back to everything makes sense, even though none of it makes sense. But like everything makes sense.

And I just kept on doing the exact same TikTok for like two and a half months straight. And I grew my following on TikTok, like 2 million followers. And it's... See, this is what I mean. It's like I didn't think that song was going to explode. Yeah. And but I understand why. Because when you listen back to everything makes sense, even though none of it makes sense. But like everything makes sense.

And then get this. So Brian's big in Indonesia. And when I say Kling Klang, because I'm talking about my chain like Kling Klang, like using what is it alliteration or onomatopoeia? No.

And then get this. So Brian's big in Indonesia. And when I say Kling Klang, because I'm talking about my chain like Kling Klang, like using what is it alliteration or onomatopoeia? No.

So basically, when I say Kling Klang, it's a word in Indonesian. Wait, is Indonesia, do they speak Indonesian? Yeah, right? I'd assume. I would assume. Can we get a can we get a fact check? We got a fact check. We got a fact check. Yeah. Sorry for not understanding or not knowing. But basically, Kling Klang has meaning in their language.

So basically, when I say Kling Klang, it's a word in Indonesian. Wait, is Indonesia, do they speak Indonesian? Yeah, right? I'd assume. I would assume. Can we get a can we get a fact check? We got a fact check. We got a fact check. Yeah. Sorry for not understanding or not knowing. But basically, Kling Klang has meaning in their language.

And Rich Brian is like one of the biggest dudes, one of the biggest like rappers who came out of Indonesia. That's cool. That is. blew up overseas. So he's a legend there, like absolute legend. So that blew up and I was like, what are the odds? What are the odds that me just saying some onomatopoeia shit, has meaning in the language of the person I featured.

And Rich Brian is like one of the biggest dudes, one of the biggest like rappers who came out of Indonesia. That's cool. That is. blew up overseas. So he's a legend there, like absolute legend. So that blew up and I was like, what are the odds? What are the odds that me just saying some onomatopoeia shit, has meaning in the language of the person I featured.

And Rich Brian and I, like, we're kind of in a similar like lane, you know what I mean? Where we're like, we're both funny guys. And it just worked out. And then everything, it just like worked out. Then 88 Rising kind of backed it. I did it on M Theory. Oh, actually, I think I get the lease. They licensed it. I get the license is up in like a couple months. Wow. Money up. That's fire.

And Rich Brian and I, like, we're kind of in a similar like lane, you know what I mean? Where we're like, we're both funny guys. And it just worked out. And then everything, it just like worked out. Then 88 Rising kind of backed it. I did it on M Theory. Oh, actually, I think I get the lease. They licensed it. I get the license is up in like a couple months. Wow. Money up. That's fire.

I totally forgot about that. I'm texting my lawyer after about this. But yeah, it was just like, just worked out. Yeah. Yeah, I don't know, man. Sometimes, like, music just works. It just works. You're like, thanks. I'm glad that happened, and I'm glad that worked.

I totally forgot about that. I'm texting my lawyer after about this. But yeah, it was just like, just worked out. Yeah. Yeah, I don't know, man. Sometimes, like, music just works. It just works. You're like, thanks. I'm glad that happened, and I'm glad that worked.

I was just like, well, wouldn't they be, if they're a partner, wouldn't they want to just be a partner and make money together immediately from dollar one? So I was like, I don't want an advance. And they were like, huh? And I was like, no, I don't want an advance because I still had my 25% of the song. And I was like, I'd rather just be making money immediately from it.

I was just like, well, wouldn't they be, if they're a partner, wouldn't they want to just be a partner and make money together immediately from dollar one? So I was like, I don't want an advance. And they were like, huh? And I was like, no, I don't want an advance because I still had my 25% of the song. And I was like, I'd rather just be making money immediately from it.

And I just raised my eyebrows. I went. But the thing is, is this trend blew up on Chinese TikTok first. Oh, so we were delayed like three weeks on North American TikTok.

And I just raised my eyebrows. I went. But the thing is, is this trend blew up on Chinese TikTok first. Oh, so we were delayed like three weeks on North American TikTok.

with this trend because I was like I don't want to just raise my eyebrows on TikTok I feel like that's not like amazing but in Chinese TikTok I was like fuck it who cares I'm just gonna do whatever I want because in China that's like my biggest fan base and it was like popping off in China I was like cool great and then I tried it in North American TikTok and it just went viral and I was like oh sick

with this trend because I was like I don't want to just raise my eyebrows on TikTok I feel like that's not like amazing but in Chinese TikTok I was like fuck it who cares I'm just gonna do whatever I want because in China that's like my biggest fan base and it was like popping off in China I was like cool great and then I tried it in North American TikTok and it just went viral and I was like oh sick

I don't have to do anything. And I'd be like, what TikTok am I going to do today? And I just type in filter, choose a random one, and then just do it. And then when it drops on the one, I just change the filter.

I don't have to do anything. And I'd be like, what TikTok am I going to do today? And I just type in filter, choose a random one, and then just do it. And then when it drops on the one, I just change the filter.

Well, so we got given that later. So when I started doing all these filters, all these filters, all these filters, it changed. Uh, I was changing them every single time. And then the last one, when we got the jungle run, it was like, Yeah, like TikTok hit us up and was like, hey, this is dope. We should give you a filter. And I was like, cool.

Well, so we got given that later. So when I started doing all these filters, all these filters, all these filters, it changed. Uh, I was changing them every single time. And then the last one, when we got the jungle run, it was like, Yeah, like TikTok hit us up and was like, hey, this is dope. We should give you a filter. And I was like, cool.

Yeah. That's the blessing is when social media works in your favor, it's amazing. So something I've been doing recently because I know that the concept of when social media actually works in your favor is great, but you can't rely on it anymore. So you need to be able to make your community feel like a community. So it's talking to your audience, saying dumb shit, you know, being like, like

Yeah. That's the blessing is when social media works in your favor, it's amazing. So something I've been doing recently because I know that the concept of when social media actually works in your favor is great, but you can't rely on it anymore. So you need to be able to make your community feel like a community. So it's talking to your audience, saying dumb shit, you know, being like, like

inclusive of everyone in that follows you yeah and being like hey like this is gonna happen on this date pull up or like i'm in this city this date i'm gonna be at this place like throw a couple dollars on marketing it and like having real fan experiences that like you can offer them but it's weird because i'm such an internet act that it's like how can i do it on the internet as well so it's been a it's been a good year though we've done like a lot of damage on the internet for sure so

inclusive of everyone in that follows you yeah and being like hey like this is gonna happen on this date pull up or like i'm in this city this date i'm gonna be at this place like throw a couple dollars on marketing it and like having real fan experiences that like you can offer them but it's weird because i'm such an internet act that it's like how can i do it on the internet as well so it's been a it's been a good year though we've done like a lot of damage on the internet for sure so

But they were like, well, we're going to spend like $700,000. So you're going to have to recoup that as well. And I was like, well, it'll be faster to make money from dollar one. And they were just like, huh? They were just so confused, like so perplexed. And I just remember like sitting there with a. Who's the who's the who's the head of RCA? What's his name?

But they were like, well, we're going to spend like $700,000. So you're going to have to recoup that as well. And I was like, well, it'll be faster to make money from dollar one. And they were just like, huh? They were just so confused, like so perplexed. And I just remember like sitting there with a. Who's the who's the who's the head of RCA? What's his name?

I've said this story. I think this is the story that I've said the most, but I'm going to try to say it in a different way because... How could I do that? Basically, woke up one day, Yo-Yo Tokyo, a song I deleted off social media and SoundCloud because I didn't like it.

I've said this story. I think this is the story that I've said the most, but I'm going to try to say it in a different way because... How could I do that? Basically, woke up one day, Yo-Yo Tokyo, a song I deleted off social media and SoundCloud because I didn't like it.

It wasn't, no. Well, they found it. They found it because I put it out for a week and they put it on Chinese distribution platforms. Okay. And this guy danced to one of my songs during his 16th birthday that was televised across all of China.

It wasn't, no. Well, they found it. They found it because I put it out for a week and they put it on Chinese distribution platforms. Okay. And this guy danced to one of my songs during his 16th birthday that was televised across all of China.

i remember end of 2016 i had this guy hit me up his name was he was graves he got giga fucking canceled um but he was an electronic producer and he gave me my first opportunity he hit me up and was like hey let's make a song i fuck i fuck with what you're doing i'm like cool and this is like i had a little steam like i had like four thousand five thousand followers on on soundcloud and at that time as soon as you hit 10k you're like

i remember end of 2016 i had this guy hit me up his name was he was graves he got giga fucking canceled um but he was an electronic producer and he gave me my first opportunity he hit me up and was like hey let's make a song i fuck i fuck with what you're doing i'm like cool and this is like i had a little steam like i had like four thousand five thousand followers on on soundcloud and at that time as soon as you hit 10k you're like

you're kind of a thing. And I was like, I have to take this opportunity. So I wrote like six songs on the same fucking beat. Cause I was like, I can't fumble this. So I took a bunch of Adderall University and I wrote like six songs for this guy.

you're kind of a thing. And I was like, I have to take this opportunity. So I wrote like six songs on the same fucking beat. Cause I was like, I can't fumble this. So I took a bunch of Adderall University and I wrote like six songs for this guy.

um it was an asian mythology samper samper uh sample um and the song is called meta shot a crazy music video to it but i didn't hear back i didn't hear back after i sent him these seven songs for like months and then i just got a contract in my email and i was like sign it cares because i was like it doesn't even matter like i would rather i would take the l financially to make sure the song comes out so

um it was an asian mythology samper samper uh sample um and the song is called meta shot a crazy music video to it but i didn't hear back i didn't hear back after i sent him these seven songs for like months and then i just got a contract in my email and i was like sign it cares because i was like it doesn't even matter like i would rather i would take the l financially to make sure the song comes out so

That was like my first like win. And then right nearing the time of like, I'm like, I don't know if this song is ever going to come out. And this was like four or five months after I signed on those seven songs. So this was like right during reading week where, you know, you basically just have to study for your midterms when you come back. So I was on a ton of Adderall. I was depressed.

That was like my first like win. And then right nearing the time of like, I'm like, I don't know if this song is ever going to come out. And this was like four or five months after I signed on those seven songs. So this was like right during reading week where, you know, you basically just have to study for your midterms when you come back. So I was on a ton of Adderall. I was depressed.

I was like, man, I don't know if I should do this music shit anymore. Like I'm kind of like not flunking university, but I wasn't getting good enough grades for them to be like utilized afterwards. And I was like, you know, dilemma. And I got a message.

I was like, man, I don't know if I should do this music shit anymore. Like I'm kind of like not flunking university, but I wasn't getting good enough grades for them to be like utilized afterwards. And I was like, you know, dilemma. And I got a message.

This was like literally like I woke up the next day and I was like having I remember I was crying in my basement because I don't know if I should be doing this anymore. And I woke up the next day and this dude, this this chick on Twitter doesn't follow anyone but me. It was like you're famous in China. And I'm like, huh? Like, what you mean?

This was like literally like I woke up the next day and I was like having I remember I was crying in my basement because I don't know if I should be doing this anymore. And I woke up the next day and this dude, this this chick on Twitter doesn't follow anyone but me. It was like you're famous in China. And I'm like, huh? Like, what you mean?

So the whole day I didn't study and I was just like researching into it. And I was like, oh, like there's some numbers going on here. And then I asked a bunch of like foreign exchange students, Chinese exchange students at my university. And they were like, this is you? And I'm like, yeah. And they're like, what the fuck? You're popping.

So the whole day I didn't study and I was just like researching into it. And I was like, oh, like there's some numbers going on here. And then I asked a bunch of like foreign exchange students, Chinese exchange students at my university. And they were like, this is you? And I'm like, yeah. And they're like, what the fuck? You're popping.

And so hit up this dude named Luce, flew myself out to China. And then like a week later after I found out, had some popularity in china meta the song i got this contract and i was like dude everything's lining up man this is weird like it almost it almost doesn't feel real like so when it rains it pours but it always clears up and uh yeah it was like it was like a it's like a blessing like

And so hit up this dude named Luce, flew myself out to China. And then like a week later after I found out, had some popularity in china meta the song i got this contract and i was like dude everything's lining up man this is weird like it almost it almost doesn't feel real like so when it rains it pours but it always clears up and uh yeah it was like it was like a it's like a blessing like

I can't remember, but basically he put a million dollars in front of me and I was like, nah, zero. And he's like, what the fuck are you talking about? And, uh, I'm really happy I didn't sign because I think I realized that it would have been a little bit more of a nightmare. But I did make my largest career mistake and it wasn't signing at that time.

I can't remember, but basically he put a million dollars in front of me and I was like, nah, zero. And he's like, what the fuck are you talking about? And, uh, I'm really happy I didn't sign because I think I realized that it would have been a little bit more of a nightmare. But I did make my largest career mistake and it wasn't signing at that time.

I'm sure you could get an interview with him.

I'm sure you could get an interview with him.

Yeah, yeah. I mean, I feel like you've got to make a clip. Hey, yo, Porter Robinson.

Yeah, yeah. I mean, I feel like you've got to make a clip. Hey, yo, Porter Robinson.

So he basically sent me the beat and I was like, yo, I really like this beat. He's like, as if you're going to hit this shit. And I was like, this was like right when we first started talking. This was like, I was like, send me a pack. And that was like one of the songs I heard on the pack. And I... So when I write music, I like top line shit. Yeah.

So he basically sent me the beat and I was like, yo, I really like this beat. He's like, as if you're going to hit this shit. And I was like, this was like right when we first started talking. This was like, I was like, send me a pack. And that was like one of the songs I heard on the pack. And I... So when I write music, I like top line shit. Yeah.

So basically what it is... You remember that song that Kanye put out that was like... Of course. So basically I do that. Like I'll just say gibberish on a song. Okay. And see if it like tonally sounds good. As a melody? Yeah, as like a melody so I can find the pocket. Yeah. And I like...

So basically what it is... You remember that song that Kanye put out that was like... Of course. So basically I do that. Like I'll just say gibberish on a song. Okay. And see if it like tonally sounds good. As a melody? Yeah, as like a melody so I can find the pocket. Yeah. And I like...

briefly i spent i was like oh you know what i'll do it right now i'll send it to him see what he thinks and i just basically like hummed out melodies the whole time and structured it with like this hummed out melody and i was like you like this he's like if he's like i've never really heard like a full scratch track of like nonsense but he's like it's cool right to it so i was like cool i was like i really like it and writing to it was really really easy i don't know why

briefly i spent i was like oh you know what i'll do it right now i'll send it to him see what he thinks and i just basically like hummed out melodies the whole time and structured it with like this hummed out melody and i was like you like this he's like if he's like i've never really heard like a full scratch track of like nonsense but he's like it's cool right to it so i was like cool i was like i really like it and writing to it was really really easy i don't know why

Because I had an album that I didn't spend any money marketing. And it's sitting at like 450 million streams and it's in total entirety. And if I marketed that album, it would have been way, way, way, way bigger. And I spent like $4,000 marketing it.

Because I had an album that I didn't spend any money marketing. And it's sitting at like 450 million streams and it's in total entirety. And if I marketed that album, it would have been way, way, way, way bigger. And I spent like $4,000 marketing it.

And sent it back in like 25, 30 minutes, the whole song. And he's like, dude, this is fire. Good job. And I'm like, okay, cool. You want the vocals? And then he processed the living shit out of my vocals because I'm not that good at singing. But yeah, the song's great. The song's great. It's like my favorite song by him. Yeah, it's like a really, really good song.

And sent it back in like 25, 30 minutes, the whole song. And he's like, dude, this is fire. Good job. And I'm like, okay, cool. You want the vocals? And then he processed the living shit out of my vocals because I'm not that good at singing. But yeah, the song's great. The song's great. It's like my favorite song by him. Yeah, it's like a really, really good song.

And I've been really working on making more music that is kind of not necessarily in line with that, but... I have like a charming singing voice because it's not that good. And I feel like people can kind of get down with it because it's just like a normal voice that I'm just like confident enough to like actually try to sing. And I kind of want to take a...

And I've been really working on making more music that is kind of not necessarily in line with that, but... I have like a charming singing voice because it's not that good. And I feel like people can kind of get down with it because it's just like a normal voice that I'm just like confident enough to like actually try to sing. And I kind of want to take a...

singing on the hook, rapping on the verses kind of vibe where it's like semi half singing. And I feel like I don't typically do that very often. Um, so yeah, that's the next album is I'm working on. It's kind of like not necessarily esoteric, but it's, I just feel like it's time that I make like really long songs and like try to... What does long mean? Five minutes. Oh, sick.

singing on the hook, rapping on the verses kind of vibe where it's like semi half singing. And I feel like I don't typically do that very often. Um, so yeah, that's the next album is I'm working on. It's kind of like not necessarily esoteric, but it's, I just feel like it's time that I make like really long songs and like try to... What does long mean? Five minutes. Oh, sick.

I am, H-I-M, the Gen Z M&M. That is the worst lyric I've ever heard in my entire life.

I am, H-I-M, the Gen Z M&M. That is the worst lyric I've ever heard in my entire life.

And just like have like... Because I have nothing important to say, but I can say it dope. I can say nothing dope. So... And I know that I'm confident in, like, how my voice sounds, like, processed and whatnot. And how sometimes, like, the monotoneness works on songs and complements beats. So my goal for, like, this next album is, like, really just...

And just like have like... Because I have nothing important to say, but I can say it dope. I can say nothing dope. So... And I know that I'm confident in, like, how my voice sounds, like, processed and whatnot. And how sometimes, like, the monotoneness works on songs and complements beats. So my goal for, like, this next album is, like, really just...

Do like double down on like the baby no money-esque-ness of my music and then just write with hooks that are really, really catchy and like more melodic, like core melodic and have like different structure to the songs. There's this song that I worked on recently. It's called Weirdo. It's like me hitting like falsetto.

Do like double down on like the baby no money-esque-ness of my music and then just write with hooks that are really, really catchy and like more melodic, like core melodic and have like different structure to the songs. There's this song that I worked on recently. It's called Weirdo. It's like me hitting like falsetto.

like kind of energy and then it goes into like a very drum breaky beat with like tons of distortion and tons of uh like left field synths uh and a lot of like really really cool unique moments and like space spatial voice voice work um Not necessarily Radiohead, but a mix of Radiohead and Tyler kind of thing.

like kind of energy and then it goes into like a very drum breaky beat with like tons of distortion and tons of uh like left field synths uh and a lot of like really really cool unique moments and like space spatial voice voice work um Not necessarily Radiohead, but a mix of Radiohead and Tyler kind of thing.

And I think it's weird and it's cool because my fan base, if I did that shit and put it out, they'd be like, no. Rather than being like, huh? Because I feel like a lot of artists, when they make left field stuff, they're like, we don't want that. We don't need this. But my fan base is like, do whatever you want. Because I do whatever I want and have been for so long.

And I think it's weird and it's cool because my fan base, if I did that shit and put it out, they'd be like, no. Rather than being like, huh? Because I feel like a lot of artists, when they make left field stuff, they're like, we don't want that. We don't need this. But my fan base is like, do whatever you want. Because I do whatever I want and have been for so long.

And it's like, sometimes, you know, one day I remember I put out like a ballet funk song. And my fans ate it up. And I was like, that's sick. It's not like normal North American-esque sounding music. And I put this out like six years ago. And...

And it's like, sometimes, you know, one day I remember I put out like a ballet funk song. And my fans ate it up. And I was like, that's sick. It's not like normal North American-esque sounding music. And I put this out like six years ago. And...

diplo just hit me up he said he was doing yoga in brazil and that song came on wow and then he was like who is this and they're like oh it's baby no money he hit me up he's like i was doing yoga and this song came on he was like it's really sick you should make more music like it so that's fire yeah i think i think it's really cool that i have the ability to do whatever i want and yeah and i think it's time that i like double down on that i have this song where it's like a

diplo just hit me up he said he was doing yoga in brazil and that song came on wow and then he was like who is this and they're like oh it's baby no money he hit me up he's like i was doing yoga and this song came on he was like it's really sick you should make more music like it so that's fire yeah i think i think it's really cool that i have the ability to do whatever i want and yeah and i think it's time that i like double down on that i have this song where it's like a

It's kind of like a piano ballad, and then it turned into like a Mac Miller piano rap song, and then it turns into like a psychedelic rock song at the end. It's crazy. Yeah, it's crazy. And it's just me being like, what more could we do? How more could we make it ridiculous or more of an experience for a listener? Yeah, experience. Which it doesn't necessarily tonally make hits.

It's kind of like a piano ballad, and then it turned into like a Mac Miller piano rap song, and then it turns into like a psychedelic rock song at the end. It's crazy. Yeah, it's crazy. And it's just me being like, what more could we do? How more could we make it ridiculous or more of an experience for a listener? Yeah, experience. Which it doesn't necessarily tonally make hits.

That's not necessarily hit music. But if it's good enough, it'll become a big song because my fan base will like it. And that's all that matters. And if I like it too, that's something that's really important. I want to show you this one song that is like a classic Baby Don't Money-esque song. Uh, or it starts like a more of like a Drake song. Then it goes classic baby, no money tempo.

That's not necessarily hit music. But if it's good enough, it'll become a big song because my fan base will like it. And that's all that matters. And if I like it too, that's something that's really important. I want to show you this one song that is like a classic Baby Don't Money-esque song. Uh, or it starts like a more of like a Drake song. Then it goes classic baby, no money tempo.

And then it goes into like this synthy through the wire Kanye West as shit. And then it goes into like a house yeet song. And it's like one of my favorite songs I've ever written. Like, it's so cool. It's like a really, really cool song.

And then it goes into like this synthy through the wire Kanye West as shit. And then it goes into like a house yeet song. And it's like one of my favorite songs I've ever written. Like, it's so cool. It's like a really, really cool song.

hmm nursery was one of the first songs that i really had some social media traction on it wasn't that large of a hit because i think just sonically it's super weird and just rippity rappity and it's like it's like a bunch of pots and pans sounding type beat so it doesn't really gravitate or allow people to gravitate easily on it because it's kind of left field of shit and

hmm nursery was one of the first songs that i really had some social media traction on it wasn't that large of a hit because i think just sonically it's super weird and just rippity rappity and it's like it's like a bunch of pots and pans sounding type beat so it doesn't really gravitate or allow people to gravitate easily on it because it's kind of left field of shit and

Well, the thing is, is at that exact moment in 2019, also that matcha and this gum that I ate, I'm losing my mind right now.

Well, the thing is, is at that exact moment in 2019, also that matcha and this gum that I ate, I'm losing my mind right now.

So that was like one of the first songs. And that was like an album cut. I was like, that was basically one of the songs that I said. I was like, this is typically what I do. I put the last song. I just rap the whole time. And I just know my fans will like it. So it just elevate. I just thought it was going to elevate the album. So that song took off.

So that was like one of the first songs. And that was like an album cut. I was like, that was basically one of the songs that I said. I was like, this is typically what I do. I put the last song. I just rap the whole time. And I just know my fans will like it. So it just elevate. I just thought it was going to elevate the album. So that song took off.

And I remember my manager at the time was like, this song is the worst song on the album. Take it off. And I was like, I really like it. I think it's very me. And it came out, and it was doing terrible, and then it just blew up on TikTok just because some anime, like, audio. I don't know. That's sick. Yeah, it was sick. So you never know what could take off.

And I remember my manager at the time was like, this song is the worst song on the album. Take it off. And I was like, I really like it. I think it's very me. And it came out, and it was doing terrible, and then it just blew up on TikTok just because some anime, like, audio. I don't know. That's sick. Yeah, it was sick. So you never know what could take off.

It was Eminem DMing me. Yeah. So basically, I was pretty worried about putting that song out.

It was Eminem DMing me. Yeah. So basically, I was pretty worried about putting that song out.

Really? Because... I don't know. I have this, like, not necessarily insecurity, but, like, once you start rapping on or once you start making, like, just, like, EDM, like, direct EDM.

Really? Because... I don't know. I have this, like, not necessarily insecurity, but, like, once you start rapping on or once you start making, like, just, like, EDM, like, direct EDM.

Like, with drops. Yeah. I don't know what it was or what it is, but ever since, like, I started making music, I would always get worried about, like, having drops in my music and whatnot and being too tonally electronic. Right. Which I think is just something I have in the back of my head. But It Boy is not electronic at all. I mean, it is, but it isn't.

Like, with drops. Yeah. I don't know what it was or what it is, but ever since, like, I started making music, I would always get worried about, like, having drops in my music and whatnot and being too tonally electronic. Right. Which I think is just something I have in the back of my head. But It Boy is not electronic at all. I mean, it is, but it isn't.

Let's go. Podcast studio number one. So basically, in my opinion. at that exact moment was like the paradoxical shift of what marketing is. And I feel like it's kind of interesting because record labels will literally dictate how successful a song will be.

Let's go. Podcast studio number one. So basically, in my opinion. at that exact moment was like the paradoxical shift of what marketing is. And I feel like it's kind of interesting because record labels will literally dictate how successful a song will be.

Because it's still fully a rap song with 20 different drops and really, really cool moments. And the context of what the song is, the concept is boy.

Because it's still fully a rap song with 20 different drops and really, really cool moments. And the context of what the song is, the concept is boy.

because i have the longest yeah boy ever in it i have me saying bitch on him and like as it's like a masculine song you know what i mean but it's really crazy live and then the hook is so simple like the simplest song um and i was like is this too electronic to put out because I don't know. It's probably just some insecurity shit. But realize the song. People really fucked with the song.

because i have the longest yeah boy ever in it i have me saying bitch on him and like as it's like a masculine song you know what i mean but it's really crazy live and then the hook is so simple like the simplest song um and i was like is this too electronic to put out because I don't know. It's probably just some insecurity shit. But realize the song. People really fucked with the song.

And it's definitely the best performance song I have. You should see it live. It's crazy, man. It's insane.

And it's definitely the best performance song I have. You should see it live. It's crazy, man. It's insane.

Dude, pull up tomorrow. we kind of why not sean mendez is closing the night so oh that's crazy yeah it's called uh corona capital it's like a really really big festival it's like huge i'm really excited for my set incredible yeah um so the the whole m&m thing how did that come about I was like, I said, I'm the Gen Z Eminem on the hook. Yeah.

Dude, pull up tomorrow. we kind of why not sean mendez is closing the night so oh that's crazy yeah it's called uh corona capital it's like a really really big festival it's like huge i'm really excited for my set incredible yeah um so the the whole m&m thing how did that come about I was like, I said, I'm the Gen Z Eminem on the hook. Yeah.

And one, I'm not even Gen Z. Basically, when I recorded.

And one, I'm not even Gen Z. Basically, when I recorded.

I'm a millennial.

I'm a millennial.

Ninety five.

Ninety five.

I'm 96.

I'm 96.

Yeah, zillennials. That's what they call it. So, when I wrote the hook, I ordered an Uber, and the Uber driver was waiting. And I was like, ah, shit. They were like, freestyle something real quick. And I was like, I-T-B-O-Y-P-B-N-O, dollar sign. And then we did the, yeah, that's me, later. And then they were like, do another one, do another one. I was like, uh, I-M-H-I-M, the Gen Z M&M.

Yeah, zillennials. That's what they call it. So, when I wrote the hook, I ordered an Uber, and the Uber driver was waiting. And I was like, ah, shit. They were like, freestyle something real quick. And I was like, I-T-B-O-Y-P-B-N-O, dollar sign. And then we did the, yeah, that's me, later. And then they were like, do another one, do another one. I was like, uh, I-M-H-I-M, the Gen Z M&M.

And they were like... That is the worst lyric I've ever heard in my entire life. And I was like, fuck it. I remember I showed Diamond Pistols it. He's like, song bangs. You should take that lyric out. It's stupid. And it became one of the reasons why it sold. You know, like.

And they were like... That is the worst lyric I've ever heard in my entire life. And I was like, fuck it. I remember I showed Diamond Pistols it. He's like, song bangs. You should take that lyric out. It's stupid. And it became one of the reasons why it sold. You know, like.

It was like a very weirdly good, easy, simple marketing tactic that I knew people were going to get pressed about because I am not nearly as good as Eminem. And I will never try to dethrone him. And like, that's the nature of things. I do think I have some Eminem-esque like mannerisms on how I market things and like how like freely I'll just say whatever and do whatever kind of thing.

It was like a very weirdly good, easy, simple marketing tactic that I knew people were going to get pressed about because I am not nearly as good as Eminem. And I will never try to dethrone him. And like, that's the nature of things. I do think I have some Eminem-esque like mannerisms on how I market things and like how like freely I'll just say whatever and do whatever kind of thing.

And I think that Doing that has given me a leg up like, you know, I'll just I would shriek naked who cares, you know It's like that's some Eminem shit. It's like who really cares? but That song, yeah. Like, the Eminem marketing tactic was basically, like, he definitely heard the song. But I just was like, oh, let's fake a DM. So, I thought it was an easy one.

And I think that Doing that has given me a leg up like, you know, I'll just I would shriek naked who cares, you know It's like that's some Eminem shit. It's like who really cares? but That song, yeah. Like, the Eminem marketing tactic was basically, like, he definitely heard the song. But I just was like, oh, let's fake a DM. So, I thought it was an easy one.

Because I've faked DMs from, like, Selena Gomez. I've, like, photoshopped her and me gravy chilling. You know, it's like, sometimes people think it's real. And when they think it's real, you won. But... The thing is, is the song was so, like, attenuated for that DM to make... It made sense. Yeah. And I wish I could sit here and lie to you and be like, yeah, like, he really DM'd me.

Because I've faked DMs from, like, Selena Gomez. I've, like, photoshopped her and me gravy chilling. You know, it's like, sometimes people think it's real. And when they think it's real, you won. But... The thing is, is the song was so, like, attenuated for that DM to make... It made sense. Yeah. And I wish I could sit here and lie to you and be like, yeah, like, he really DM'd me.

But the only thing that they have to do, like their marketing departments are getting, like people in their marketing departments are gonna pay like $200,000 to literally call an artist and be like, you should make a TikTok. And it's kind of like embarrassing to the point where

But the only thing that they have to do, like their marketing departments are getting, like people in their marketing departments are gonna pay like $200,000 to literally call an artist and be like, you should make a TikTok. And it's kind of like embarrassing to the point where

Like, his team was like, yeah, fuck with the song, bro. Maybe we'll get a little remix. Like, that would be amazing. But...

Like, his team was like, yeah, fuck with the song, bro. Maybe we'll get a little remix. Like, that would be amazing. But...

there's no way he didn't hear the song there's no way like you know so at least i had that going for me yeah uh but yeah i basically just photoshopped a fake dm and then i was like damn all right and i was like oh my god no way he dm'd me and it just gives people like uh it's like a hook So it allows people to like dive deeper into the business or dive deeper into the song.

there's no way he didn't hear the song there's no way like you know so at least i had that going for me yeah uh but yeah i basically just photoshopped a fake dm and then i was like damn all right and i was like oh my god no way he dm'd me and it just gives people like uh it's like a hook So it allows people to like dive deeper into the business or dive deeper into the song.

And, you know, it's kind of like a music video where you shoot a music video and people think back like, oh, you remember that scene? He was like riding a horse and did a backflip. I remember that song. I remember that scene. And. That moment in the scene is so just like drilled into your brain. So basically it's just marketing is all that really. But yeah, I just faked it.

And, you know, it's kind of like a music video where you shoot a music video and people think back like, oh, you remember that scene? He was like riding a horse and did a backflip. I remember that song. I remember that scene. And. That moment in the scene is so just like drilled into your brain. So basically it's just marketing is all that really. But yeah, I just faked it.

That would be fucking crazy. He goes... The whole way. And I'm like, all right. All right, cool. But, yeah, we were thinking about trying to get a remix on that song. But I don't really like getting remixes. It doesn't make the song any better, personally.

That would be fucking crazy. He goes... The whole way. And I'm like, all right. All right, cool. But, yeah, we were thinking about trying to get a remix on that song. But I don't really like getting remixes. It doesn't make the song any better, personally.

Like, I think the best remix as of recent was the What's Poppin' remix with Jack Harlow in 2020. Like...

Like, I think the best remix as of recent was the What's Poppin' remix with Jack Harlow in 2020. Like...

Oh, yeah, that too, that too. But, like, those have, like, such stories. Yeah, true. You know, it's like, there's, yeah, if Eminem got on the remix, of fucking course, that would have been insane. But it just didn't happen, so. Because he didn't even DM me.

Oh, yeah, that too, that too. But, like, those have, like, such stories. Yeah, true. You know, it's like, there's, yeah, if Eminem got on the remix, of fucking course, that would have been insane. But it just didn't happen, so. Because he didn't even DM me.

He will. He will.

He will. He will.

now that everyone knows that it's like you labels are becoming as useless as bread and butter could be you know it's like there's there's almost no point in signing if you don't have the ball rolling because you're gonna have to roll the ball yourself anyway until the ball is so goddamn huge that a label's like let's smash my face in this keyboard and spend a million dollars on a song so

now that everyone knows that it's like you labels are becoming as useless as bread and butter could be you know it's like there's there's almost no point in signing if you don't have the ball rolling because you're gonna have to roll the ball yourself anyway until the ball is so goddamn huge that a label's like let's smash my face in this keyboard and spend a million dollars on a song so

So my publishing company, Sony, they sent me a list of songs that they own majority of the publishing. And they're like, hey, if you want to sample this. I mean, I grew up in a household. My dad loves funk. He used to be a DJ. So he would DJ at his university. And he was like, man, I was the first person to spin that record. He was like, I was no bullshit.

So my publishing company, Sony, they sent me a list of songs that they own majority of the publishing. And they're like, hey, if you want to sample this. I mean, I grew up in a household. My dad loves funk. He used to be a DJ. So he would DJ at his university. And he was like, man, I was the first person to spin that record. He was like, I was no bullshit.

The first person to spin that record in Western Canada. That's crazy. Because... It was sold out everywhere in America and it wasn't being distributed to Canada. So he drove down to Bellingham from Vancouver And he picked it up at this local shop, and then he brought it back up to Vancouver to DJ. And he said, he's like, man, when you play that shit, everyone hit the dance floor immediately.

The first person to spin that record in Western Canada. That's crazy. Because... It was sold out everywhere in America and it wasn't being distributed to Canada. So he drove down to Bellingham from Vancouver And he picked it up at this local shop, and then he brought it back up to Vancouver to DJ. And he said, he's like, man, when you play that shit, everyone hit the dance floor immediately.

And he was like, this song means a lot to me. This is how I made my name in the DJ space. He wasn't a huge DJ or anything, but he was like, yeah, everyone fucked with me after that one. That's fire. So when I told him I was sampling it, he's like, that's crazy. That's like such a throwback for me. And I grew up listening to that song, just like being in that household with my dad. It's iconic.

And he was like, this song means a lot to me. This is how I made my name in the DJ space. He wasn't a huge DJ or anything, but he was like, yeah, everyone fucked with me after that one. That's fire. So when I told him I was sampling it, he's like, that's crazy. That's like such a throwback for me. And I grew up listening to that song, just like being in that household with my dad. It's iconic.

Yeah, yeah. And I just remember sampling it. I got back to Diamond Pistols house. I was staying there because I couldn't stay at this other place. I was staying in LA and I'm typically pretty nomadic and sat down and I was like, bro, come on, come on. He's like sleeping. And I was like, let's make a song. Let's make a song. Come on. And he's like, dude, shut the fuck up, man. Like, leave me alone.

Yeah, yeah. And I just remember sampling it. I got back to Diamond Pistols house. I was staying there because I couldn't stay at this other place. I was staying in LA and I'm typically pretty nomadic and sat down and I was like, bro, come on, come on. He's like sleeping. And I was like, let's make a song. Let's make a song. Come on. And he's like, dude, shut the fuck up, man. Like, leave me alone.

I was like, no, let's make a song. I got a list of these samples. And I was like, we should sample this. He's like, okay, sure. He threw it on, put a little, like sped it up a little bit and put a, put a beat on it. And then I just freestyled like,

I was like, no, let's make a song. I got a list of these samples. And I was like, we should sample this. He's like, okay, sure. He threw it on, put a little, like sped it up a little bit and put a, put a beat on it. And then I just freestyled like,

seven bars and i was just like really in the mode i was hitting a vape and shit you know just like and those seven bars i remember listening to the next morning and i was like whoa this sounds really good we should finish the song then we ended up finishing it and spending a bunch of time working on it and then i got like charlie moist critical in the music video and yeah it's just a really fun song it actually performs live terribly i think it's like too weird of a tempo and it like

seven bars and i was just like really in the mode i was hitting a vape and shit you know just like and those seven bars i remember listening to the next morning and i was like whoa this sounds really good we should finish the song then we ended up finishing it and spending a bunch of time working on it and then i got like charlie moist critical in the music video and yeah it's just a really fun song it actually performs live terribly i think it's like too weird of a tempo and it like

The hook is too, like, whoa, like, whoa. But it's fun. It's a nice listen. I think it's a great listening song, but performance-wise, it doesn't. There's no bounce. But, yeah, sample that song. I sent it to my publisher, and I was like, how long do you think it'll take to clear this? And Niall supposedly fucked with it really hard. He was like, this is sick. That's awesome. Yeah.

The hook is too, like, whoa, like, whoa. But it's fun. It's a nice listen. I think it's a great listening song, but performance-wise, it doesn't. There's no bounce. But, yeah, sample that song. I sent it to my publisher, and I was like, how long do you think it'll take to clear this? And Niall supposedly fucked with it really hard. He was like, this is sick. That's awesome. Yeah.

And he pushes it through. I mean, I don't have much publishing on it, but obviously, I mean... We did like a hundred takes of the, ah, freak out. So we like, that's crazy. It sounds so similar, right?

And he pushes it through. I mean, I don't have much publishing on it, but obviously, I mean... We did like a hundred takes of the, ah, freak out. So we like, that's crazy. It sounds so similar, right?

Yeah. It was like a hundred takes.

Yeah. It was like a hundred takes.

Yeah. Yeah. We didn't have any other sample in there.

Yeah. Yeah. We didn't have any other sample in there.

how how how did you match did how many times did you like listen back and forth to make sure well that whole so we like we like took a we took like the sample itself and we just listened to it like a trillion times and just like did a ton of layers and then we like pitch one layer up pitch one layer up two semitones this semitone like and that's you two singing yeah christian and i yeah yeah

how how how did you match did how many times did you like listen back and forth to make sure well that whole so we like we like took a we took like the sample itself and we just listened to it like a trillion times and just like did a ton of layers and then we like pitch one layer up pitch one layer up two semitones this semitone like and that's you two singing yeah christian and i yeah yeah

Yeah, it was kind of ridiculous. He spent a long time working on that song because I was like a lot of the time I was like, oh, it doesn't sound similar. It doesn't sound sound good enough. So we spent a lot of time working on that. Then he played the guitar, strummed everything. He's super talented guy. He's great.

Yeah, it was kind of ridiculous. He spent a long time working on that song because I was like a lot of the time I was like, oh, it doesn't sound similar. It doesn't sound sound good enough. So we spent a lot of time working on that. Then he played the guitar, strummed everything. He's super talented guy. He's great.

Dude, I just sent... I cut the song. I sent him the song. I was like... You guys knew each other? Yeah, yeah, yeah. Oh, sweet. Yeah, we've done a couple things in the past. He's a really nice guy. I sent him the song and basically I was just like, you like this song? He's like, yeah, it's fire as shit. And I was like, cool. I was like... You want to be in a music video? He's like, yeah.

Dude, I just sent... I cut the song. I sent him the song. I was like... You guys knew each other? Yeah, yeah, yeah. Oh, sweet. Yeah, we've done a couple things in the past. He's a really nice guy. I sent him the song and basically I was just like, you like this song? He's like, yeah, it's fire as shit. And I was like, cool. I was like... You want to be in a music video? He's like, yeah.

It's interesting because at that moment, I was still apprehensive because I spent no money to market La La La. I just promoted it. I had my fans spray painting La La La June 7th on their high schools and shit. And it was like, I wasn't like, go do that. I wasn't inciting illegal activity. But I was like, hey, yo, post.

It's interesting because at that moment, I was still apprehensive because I spent no money to market La La La. I just promoted it. I had my fans spray painting La La La June 7th on their high schools and shit. And it was like, I wasn't like, go do that. I wasn't inciting illegal activity. But I was like, hey, yo, post.

I was like, do you want to be like this song's music video? He's like, sure. And then I just went down with my videographer, Sherez. And basically all that happened after that was we just like shot around in Tampa. And that was it. We were like shuffling, having a good time.

I was like, do you want to be like this song's music video? He's like, sure. And then I just went down with my videographer, Sherez. And basically all that happened after that was we just like shot around in Tampa. And that was it. We were like shuffling, having a good time.

See, it's really fun making music videos like that because everything is a good shot, basically. Because nothing can go wrong. You can use it for one second if it's not good. And it's like... you know, you're basically just running around like smoking cigarettes, being like another shot, another shot. And we had, dude, I had him out of his house and not like doing nothing for like 14 hours. Wow.

See, it's really fun making music videos like that because everything is a good shot, basically. Because nothing can go wrong. You can use it for one second if it's not good. And it's like... you know, you're basically just running around like smoking cigarettes, being like another shot, another shot. And we had, dude, I had him out of his house and not like doing nothing for like 14 hours. Wow.

And I was like, bro, thank you so much. I feel really bad that I, I like had you this busy, but thank you. And he's like, yeah, man, it's all fun. It's a new experience. So I'm like, there it is. So really great guy. Yeah. Great guy.

And I was like, bro, thank you so much. I feel really bad that I, I like had you this busy, but thank you. And he's like, yeah, man, it's all fun. It's a new experience. So I'm like, there it is. So really great guy. Yeah. Great guy.

For me, Sync, I mean, Edamame was like the third largest Sync song of 2022 and 2023. That's crazy. Yeah, that shit was nice. That shit was a blessing and a half. And I honestly think that the reason why that song, it still does like 300, 400,000 streams a day. And I think the reason why it still rips that hard is because of some of these Syncs. So radio, I think radio is...

For me, Sync, I mean, Edamame was like the third largest Sync song of 2022 and 2023. That's crazy. Yeah, that shit was nice. That shit was a blessing and a half. And I honestly think that the reason why that song, it still does like 300, 400,000 streams a day. And I think the reason why it still rips that hard is because of some of these Syncs. So radio, I think radio is...

I mean, if it's not too like direct on it being like, you know, hypersexual and stuff like that, then it could do decent. Any type of song could do decent as long as it's popular across the board. The one thing I will say about radio is we kind of got fucked with La La La in North American radio because that was right around the time that radio wasn't accepting TikTok songs.

I mean, if it's not too like direct on it being like, you know, hypersexual and stuff like that, then it could do decent. Any type of song could do decent as long as it's popular across the board. The one thing I will say about radio is we kind of got fucked with La La La in North American radio because that was right around the time that radio wasn't accepting TikTok songs.

They weren't. And it was until Bad Guy by Billie Eilish.

They weren't. And it was until Bad Guy by Billie Eilish.

Well, that was in 2022. Or that was in 2020. So that was like the time that it really changed, like the whole narrative. But basically, our radio campaign in America did terrible for that song. Terrible. And I think we hit like,

Well, that was in 2022. Or that was in 2020. So that was like the time that it really changed, like the whole narrative. But basically, our radio campaign in America did terrible for that song. Terrible. And I think we hit like,

47 like it was not a big song in America it was a big song everywhere else but it was interesting so we kind of got stumped there and that was like the first time that I was like oh okay like what what really defines a radio record and It's basically still, or now it's actually just if it goes on TikTok. That's it. Because any song... Still? Yeah, 100%. That's all it is, man.

47 like it was not a big song in America it was a big song everywhere else but it was interesting so we kind of got stumped there and that was like the first time that I was like oh okay like what what really defines a radio record and It's basically still, or now it's actually just if it goes on TikTok. That's it. Because any song... Still? Yeah, 100%. That's all it is, man.

a story to la la la june 7th if you fuck with me dropping this song kind of thing and i'll give you guys merch and there was people like spray painting people's cars and shit and i was like okay it was it was like going viral before the song came out yeah and at the time this and this is what i do if i have a song like a big song that i think is big and i i signal to my fan base i'm like all right i'm getting my team my fan base all of my people to back me on the song because

a story to la la la june 7th if you fuck with me dropping this song kind of thing and i'll give you guys merch and there was people like spray painting people's cars and shit and i was like okay it was it was like going viral before the song came out yeah and at the time this and this is what i do if i have a song like a big song that i think is big and i i signal to my fan base i'm like all right i'm getting my team my fan base all of my people to back me on the song because

If it blows up and it goes viral, it'll be on the radio. That's it. If it goes number one, I mean, it has to have some...

If it blows up and it goes viral, it'll be on the radio. That's it. If it goes number one, I mean, it has to have some...

like you know like shibuzi song for instance like it went number one for so long it's still isn't it still i think it is 17 that's fucking ridiculous it's a great song don't get me wrong um but it's like the reason why that song there's reasons why that song is still number one on radio because it's like country-esque and north america especially america's love the country sound and there's a bunch of other small little

like you know like shibuzi song for instance like it went number one for so long it's still isn't it still i think it is 17 that's fucking ridiculous it's a great song don't get me wrong um but it's like the reason why that song there's reasons why that song is still number one on radio because it's like country-esque and north america especially america's love the country sound and there's a bunch of other small little

like intricacies why it would be number one do i have any idea what really makes a song do well on radio no it has to be good that's it because some songs can blow up on tiktok that aren't good And they do well.

like intricacies why it would be number one do i have any idea what really makes a song do well on radio no it has to be good that's it because some songs can blow up on tiktok that aren't good And they do well.

I remember one of my friends, he had a JV on Atlantic and he was signing these songs that were like just audio files, like literally like audio clips that people would turn into songs minute long. have 400 million streams on Spotify.

I remember one of my friends, he had a JV on Atlantic and he was signing these songs that were like just audio files, like literally like audio clips that people would turn into songs minute long. have 400 million streams on Spotify.

Josh. And it's like, what is the point? They're not going to... Unless they sample it and then put an artist on it, I feel like it won't really articulate to radio play. But maybe I'm wrong. Maybe in the future, we're literally just going to be listening to ambient radio. That'd be sick. That'd be really cool. Performance on Spotify...

Josh. And it's like, what is the point? They're not going to... Unless they sample it and then put an artist on it, I feel like it won't really articulate to radio play. But maybe I'm wrong. Maybe in the future, we're literally just going to be listening to ambient radio. That'd be sick. That'd be really cool. Performance on Spotify...

mechanical royalties performance royalties sync yeah i think i think sync songs just have to be positive and upbeat that's how that's how syncs get hit in my opinion like i haven't gotten a sync for help herself but i've gotten so many syncs for edamame and like songs that are kind of like tonally similar um so as long as it's like fun i think most of the time they're trying to sell a product and if the product is depressing because of the song it's like

mechanical royalties performance royalties sync yeah i think i think sync songs just have to be positive and upbeat that's how that's how syncs get hit in my opinion like i haven't gotten a sync for help herself but i've gotten so many syncs for edamame and like songs that are kind of like tonally similar um so as long as it's like fun i think most of the time they're trying to sell a product and if the product is depressing because of the song it's like

Would I really want to buy that? So I think that's Sync, in my opinion. And then it performing well on Spotify. Man, that shit has, it's just if it does well on social media. There's nothing. I've never really had a song that has been a big song because of like an algorithm on Spotify. It's all off platform and then it comes onto on platform. I've never had it the other way, yeah.

Would I really want to buy that? So I think that's Sync, in my opinion. And then it performing well on Spotify. Man, that shit has, it's just if it does well on social media. There's nothing. I've never really had a song that has been a big song because of like an algorithm on Spotify. It's all off platform and then it comes onto on platform. I've never had it the other way, yeah.

I make content that is applicable to any content or any song. So then if it's not working, I can pivot rather than having all of my like birds in one basket or ducks in the basket and birds in a barrel. Yeah, ducks in the barrel. So, yeah, for me, it really sucks because I wish I could be more.

I make content that is applicable to any content or any song. So then if it's not working, I can pivot rather than having all of my like birds in one basket or ducks in the basket and birds in a barrel. Yeah, ducks in the barrel. So, yeah, for me, it really sucks because I wish I could be more.

uh direct and like i wish i could articulate perfectly like what i'm going to do that day and post what i'm going to do that day and what xyz xyz but you can get like three days into a campaign you're like we got to pivot this completely it's not working so A lot of the time I just put a song out. I'll be like, hey, this song is coming out this day.

uh direct and like i wish i could articulate perfectly like what i'm going to do that day and post what i'm going to do that day and what xyz xyz but you can get like three days into a campaign you're like we got to pivot this completely it's not working so A lot of the time I just put a song out. I'll be like, hey, this song is coming out this day.

I'll promote it for like two or three days, four days before it comes out kind of thing. Because people forget and attention span won't last that long. Unless it's an album, I'll be like, hey, this is when it's coming out and I'll promote it for like months. But yeah, for me, it's like you can see the song come out and it'll just underperform. And you're like, well, fuck.

I'll promote it for like two or three days, four days before it comes out kind of thing. Because people forget and attention span won't last that long. Unless it's an album, I'll be like, hey, this is when it's coming out and I'll promote it for like months. But yeah, for me, it's like you can see the song come out and it'll just underperform. And you're like, well, fuck.

I usually do guerrilla marketing myself for about two and a half weeks. And around the 18th day is if the song is still going up or staying strong, that's when I'll invest. Because on the 18th day, people usually tune out. Or it's like not on other people's platforms or it's like not growing. It's not going anywhere, basically.

I usually do guerrilla marketing myself for about two and a half weeks. And around the 18th day is if the song is still going up or staying strong, that's when I'll invest. Because on the 18th day, people usually tune out. Or it's like not on other people's platforms or it's like not growing. It's not going anywhere, basically.

So at least for me, it's like a two-week kind of period of promoting a song. And if it flops, if it doesn't do anything, if it doesn't grow, then... It's not the song's fault, but my whole fan base at that point will know that my song is out. So I just can't do much more. Really. I can keep pushing it, but it's not going to do anything. It's like with La La La. I remember when La La La came out.

So at least for me, it's like a two-week kind of period of promoting a song. And if it flops, if it doesn't do anything, if it doesn't grow, then... It's not the song's fault, but my whole fan base at that point will know that my song is out. So I just can't do much more. Really. I can keep pushing it, but it's not going to do anything. It's like with La La La. I remember when La La La came out.

by the 15th day, it was so fucking out of my hands. Like I had no ability to make that song any bigger than it was. And I remember everyone was like, keep posting. And I was like, my 200,000 followers is not gonna make a difference if I post or not. It's like, It's doing 4 million streams a day. Like it's like anything I post is not going to get people to go listen to it.

by the 15th day, it was so fucking out of my hands. Like I had no ability to make that song any bigger than it was. And I remember everyone was like, keep posting. And I was like, my 200,000 followers is not gonna make a difference if I post or not. It's like, It's doing 4 million streams a day. Like it's like anything I post is not going to get people to go listen to it.

That's what matters is that it doesn't matter. Like making a song go viral is you might as well just shoot your fucking feet if you want that to happen, because it probably won't. But if you have two million followers, try to get all those two million people that clicked follow one time or like tuned into your business one time because of a reason.

That's what matters is that it doesn't matter. Like making a song go viral is you might as well just shoot your fucking feet if you want that to happen, because it probably won't. But if you have two million followers, try to get all those two million people that clicked follow one time or like tuned into your business one time because of a reason.

They know it's already out. So it's like how can I take someone else's fan base and utilize someone else's fan base to promote the song as well? So it's like kind of like selling my – how can I sell myself on their platform to sell my product? That's kind of like what collaborations are now. Yeah.

They know it's already out. So it's like how can I take someone else's fan base and utilize someone else's fan base to promote the song as well? So it's like kind of like selling my – how can I sell myself on their platform to sell my product? That's kind of like what collaborations are now. Yeah.

As transactional as that may sound and kind of nasty as that may sound, that's just like kind of how the business works. So it's been interesting to market my music in this day and age because I'm getting older, man. I don't really want to be on TikTok 24-7. But when a song works, it's way more enjoyable.

As transactional as that may sound and kind of nasty as that may sound, that's just like kind of how the business works. So it's been interesting to market my music in this day and age because I'm getting older, man. I don't really want to be on TikTok 24-7. But when a song works, it's way more enjoyable.

It's way more invigorating because you're like, oh, I will actually make content that will do well. Nice. Great. Great.

It's way more invigorating because you're like, oh, I will actually make content that will do well. Nice. Great. Great.

Um, I think we would all probably be lying to ourselves if we didn't. I don't know how much more, like, okay, for instance, 2, this song, literally, it's 2, 4, 6, 8, you know, it's like, shit's fire. That song is dope. It's really cool. It's really, really artistic, really nerdy. I still love that song. The song did not perform that well. We put my most money I've ever put behind a music video.

Um, I think we would all probably be lying to ourselves if we didn't. I don't know how much more, like, okay, for instance, 2, this song, literally, it's 2, 4, 6, 8, you know, it's like, shit's fire. That song is dope. It's really cool. It's really, really artistic, really nerdy. I still love that song. The song did not perform that well. We put my most money I've ever put behind a music video.

It's the craziest music video I've ever shot. And I was like, I believe this song. I believe in it. And I still do. And sometimes it just doesn't work out. And this is what I was talking about with the algorithm just literally cucking you, basically. I made this video with this guy named Justin Yee. We spent six hours. We basically made a music video.

It's the craziest music video I've ever shot. And I was like, I believe this song. I believe in it. And I still do. And sometimes it just doesn't work out. And this is what I was talking about with the algorithm just literally cucking you, basically. I made this video with this guy named Justin Yee. We spent six hours. We basically made a music video.

Every one second, every lyric for the first 15, 16 seconds of the drop, we were shooting. And it's a great piece of content. It did 400 views on TikTok and we re-uploaded it like eight times. Wow. And it's like, what the fuck? I'll show you after. And it's a really cool piece of content. We spent like 10 hours making it. And his content always does better. And my content always does better.

Every one second, every lyric for the first 15, 16 seconds of the drop, we were shooting. And it's a great piece of content. It did 400 views on TikTok and we re-uploaded it like eight times. Wow. And it's like, what the fuck? I'll show you after. And it's a really cool piece of content. We spent like 10 hours making it. And his content always does better. And my content always does better.

And it's just like, that's just it. You have to play the ball game. And I don't think that that song is bad. I think that song is great. And it's so interesting that you just have to play ball. Because you...

And it's just like, that's just it. You have to play the ball game. And I don't think that that song is bad. I think that song is great. And it's so interesting that you just have to play ball. Because you...

yeah are you happy with how like tiktok has impacted the music industry i wouldn't really have a big ass career i wouldn't have a career where i'm at without tiktok so i would be a hypocrite um albeit i think my favorite time was when soundcloud was the king because it was like you actually had a way to impact the song if you were to

yeah are you happy with how like tiktok has impacted the music industry i wouldn't really have a big ass career i wouldn't have a career where i'm at without tiktok so i would be a hypocrite um albeit i think my favorite time was when soundcloud was the king because it was like you actually had a way to impact the song if you were to

pay for something if i if i were to go out and pay for like a repost from someone big it would actually impact the song where nowadays i can go out and spend ten thousand dollars on a tiktok marketing campaign and won't do anything for the song and

pay for something if i if i were to go out and pay for like a repost from someone big it would actually impact the song where nowadays i can go out and spend ten thousand dollars on a tiktok marketing campaign and won't do anything for the song and

So try to get them to follow it and enjoy the song, because if you do that, you already won. If you make a fan favorite song, you made a fan favorite song. That's more important for ticket value and ticket sales and longevity of your career because those are the people that are going to keep fucking with you.

So try to get them to follow it and enjoy the song, because if you do that, you already won. If you make a fan favorite song, you made a fan favorite song. That's more important for ticket value and ticket sales and longevity of your career because those are the people that are going to keep fucking with you.

you know yeah i'm a guy i'm a numbers guy i'm a return of investment guy so it's really hard for me to justify wanting to spend money and market a song like the the i guess now traditional methods uh and it's frustrating it's just like that's the lamest part of being an artist but i can't i can't i can't complain it's like do you remember the first time you made money from music

you know yeah i'm a guy i'm a numbers guy i'm a return of investment guy so it's really hard for me to justify wanting to spend money and market a song like the the i guess now traditional methods uh and it's frustrating it's just like that's the lamest part of being an artist but i can't i can't i can't complain it's like do you remember the first time you made money from music

i made four four dollars uh i made four dollars and i saw it in my stem shout out stem best distribution no question stem stem okay uh i've been with them since 2016 basically oh wow but i saw four dollars in my in my portal and you can't withdraw until it's 50 and i was like fuck

i made four four dollars uh i made four dollars and i saw it in my stem shout out stem best distribution no question stem stem okay uh i've been with them since 2016 basically oh wow but i saw four dollars in my in my portal and you can't withdraw until it's 50 and i was like fuck

uh and i waited you know it was four dollars and then the next month was like eight and then the next month was like 16 then i went to like 200 and it was growing and this was the soundcloud period yeah soundcloud like i i was uploading on spotify but it was like i'm talking like thousands of streams maybe like not not a lot and i was like oh whoa like i'm paying for the burritos i'm eating at university this is dope like this is really cool um

uh and i waited you know it was four dollars and then the next month was like eight and then the next month was like 16 then i went to like 200 and it was growing and this was the soundcloud period yeah soundcloud like i i was uploading on spotify but it was like i'm talking like thousands of streams maybe like not not a lot and i was like oh whoa like i'm paying for the burritos i'm eating at university this is dope like this is really cool um

So yeah, it was a good experience being able to see

So yeah, it was a good experience being able to see

financial growth yeah in the career because it's like oh i'm actually doing something right and seeing the analytics like progressively progressively increase increase is like very very uh validating in a sense where it's like oh i'm actually doing something right this is working but now it's like it's so sporadic like i'm obviously at a point where i'm like pretty baseline and it'll i'll have i'll have waves and i'll have waves that'll come down um

financial growth yeah in the career because it's like oh i'm actually doing something right and seeing the analytics like progressively progressively increase increase is like very very uh validating in a sense where it's like oh i'm actually doing something right this is working but now it's like it's so sporadic like i'm obviously at a point where i'm like pretty baseline and it'll i'll have i'll have waves and i'll have waves that'll come down um

But I think that was like my favorite time in my career because anything and everything that I was doing was affecting it so dramatically. And now it's like I basically have to have another hit in order to or like a social media hit in order to keep growing or keep the growth going. So. Yeah, it's really fascinating.

But I think that was like my favorite time in my career because anything and everything that I was doing was affecting it so dramatically. And now it's like I basically have to have another hit in order to or like a social media hit in order to keep growing or keep the growth going. So. Yeah, it's really fascinating.

I don't know whether or not I like it, and I don't know whether or not I hate how marketing is, but I'm good at it, which is helpful.

I don't know whether or not I like it, and I don't know whether or not I hate how marketing is, but I'm good at it, which is helpful.

have no idea bro um i think it partly comes from just like being online like uh and it's like i can put myself in other people's like feet and i i are positions feet um i think it's because i'm good at researching and like digesting it and articulating it the way i want to do it

have no idea bro um i think it partly comes from just like being online like uh and it's like i can put myself in other people's like feet and i i are positions feet um i think it's because i'm good at researching and like digesting it and articulating it the way i want to do it

I think there's a really, really large disconnect between artistry and making songs just go viral. And that's the unfortunate, the divide was like all these record labels were like, fuck it. Let's use this app that finds this many TikTok creates and this much increase of like proportion of streams per day. Let's buy it. And just like throw more money in it and just make money off that.

I think there's a really, really large disconnect between artistry and making songs just go viral. And that's the unfortunate, the divide was like all these record labels were like, fuck it. Let's use this app that finds this many TikTok creates and this much increase of like proportion of streams per day. Let's buy it. And just like throw more money in it and just make money off that.

Like on TikTok?

Like on TikTok?

My first, like, hmm. Hmm. My first. I think the biggest one I ever had was this guy roasting me for these pants I was wearing. And I remember I uploaded it, and this was like 2020, 2022, April 2022-ish. And this was when like the app kind of made sense. Like if you had a following, you would actually get views, and then it would like brick or not.

My first, like, hmm. Hmm. My first. I think the biggest one I ever had was this guy roasting me for these pants I was wearing. And I remember I uploaded it, and this was like 2020, 2022, April 2022-ish. And this was when like the app kind of made sense. Like if you had a following, you would actually get views, and then it would like brick or not.

And I remember I posted it, and in like 10 minutes, we had like 15,000, no, 150,000 likes. And I was like... That's crazy. I was like, damn bro. What the fuck? Um, yeah, that was probably one of my biggest videos. I think it has like 21 million views, but I've had a bunch of bigger esque videos, like 7 million, 8 million views. Um, Yeah.

And I remember I posted it, and in like 10 minutes, we had like 15,000, no, 150,000 likes. And I was like... That's crazy. I was like, damn bro. What the fuck? Um, yeah, that was probably one of my biggest videos. I think it has like 21 million views, but I've had a bunch of bigger esque videos, like 7 million, 8 million views. Um, Yeah.

No. It's actually like... There's nothing like crazy, crazy big. Gravy had one when he was beefing with Addison Rae's dad. I remember this. He posted a video of Addison Rae's dad like... being like, fuck you, I'm gonna beat your ass. And he's like, bro, you're a grown adult. This is a joke that you're on TikTok. Like you're roasting his ass, like cooking his ass.

No. It's actually like... There's nothing like crazy, crazy big. Gravy had one when he was beefing with Addison Rae's dad. I remember this. He posted a video of Addison Rae's dad like... being like, fuck you, I'm gonna beat your ass. And he's like, bro, you're a grown adult. This is a joke that you're on TikTok. Like you're roasting his ass, like cooking his ass.

And I remember this video in an hour had like 4 million likes. It was so big. That's crazy. And I just remember looking at it and being like, damn. Let's go, man. Like, the boy's up. So, yeah, social media is so interesting, man. When it works, it's great. And when it doesn't, it feels like balls.

And I remember this video in an hour had like 4 million likes. It was so big. That's crazy. And I just remember looking at it and being like, damn. Let's go, man. Like, the boy's up. So, yeah, social media is so interesting, man. When it works, it's great. And when it doesn't, it feels like balls.

Yeah, totally.

Yeah, totally.

I was sitting in like astrophysics class and I thought it was going to be a dog course, like something easy, but I got my ass handed to me. Also, I was sitting in astrophysics class, not paying attention on his platform. And he had like, He had less followers than I did on SoundCloud. We both had like 100, like nothing, like literally nothing. And I sent him a message.

I was sitting in like astrophysics class and I thought it was going to be a dog course, like something easy, but I got my ass handed to me. Also, I was sitting in astrophysics class, not paying attention on his platform. And he had like, He had less followers than I did on SoundCloud. We both had like 100, like nothing, like literally nothing. And I sent him a message.

I was like, dude, you're funny as fuck. And he was the first person that could say my name right, like off rip. He's like, oh, baby, no money. And I'm like, you're cool. And he hadn't shown his face yet. And I was like, either you're like a 45-year-old dad or you just have like a really low voice. And he put out Mr. Clean and it was starting to bubble.

I was like, dude, you're funny as fuck. And he was the first person that could say my name right, like off rip. He's like, oh, baby, no money. And I'm like, you're cool. And he hadn't shown his face yet. And I was like, either you're like a 45-year-old dad or you just have like a really low voice. And he put out Mr. Clean and it was starting to bubble.

Yeah. Very white. So mean. Yeah. After that, we just became good friends. I started, like, FaceTiming him on Facebook because I didn't have an iPhone.

Yeah. Very white. So mean. Yeah. After that, we just became good friends. I started, like, FaceTiming him on Facebook because I didn't have an iPhone.

Yeah. Hey, shout out. Yeah, shout out Facebook. Hey, Meta, sponsor. And I remember the first time I met him in Vancouver within, like, 10, 15 minutes. I was like, oh, I would have been friends with this guy in high school. And we just have become really good friends. We're really close. Like, I really think... I really think I'm a positive wrecking force in his life.

Yeah. Hey, shout out. Yeah, shout out Facebook. Hey, Meta, sponsor. And I remember the first time I met him in Vancouver within, like, 10, 15 minutes. I was like, oh, I would have been friends with this guy in high school. And we just have become really good friends. We're really close. Like, I really think... I really think I'm a positive wrecking force in his life.

And he's a really great sounding board for, like, being in the industry. You know, nobody readied us for this for us. Nobody readied us for this. There you go. And having an actual friend, like, someone that I can be like, dude, like, what do you think about, like, this? How, like, how does this affect you? Like, genuinely. Yeah. It's more than... It's, like, unbelievable. Because, like...

And he's a really great sounding board for, like, being in the industry. You know, nobody readied us for this for us. Nobody readied us for this. There you go. And having an actual friend, like, someone that I can be like, dude, like, what do you think about, like, this? How, like, how does this affect you? Like, genuinely. Yeah. It's more than... It's, like, unbelievable. Because, like...

I'm as real as I can get with him. When he comes to me, I'll be like, no, this song sucks. And I feel like sometimes when you get more successful, people have jobs around you. They'll just yes man you. And it's bad. It's not good. So I'm really happy that I can be that for him and vice versa. And he knows the type of person I am. So I don't really party. And he likes partying way more.

I'm as real as I can get with him. When he comes to me, I'll be like, no, this song sucks. And I feel like sometimes when you get more successful, people have jobs around you. They'll just yes man you. And it's bad. It's not good. So I'm really happy that I can be that for him and vice versa. And he knows the type of person I am. So I don't really party. And he likes partying way more.

Whereas like now it's slowly kind of going back into the world of just like developing an artist. And like developing a story. And something that I noticed recently is I was just super, super real online. And people really received that well. And I was like, oh, whoa. People actually care about who I am. Where historically I've just been like, haha, pee-pee-poo-poo.

Whereas like now it's slowly kind of going back into the world of just like developing an artist. And like developing a story. And something that I noticed recently is I was just super, super real online. And people really received that well. And I was like, oh, whoa. People actually care about who I am. Where historically I've just been like, haha, pee-pee-poo-poo.

And I'd be like, hey, man, what are you doing? He was like, I would have invited you to this, but I know you don't like this shit and I know you'd hate yourself if you're there. But if you want to come, you can come. And I'm like, it's cool that he knows me like that. So both our parents, we're good friends with both our parents. We're like actual friendship. It's great.

And I'd be like, hey, man, what are you doing? He was like, I would have invited you to this, but I know you don't like this shit and I know you'd hate yourself if you're there. But if you want to come, you can come. And I'm like, it's cool that he knows me like that. So both our parents, we're good friends with both our parents. We're like actual friendship. It's great.

When he bought his house, this house is super, super nice. I remember I was standing there and I was like looking at him. I was like, dude, like we fucking did this shit. And he's like, yeah, I know it's crazy. Right. And I'm like, it's fucking nuts. Like, Even my parents, like, my parents are proud of me. Like, and I grew up in a household. I was homeschooling.

When he bought his house, this house is super, super nice. I remember I was standing there and I was like looking at him. I was like, dude, like we fucking did this shit. And he's like, yeah, I know it's crazy. Right. And I'm like, it's fucking nuts. Like, Even my parents, like, my parents are proud of me. Like, and I grew up in a household. I was homeschooling.

I grew up in a household, and there was a lot of stress and a lot of, like, pressure from my mom. And, like, my parents are like, my dad does my finances, and he's just like, where are you taking us now? You know? And it's really, really, really, I have a really supportive family. I love that. Yeah. I have a bunch of good people around me. Like, my life's great.

I grew up in a household, and there was a lot of stress and a lot of, like, pressure from my mom. And, like, my parents are like, my dad does my finances, and he's just like, where are you taking us now? You know? And it's really, really, really, I have a really supportive family. I love that. Yeah. I have a bunch of good people around me. Like, my life's great.

Nope. I was doing school. The reason why I went away to university is because I wanted to continue making music. And I didn't feel comfortable doing it in front of my parents. I think, you know, I probably could have just articulated that to them and it would have been fine. But obviously, like when you're like 18, 19, 17 or like 20, like being open about music.

Nope. I was doing school. The reason why I went away to university is because I wanted to continue making music. And I didn't feel comfortable doing it in front of my parents. I think, you know, I probably could have just articulated that to them and it would have been fine. But obviously, like when you're like 18, 19, 17 or like 20, like being open about music.

your feelings is kind of difficult with your parents. They're like, you don't really learn that shit that early. Um, so I went away and I was like, mom, I know you question this shit. Give me four years. It can be five years. And I did it in four. So I was like, mom, go fuck yourself. Um, love you dearly. But she told me to, she told me to quit university.

your feelings is kind of difficult with your parents. They're like, you don't really learn that shit that early. Um, so I went away and I was like, mom, I know you question this shit. Give me four years. It can be five years. And I did it in four. So I was like, mom, go fuck yourself. Um, love you dearly. But she told me to, she told me to quit university.

She's like, it seems like music is working out. You should stop. And I was like, nah, fuck you. I'm a finish. Cause you know, reverse psychology. She was hitting me with it. Um, but yeah, But, yeah, I love my parents dearly.

She's like, it seems like music is working out. You should stop. And I was like, nah, fuck you. I'm a finish. Cause you know, reverse psychology. She was hitting me with it. Um, but yeah, But, yeah, I love my parents dearly.

I would say, like, January 2019. So that's when I put out my album called Recess.

I would say, like, January 2019. So that's when I put out my album called Recess.

And I just got off tour with Gravy and I went to go to Ari's Y2K to write music. I think I put this song called Hyrule Temple out. And I remember one of my monthly statements for the streaming was like, it was like 22,000 USD.

And I just got off tour with Gravy and I went to go to Ari's Y2K to write music. I think I put this song called Hyrule Temple out. And I remember one of my monthly statements for the streaming was like, it was like 22,000 USD.

And I think that was like when USD to CAD was 1.4. So I was like, it was like 32,000. And my sister was like, dead just told me that you made thirty thousand dollars in a month and i was like uh yeah and i was like i remember sitting there i had a nosebleed i was just sitting in ari's living room while sleeping on his couch drinking like shitty cold brew and i was like dude that's a lot of money

And I think that was like when USD to CAD was 1.4. So I was like, it was like 32,000. And my sister was like, dead just told me that you made thirty thousand dollars in a month and i was like uh yeah and i was like i remember sitting there i had a nosebleed i was just sitting in ari's living room while sleeping on his couch drinking like shitty cold brew and i was like dude that's a lot of money

And I was like, is this working? I guess it's working. And yeah, just like very eye-opening experience where I was like, oh, it's working. But then I tried selling tickets and I sold like seven fucking tickets. So I was like, where's this disconnect? I'm having all these people, like real people stream my music. But I realized soon after my fan bases are larger outside of America.

And I was like, is this working? I guess it's working. And yeah, just like very eye-opening experience where I was like, oh, it's working. But then I tried selling tickets and I sold like seven fucking tickets. So I was like, where's this disconnect? I'm having all these people, like real people stream my music. But I realized soon after my fan bases are larger outside of America.

So, and it makes sense because my music is wonky left field. You know, it's like my music is always weird. Like one of my biggest, like for instance, Help Yourself has like 100 or 132 million streams, I think. And we are halfway to gold. Whereas gravy has a song called magic and he had 78 million streams and you need 75 million streams in America to go gold. And he got gold at 78 million.

So, and it makes sense because my music is wonky left field. You know, it's like my music is always weird. Like one of my biggest, like for instance, Help Yourself has like 100 or 132 million streams, I think. And we are halfway to gold. Whereas gravy has a song called magic and he had 78 million streams and you need 75 million streams in America to go gold. And he got gold at 78 million.

So I'm halfway at 135 or 125 million. So I'll probably have to get to about 200 million. So, and like at a mommy, same thing, we went gold at like 250 million streams because it was so X U S and, It's kind of cool because I get to see more of the world by doing that. Yeah, I'm way more of a global act. And sometimes it's a little like, damn, I wish I was like way bigger in one market.

So I'm halfway at 135 or 125 million. So I'll probably have to get to about 200 million. So, and like at a mommy, same thing, we went gold at like 250 million streams because it was so X U S and, It's kind of cool because I get to see more of the world by doing that. Yeah, I'm way more of a global act. And sometimes it's a little like, damn, I wish I was like way bigger in one market.

But in the reality, I will gladly do a 400 capacity in Lithuania. You know, like I have the ability to go eat like potatoes because like that's their like regional foods, like potatoes with like crackling and pork in it. So fucking good. And it's like I have that experience. I get to do that. And it doesn't matter if I get much bigger. I don't really care.

But in the reality, I will gladly do a 400 capacity in Lithuania. You know, like I have the ability to go eat like potatoes because like that's their like regional foods, like potatoes with like crackling and pork in it. So fucking good. And it's like I have that experience. I get to do that. And it doesn't matter if I get much bigger. I don't really care.

But if I keep putting a cool music that I believe in, it's going to happen. That's the nature of it. So, yeah. Yeah.

But if I keep putting a cool music that I believe in, it's going to happen. That's the nature of it. So, yeah. Yeah.

So like, for instance, it's none of my music is done really, really, really well in Japan. And it boy did great. So now I have the ability to actually go to Japan and do a show, which I've been trying to do for the past, like, five years. But now that there's, like, some steam, it's like, boom, let's go to Japan. Have you been to Japan? Huh?

So like, for instance, it's none of my music is done really, really, really well in Japan. And it boy did great. So now I have the ability to actually go to Japan and do a show, which I've been trying to do for the past, like, five years. But now that there's, like, some steam, it's like, boom, let's go to Japan. Have you been to Japan? Huh?

Like, vacationing? Yeah. Yeah. Dude.

Like, vacationing? Yeah. Yeah. Dude.

Have you been?

Have you been?

Not yet. Not yet. Fuck whatever you're doing for the next week and a half and just go to Japan. It is the coolest shit. Like, garbage trucks. Shiny. Nothing on the ground. The people are the most polite. Food is incredible. It's not, like, it's not as expensive as you would think it would be. Like, Tokyo, like, I was like, oh, Tokyo is probably a utopia. It's going to be expensive. It's cheap.

Not yet. Not yet. Fuck whatever you're doing for the next week and a half and just go to Japan. It is the coolest shit. Like, garbage trucks. Shiny. Nothing on the ground. The people are the most polite. Food is incredible. It's not, like, it's not as expensive as you would think it would be. Like, Tokyo, like, I was like, oh, Tokyo is probably a utopia. It's going to be expensive. It's cheap.

And I think the more real you are and the more honest and open about everything is people can just relate to it on, like, a deeper, deeper level for sure. 100%. I kind of went off on a tangent, but I guess that's what happens when you have the flow state in the gum.

And I think the more real you are and the more honest and open about everything is people can just relate to it on, like, a deeper, deeper level for sure. 100%. I kind of went off on a tangent, but I guess that's what happens when you have the flow state in the gum.

It's not expensive. Dude. Japan is the greatest place on earth. There's no question. It's unbelievable.

It's not expensive. Dude. Japan is the greatest place on earth. There's no question. It's unbelievable.

Yeah. That's sick.

Yeah. That's sick.

I think like... June is when we're locking a date there. I'm doing a show in the Philippines, and then I think I'm going to jump over to Japan. Sick. But same with Mexico. I've been wanting to do a show in Mexico for so long. Mexico City. Have you been to Mexico City?

I think like... June is when we're locking a date there. I'm doing a show in the Philippines, and then I think I'm going to jump over to Japan. Sick. But same with Mexico. I've been wanting to do a show in Mexico for so long. Mexico City. Have you been to Mexico City?

That is I. Nice to meet you, man.

That is I. Nice to meet you, man.

Mexico City is such a cool city. And, yeah, I'm just really excited to go. Sweet. I don't know how many fans are going to have there, but it doesn't really matter because... I'm doing a show in Mexico. Yeah, so.

Mexico City is such a cool city. And, yeah, I'm just really excited to go. Sweet. I don't know how many fans are going to have there, but it doesn't really matter because... I'm doing a show in Mexico. Yeah, so.

Yeah, you too, boss.

Yeah, you too, boss.

I have, like, a couple, but the one that I typically say the most when people are like, how did you get started? And it's just, like, anything you're going to do, you should do. Just do. And everyone's always talking about, like, let's make a plan. Let's do this. Nah, just fucking do it. As cliche and cringe as it may sound.

I have, like, a couple, but the one that I typically say the most when people are like, how did you get started? And it's just, like, anything you're going to do, you should do. Just do. And everyone's always talking about, like, let's make a plan. Let's do this. Nah, just fucking do it. As cliche and cringe as it may sound.

Like there's even times and days where I'm like, oh, why don't we come together as a team and talk about what we could do? No, just literally get up, wake up and do it.

Like there's even times and days where I'm like, oh, why don't we come together as a team and talk about what we could do? No, just literally get up, wake up and do it.

And it's, that's something that I would do is like, I would literally roll out of bed at four in the morning, slam a pot of coffee and just make music. I wouldn't plan on putting any of it out. I was just doing it because I loved it.

And it's, that's something that I would do is like, I would literally roll out of bed at four in the morning, slam a pot of coffee and just make music. I wouldn't plan on putting any of it out. I was just doing it because I loved it.

Yeah, pretty much. That's awesome. I definitely don't make music like that anymore, but, yeah, my main piece of advice is really, like... Just do it. Like, you flew here from Arizona. You did it. We're doing it. You know, it's like, if you want to make...

Yeah, pretty much. That's awesome. I definitely don't make music like that anymore, but, yeah, my main piece of advice is really, like... Just do it. Like, you flew here from Arizona. You did it. We're doing it. You know, it's like, if you want to make...

water sculptures for the rest of your fucking life do it don't tell like it doesn't matter if people are gonna judge you doesn't matter if you don't make any money because if it makes you happy that's what that's the currency because everyone is depressed as shit don't be don't be a fucking idiot if you find something that makes you happy do it so

water sculptures for the rest of your fucking life do it don't tell like it doesn't matter if people are gonna judge you doesn't matter if you don't make any money because if it makes you happy that's what that's the currency because everyone is depressed as shit don't be don't be a fucking idiot if you find something that makes you happy do it so

Shout out, flow state.

Shout out, flow state.

You wrote a card. You can read it whenever. Oh, this is cute. Nice.

You wrote a card. You can read it whenever. Oh, this is cute. Nice.

No, man. Just. Hmm. What was the artist name that put you on? Porter Robinson. Porter Robinson. Porter Robinson. For fucking goodness sakes, do a goddamn podcast with him. That's the only thing I'm trying to put on. Please clip this. Post this on TikTok. Porter Robinson. Please, Porter Robinson. Porter Robinson. Please, Porter Robinson. Daniel's waiting for you. God damn it.

No, man. Just. Hmm. What was the artist name that put you on? Porter Robinson. Porter Robinson. Porter Robinson. For fucking goodness sakes, do a goddamn podcast with him. That's the only thing I'm trying to put on. Please clip this. Post this on TikTok. Porter Robinson. Please, Porter Robinson. Porter Robinson. Please, Porter Robinson. Daniel's waiting for you. God damn it.

There it is.

There it is.

Peace.

Peace.

So I broke my back playing rugby in grade 12. It's all good. It was a good learning experience. And then I was like, okay, shit. Well, now I know so much about the psychological effect of pain. And I'm in chronic pain all the time. Basically, I have trouble sleeping. It's just my life. So when I went away to university, I was studying, which I got my degree in kinesiology.

So I broke my back playing rugby in grade 12. It's all good. It was a good learning experience. And then I was like, okay, shit. Well, now I know so much about the psychological effect of pain. And I'm in chronic pain all the time. Basically, I have trouble sleeping. It's just my life. So when I went away to university, I was studying, which I got my degree in kinesiology.

I was studying kinesiology because I understood the psychological effects of pain. And I was like, if I at least know this, I have one leg up on people who don't get it. Because the one thing I saw across the board was. in clinics and whatnot, they don't really understand that you may actually be in pain. Like looking at me, do I look like I'm in pain?

I was studying kinesiology because I understood the psychological effects of pain. And I was like, if I at least know this, I have one leg up on people who don't get it. Because the one thing I saw across the board was. in clinics and whatnot, they don't really understand that you may actually be in pain. Like looking at me, do I look like I'm in pain?

Exactly. So it's like, I can be like, oh, I understand how that feels. It's like debilitating that you can't do that anymore. Or it's like when you stand up from this chair, my back might tweak and it's like not something I talk about regularly, but it's like, fuck. Or it's like, let's say you're having sex with someone and your back tweaks and you're like...

Exactly. So it's like, I can be like, oh, I understand how that feels. It's like debilitating that you can't do that anymore. Or it's like when you stand up from this chair, my back might tweak and it's like not something I talk about regularly, but it's like, fuck. Or it's like, let's say you're having sex with someone and your back tweaks and you're like...

that's debilitating that's that's it's not embarrassing but it's like why do i have to deal with this and that's something that i really got the grip of and uh when when i when i broke my back i was super depressed because like oh like life is out to get me blah blah blah but then

that's debilitating that's that's it's not embarrassing but it's like why do i have to deal with this and that's something that i really got the grip of and uh when when i when i broke my back i was super depressed because like oh like life is out to get me blah blah blah but then

I found making music to be such a good escape that I was like, oh shit, I'm literally just going to do this for the rest of my life. Because I was writing poetry at the time because I didn't really know that journaling was like a good thing. So I just started just writing poetry, like super sad poems and shit. And then I guess I just turned like the super sad poems into moron lyricism.

I found making music to be such a good escape that I was like, oh shit, I'm literally just going to do this for the rest of my life. Because I was writing poetry at the time because I didn't really know that journaling was like a good thing. So I just started just writing poetry, like super sad poems and shit. And then I guess I just turned like the super sad poems into moron lyricism.

And I had a really good time doing it. Met a bunch of friends, smoke a bunch of blunts, make a bunch of music. How can you go wrong? So it was like a, it was like a group effort. And then I just really fell in love with it. Like the art of making music, uh, the Sonics. I found Ableton. I started making beats. I have 10.

And I had a really good time doing it. Met a bunch of friends, smoke a bunch of blunts, make a bunch of music. How can you go wrong? So it was like a, it was like a group effort. And then I just really fell in love with it. Like the art of making music, uh, the Sonics. I found Ableton. I started making beats. I have 10.

I think it was eight or nine at this time. And I, I still to this day have not paid for Ableton and I still use Ableton nine to record. Cause it's like, it doesn't make a difference.

I think it was eight or nine at this time. And I, I still to this day have not paid for Ableton and I still use Ableton nine to record. Cause it's like, it doesn't make a difference.

Um,

Um,

so i really fell in love with the art of making music and like mixing and mastering and like the the nerdisms okay uh i if you really like listen to my music i feel like i'm experimenting so much constantly and there's like so many so many small little ear candy things that it's like oh this guy is obviously a nerd you know it's like i'll do my diligence on like figuring out what is popular at the time like i remember when ronnie j you know ronnie j the producer

so i really fell in love with the art of making music and like mixing and mastering and like the the nerdisms okay uh i if you really like listen to my music i feel like i'm experimenting so much constantly and there's like so many so many small little ear candy things that it's like oh this guy is obviously a nerd you know it's like i'll do my diligence on like figuring out what is popular at the time like i remember when ronnie j you know ronnie j the producer

Probably. He made like all Lil Pump, Smokepurps music back then. So I remember when he was popping off because on SoundCloud, basically at the time, I was like, whatever's popping on SoundCloud is like whatever's popping. And especially rap music. And I remember his 808s were so fucking distorted. And I was like, okay. So I went to my producer guy and I was like, yo, we should...

Probably. He made like all Lil Pump, Smokepurps music back then. So I remember when he was popping off because on SoundCloud, basically at the time, I was like, whatever's popping on SoundCloud is like whatever's popping. And especially rap music. And I remember his 808s were so fucking distorted. And I was like, okay. So I went to my producer guy and I was like, yo, we should...

We should distort the living shit out of the 808s. So we had like print two 808s and then high cut or low cut everything and then put the highs and then distort the highs. And then we kind of figured out a way of having synergy between both of those sounds. And immediately, boom, song does better because. You're like digesting and articulating how you want to articulate that sound.

We should distort the living shit out of the 808s. So we had like print two 808s and then high cut or low cut everything and then put the highs and then distort the highs. And then we kind of figured out a way of having synergy between both of those sounds. And immediately, boom, song does better because. You're like digesting and articulating how you want to articulate that sound.

And why I thought the song was popular is because the 808 was distorting. And boom, I do it myself. It works. So it's kind of just like a research case study method. And like typically when I finish an album, what will happen is I'll be like, OK, I'll make one more song. And I take every single flow that I'm used to and I know that is really popular in every one of my songs.

And why I thought the song was popular is because the 808 was distorting. And boom, I do it myself. It works. So it's kind of just like a research case study method. And like typically when I finish an album, what will happen is I'll be like, OK, I'll make one more song. And I take every single flow that I'm used to and I know that is really popular in every one of my songs.

And I know is why is the reason or why that that song is the reason why it's popular. And I'll just copy and paste it basically with my own flow. And I'll just make one really, really good baby no money song and I'll throw it on the album before I upload it. But basically how I got into this, I'm going off on a tangent. The flow state, man. Is it after... Yeah, it just really made me happy. And...

And I know is why is the reason or why that that song is the reason why it's popular. And I'll just copy and paste it basically with my own flow. And I'll just make one really, really good baby no money song and I'll throw it on the album before I upload it. But basically how I got into this, I'm going off on a tangent. The flow state, man. Is it after... Yeah, it just really made me happy. And...

Still to this day, when I'm like frustrated, depressed, or like anxious and feeling lost, I'll just be like, I need to do like 20 sessions this month. Book me. I'm not using social media. Fuck that shit. And I've made some of the best music recently in the past, I don't know, like 10, 15 days. And it's one of the best music I've ever made, I think. Wow. And I'm feeling really like at peace.

Still to this day, when I'm like frustrated, depressed, or like anxious and feeling lost, I'll just be like, I need to do like 20 sessions this month. Book me. I'm not using social media. Fuck that shit. And I've made some of the best music recently in the past, I don't know, like 10, 15 days. And it's one of the best music I've ever made, I think. Wow. And I'm feeling really like at peace.

So it's probably something that I'm going to do for the rest of my life.

So it's probably something that I'm going to do for the rest of my life.

uh i feel like i have a lot to say but i have nothing to say at the same time it sounds like music is a way not only to escape like you said but it's also a way to like truly express yourself yeah because i think baby no money like i'm alex alex is alex but baby no money is like alex on like 17 flow states you know what i mean so it's fun to to be the most eccentric self

uh i feel like i have a lot to say but i have nothing to say at the same time it sounds like music is a way not only to escape like you said but it's also a way to like truly express yourself yeah because i think baby no money like i'm alex alex is alex but baby no money is like alex on like 17 flow states you know what i mean so it's fun to to be the most eccentric self

Yeah, it went moron mode. So I remember... When was it? June 7th. So it was late May, like basically. Yeah. You know, May, June. When you look back five years, everything is kind of like consolidated into like a month. But June 7th, it came out. And by June 21st, I took a red eye, signed to Columbia. And dude, yeah, my life basically changed like immediately. It was nice. That's really quick.

Yeah, it went moron mode. So I remember... When was it? June 7th. So it was late May, like basically. Yeah. You know, May, June. When you look back five years, everything is kind of like consolidated into like a month. But June 7th, it came out. And by June 21st, I took a red eye, signed to Columbia. And dude, yeah, my life basically changed like immediately. It was nice. That's really quick.

I can be and, you know, challenge myself or or push myself to the limit with regards to what I'm comfortable with. And I think I think it's beautiful that I've been able to do it and platform it and also be able to display that, you know, I'm a weird kid. By default, I'm weird. I'm awkward. I'm, I'm like, you know, I'm a gamer.

I can be and, you know, challenge myself or or push myself to the limit with regards to what I'm comfortable with. And I think I think it's beautiful that I've been able to do it and platform it and also be able to display that, you know, I'm a weird kid. By default, I'm weird. I'm awkward. I'm, I'm like, you know, I'm a gamer.

So, and I feel like there's, I, I, I kind of rep have a representation of these. Like, mannerisms and these ways of what, like, people... Like, chronically online people have. But I just kind of broke through a little bit. And I think I... Those are my fans. They're just, like, weirdos. And whenever I meet them and do meet and greets, I'm like, everyone here just gets me. They all just get it.

So, and I feel like there's, I, I, I kind of rep have a representation of these. Like, mannerisms and these ways of what, like, people... Like, chronically online people have. But I just kind of broke through a little bit. And I think I... Those are my fans. They're just, like, weirdos. And whenever I meet them and do meet and greets, I'm like, everyone here just gets me. They all just get it.

And it's weird. It's cool. So...

And it's weird. It's cool. So...

Chronically online.

Chronically online.

It is a problem. There is no doubt. I went away to Hawaii for three days recently. Okay. No phone, no technology for three days.

It is a problem. There is no doubt. I went away to Hawaii for three days recently. Okay. No phone, no technology for three days.

Did I really just forget that melody? That was the actual take. That's crazy. Dude, yeah, my life basically changed like immediately. It was nuts. Ladies and gentlemen, get on your feet. For Phoebe, no money. This track is insane when it comes to online numbers. I want to make a hit song.

That was the longest I think I've gone without technology, which is like fucked up to say.

amazing like i was exhausted by 7 p.m because i was like absorbing normal stimulation and like doing what was and yeah it kind of blew me away a little bit because nobody steps away yeah like it's it's bad do you feel okay did you feel guilty at all like not working not being online like feeling that at all

So I spent four and a half hours articulating to my team exactly what we're going to post, exactly what we're going to do this. So they did it. So I didn't have a worry there because I was like, I don't want to have to worry that we also had a tour announcement. We were announcing tour. So I was like, well, shit, I need to I need to leave. You guys need to do this. So they did that.

But I came back online, sold the most tickets we ever have. Incredible. And I was like, that's good news, man. And it was a very, very peaceful experience because I was there. It was like a therapy retreat kind of thing. And the lady I was there with was so spiritual, so grounded and has... Easily like the most enlightenment I've ever seen in anyone.

And I was just like experiencing sun up, sun down and meditating. It was very nice. And like I wouldn't say I'm like a spiritual person like that. Like I'm not. But doing things that you love.

don't typically do very often is something that i i think baby no money stands for it's like i wouldn't really just be like oh i need to go meditate for four days straight but it was a cool experience and now that i have that experience i can share with other people and it might be more applicable to someone else's life and uh i think it's just basically like i'm just blessed to be able to do whatever the fuck i want when i want all the time and it comes across that i think on my social media and stuff like that because i'm just fucking around having fun

As Baby No Money, probably like 500. yeah i've kind of broken it down every about every 300 songs i'm like a hit how many songs do you write for each album uh um so i wrote 100 songs from like november 2023 to like february and i've only released three of them so oh wow Yeah. But the thing is, is like I'm just being like ultra selective now. You know, I never really used to be.

Back when I first started, I would put out a song every week.

Yeah. Yeah. It was very like Russ ideologies. But at the same time, I was like, I don't know any better. And also like. I was making songs. I wasn't perfecting them. I was mixing them myself and like nothing was like perfect, perfect, perfect. And at that time, I didn't really want to spend any money on it because I wasn't making much money. So there's no point. Yeah.

Yeah.

Whereas I still think that fundamentally that is the best way to go about making music because you're also competing with like 3,000 songs every day, 4,000 songs that are being released every day. And it's like, how do you get people's attention? How do you hold people's attention? It's just like constantly be in everyone's face. And if a song isn't working, this is my largest gripe. Okay.

That's... Dude, you know like the dentist, like the TikToker, the dentist guy?

If a song isn't working on social media because of the quote algorithm or like literally like the sonics just don't make sense with someone's phone. So someone hears it and they don't like it. But the song is fundamentally a good song. If I were to show you this song that we had recently and it just doesn't work on social media and it's just like just doesn't work. You're fucked.

So, like, testing music before it comes out is something that is, if you're not like a AAA artist, is something that you kind of have to do. And I think that is the lamest shit. Because... It's like, what if you create this cool plan where you're like, I'm going to storm all the toilet stores in all of America and shit on the floor. But like, that's the whole marketing campaign. Like, boom.

I'm sure you've seen it. He doesn't brush his teeth, but he brushes other people's teeth. He's a fucking dentist. I remember he called me one day.

You know, let's say this is for Baby No Money. It's like, I'm going to go to every single, it's like, I'm going to go to every single, you know what I mean? And shit on the floor, not in a toilet. Yeah. And like the, the song is called toilet and you, you, they all love the song. Like the song is a 10 out of 10. Every single person I show them is like, damn, this shit's hard.

Like there's nothing wrong with it. And then this marketing campaign, let's say it's full proof, like a hundred thousand dollars. You're like, oh, I show it to you conceptually. You're like, this is gonna go crazy. There's no doubt. Like already have CNN or all these like news broadcast radio stations, like already tuned into, like they know it's coming.

All of it could do terrible if it doesn't do well in the algorithm. It makes no fucking sense. It's very frustrating. And sometimes, like, you make a song... You post it once, it gets a million likes. And it's just like, you're just looking at the camera going like, and a million, boom, million likes.

And you're like, oh, now I actually should just spend all of the money I've ever made on music into this song to make this song bigger because it's working. And it could be like a garbage song. Or someone could have just made a hook and posted the hook and be like, what do you guys think? And it goes gigaviral. Then you have to rush to the studio to finish it.

And it's like, I don't think that helps the...

artistic integrity perspective but i mean it makes it easier it makes it more democratic for artists to be able to just market their own music which is there's there's give and take because i don't want to be playing in a game of like i don't want to be playing monopoly with the majors and i know the majors right now are falling apart like very fast and it's pretty apparent because the music industry is becoming so much more democratic

Yeah. I know that he knew it was going to be a big song. Nobody could have told that. It's like one of the biggest songs on Spotify of all time. I remember making Edamame. Then we put it out on a Wednesday and it did like 400,000 streams on a Wednesday. And I called Brian. I was like, is this usually how your music performs? And he's like, hell no. Wow. Oh, we're viral, boys.

And independent. And I'm independent. And, you know, I'm not the biggest artist in the world, but there's definitely way more independent artists. There's, like, yeah.

really nice guy really sweet sweetheart and he called me and he was like dude i'm like what he's like everyone is using the song on your on the app and i was like what does that mean because at that time i was like what do you mean and we basically had the first day out on spotify i did like 70k and at that time i was doing like 20k first days and i was like whoa

So I sat down with Y2K. This was like the second session I think we've ever done. Josh Pan texted me or texted us and was like, hey, you guys should work together. So I sat down. And I was like, man. I just got back off tour, and a lot of my music was very percussive, like Timbaland-esque. Yeah. A lot of my OG stuff. Shout out Lentra.

And I was like, I feel like my music people can't really jump to. Because when it goes like... Like, you can't really, like, jump to it. There's not, like, a direct bounce. And he's like, okay, like, I was like, let's make some 130 Latin sounding shit. He's like, cool.

Went on to the keyboard, went to, like, Latin Spanish guitar, and just went... And I was just like, oh, yo, I think I got something. And then...

basically i wrote like when i popped off there and i wrote that and i went to the mic and the first take that i went to the mic with uh this is something that i actually have a problem with is i forget the melodies like unironically like i'll come up with something good and then i'll turn around to everyone in the room be like yo fuck what was that what was that and

uh i basically just in that first take i was like oh did i really just forget that melody and you see how like authentic it sounds because it was it was that first take and he's like nah and i was like okay cool and then i jumped back in and that first take at least for the first like two or three bars or like two bars of like when i bought that was the actual take that's crazy and i remember when we were when we finished the song where we made the hook ari stands up he's like

this one's fire we should start working on it now and i'm like really i was like why don't we just keep going he's like no no no this one is fire i was like okay cool he's like let's go get some breakfast and we went and got breakfast he's like i don't want to touch that song today i need to sit on it it's so good i was like okay cool i didn't really know what we made at that point uh

I know that he knew it was going to be a big song. Nobody could have told that. It's one of the fucking biggest songs on Spotify of all time.

It's stupid.

Yeah. I'm really excited for that. Which is crazy. I'm going to figure out a funny ass plaque for my parents for that one. Like a billion dots on the board or something.

that's insane that's insane and we had no playlisting because i was just like a i was like an artist doing like okay you know i had i think i was making about like 15k a month from streaming revenue and i was like okay before the song yeah before the song came out i because i had a fucking huge ass catalog i had three albums out yeah so many songs were on each album like 13 got it

That was actually how it happened.

It's nuts. And I remember we were going to take it out. Okay. We were driving back from Highland Park Cafe, which, bro... I remember at that time, that was this Highland Park Cafe was the cafe we would go to. And I would get this breakfast sandwich every single fucking day. Like, no joke. The breakfast sandwich with a mocha. So good. And we would go there every day.

And on the Genius interview, I said, hey, guys, please, I want to shout them out. Highland Park Cafe, leave this in there. I said verbatim on Genius. Nothing against Genius. They're dope. But I said, please leave it in there. Highland Park Cafe is fire as hell. Their bacon is super good. Their chipotle mayo is crazy. And the eggs, they're just so fluffy.

They didn't leave it in there and I was so pissed. I was like, this is the singular reason why I made so much good music with Y2K. In two and a half weeks, three weeks, we wrote a full album and la la la and a couple other huge songs that I have. I just remember them taking it out, and I was like, God damn it. I was just pissed. But yeah, Highland Park Cafe, great place.

And we were driving back from Highland Park Cafe, and I remember being like, should we take the intro out? It's kind of fucking stupid. And he's like, eh. And I was like, well, how many streams do you think realistically... it will garner. And he's like, it's going to be your biggest song, bro. Like 35 million. And I was like, shit, that's a lot of streams. That's like a hundred thousand dollars.

And yeah, we did like 27 million in the first like seven days.

Yeah. It was nuts.

So Vonson gravy's best friend, I was playing it on tour right before a song came out.

Every night I'd be like, you guys want some unreleased shit? Yeah. And I remember the first time I played it, I walked off stage. And Vonson was like, you think this song is going to blow up? And I was like, I promise you it's going to blow up. And to this day, he turns to me every single time. He's like, I remember that day that you just looked at me. You're like, I promise it's going to blow up.

And he said, he's like, he said, he's like, you said it was so much conviction that like, I just spoke the truth into it. Like, I just believed. I remember when I had that, I showed my videographer, he hated the song. He was like, I don't even want to shoot this. And I was like, well, you fumble that bag, brother, man. And I love my videographer, but I was like,

i don't know it was one of the first songs that i sang on it's very like it's very like some of the melodies are very like arabic-esque and like i'm armenian so there's like a little tie in there um but yeah i don't know like it was one of the first songs that i was singing on i didn't really know how to expect like what to expect it was one of the first songs that i marketed i knew it was gonna do fine but

You can't gauge that shit. It was out of my hands.

So I'm a prolific writer for sure or slash I just make a lot of music and I have an ego and I want to put it all out whether or not it's good for me or not. I think that's a conflict that my management and I have all the time. I'm like, I want to fucking put it out. But I'm definitely getting better at being a little bit more intentional with my music. But yeah, after I dropped that song,

So yeah, this is something that... Interestingly enough, this is something that I'm working on as in my team, because what you're saying, it's like I honestly still think that I have a massive disconnect between fan fandom and and my listenership, because I have like. Billions of fucking streams.

But let's say you give these billions of streams to like a, I don't know, like a more niche punk band. They're going to be selling 15,000 tickets across the board. You know what I mean? So is it a product of the space I'm in? Is it a product of how music is consumed nowadays? Is it a product of maybe my brand not being as accessible or simply as accessible? I don't know.

Nobody really knows because this day and age of being a musician and an artist is very, very, very different than it has been in the past. So there's not enough like full blown case study. But my take is songs are going to be bigger than the artist. A lot of the time until you have exclusively an artist with no virality that is selling tickets because just fandom.

And I think a really good example of this in the hip hop space. Even though they're like top of the food chain, Suicide Boys, they have zero, zero pop appeal. Well, no, their pop is fucked. Their music is fire. They're popular. You know what I mean? But they don't hit radio. They don't do interviews.

They don't do anything except for make fire-ass music and sell out 20,000 tickets and stream harder than AAA artists. They're like quadruple it because they like crack the code. They have such a diehard fan base. There's a new statistic or analytic on like Spotify for artists that shows your typical fan will stream how many times? Will stream the song how many times? I usually sit at about five.

So like, let's say I have one follower. He will stream the song, let's say five times over a year or over this month period. They probably have like per fan streaming it like 40, 50, 60 times. They stream. You know, they stream more than Nicki Minaj. Yeah. They stream more than like. Dude. I think they do like 15 million streams a day. That's crazy. It's crazy. Yeah. It's like nuts.

Like absolutely nuts. And like they just came from the under the kings of the underground.

And they sell more tickets than most artists will ever be able to. Globally, across the board. Like, dude, it's crazy. And I think they're the perfect example of does it even matter, this argument or this question? Because they have all these viral songs. But they're not taking the typical route, which is like, how do we draw to their branding or their identity?

And it's just their music that is speaking to them. So then I question myself sometimes. I'm like, is it the music that is not accessible? Is it the branding that's not accessible? But at the end of the day, I'm also doing a podcast about my music with you right now in L.A. Flew my parents in, going to Mexico City to perform in Mexico for the first time. My life's great.

It's incredible. So it's like it's cool because it's still a business in the end of the day. And you have to like figure out ways to make it more sustainable or more effective. And I think it's just like food for thought, I guess.

yeah when when you have that crazy hit with la la la was there a lot of pressure to perform again yeah big time what happened that doesn't happen to most people i would say yeah like fundamentally i mean i would assume how many people do you think have a giga hit like that like 25 a year that's like not used to it or like not going to have it.

Dude, shit went crazy. You know, I remember when I signed the song. I haven't really ever said this, but I remember when I signed the song, I was telling my lawyer, I was like, I don't care about money up front. I don't want an advance. I just want them to actually do something. And in my mind, I was like, well, they would be more incentivized to be making money immediately.

Like Drake will have hits for eternity, you know, like a newer artist.

Yeah, it probably went up. So let's say like, let's say 20, 20 a year. There is no psychological help for that. There is no rhetoric in understanding what that's going to do on your mental.

Because why would there be? I feel like it's a waste of research, a waste of like finance in a school's study and like departments. Like, oh, you know what? We should study about the effects of having a hit. why the fuck would they study that? Why don't they just do something more like useful for like the general public? So I was sitting there every day.

I'm like Latin song, Latin sample, hit me with it, run it again, run it again. And I was just beating the fence. I was beating the dead horse. And it really, it really got to me for sure. Cause I was like, You know, I was trying to one up myself, but you just can't. You just can't have that expectation. And the reason why I made that song and when I made that song, I was just having fun.

And that's it. That was it. I was just like, yeah, I was obviously frustrated. You know, I was like, I need a hit. I need a hit. Obviously, that's kind of the nature of things. But when I got it, I was like, oh, my God, I got a hit. And. I've wanted another one. And I've had several since. You know, obviously not la-la-la territory, but I've had a bunch of really big fucking songs.

And every time I look back, I'm like, what was I feeling in that moment?

And I was just having fun. Like, shirts off with the boys, you know what I'm saying? Like, just saying dumb shit. And... When you get in the headspace when you're not having fun, it comes across. And I think especially Baby No Money is fun. Even when I'm making sad songs, it's fun. I'm just like giggling in the studio with boys. Yo, how sad could we get? Oh, this one's sad. This is a sad lyric.

Yeah, make me emotional, you know? So...

yeah it's a very very interesting thing because i was like what am i supposed to do and like you know i was i talked to rich brian about it for a little while i was like what do you do like he's like you just gotta like sit with it yeah you just gotta like marinate and sit with it and you know take your expectations off of what your music can and cannot do you know it's obviously healthy to have a relative expectation so you at least try to make it good to make it bang to make it blow up but

Who fucking cares, you know?

Oh, I mean, like, I was having fun, obviously. But it was, I was trying for a while. I mean, we're pairing it with COVID, me not being able to do a world tour because of COVID. So I was, like, pissed off, like, internally. Yeah. But I remember making Edamame. You know that song? Yes. Of course I know. So I remember making Edamame, and I made like three of their songs that day.

They're all great, and they all came out. And I remember he did the bass line, and he threw a clap on it. Okay. And I just was like, balls hanging low, wap-wap-wap, la-fi-ya, chain-swinging, cling-clang, and it cuts a lot. And then we just added another lyric and then it, whoa, which is something I do on a lot of songs. And I was like, because I know it's going to work.

But in reality, they're just a business and a corporation that don't really give a fuck at all. And it's like... they put money down, they're still going to make it back no matter what. And I didn't realize that if I asked them for a million dollars for this song or something like that, then they're a little bit more on the hook. And I didn't think about that.

And I was like, I don't really know this type of like housey-esque, like semi-slowed house beat. I don't know how it's going to do. And then we added the horns at the end. And that was what sold the song. And I remember I sent it to Rich Brian. He was like, yo, this shit's fire. And I was like, cool, get on it. He's like, cool. Got on it same night. And I was like, whoa, okay.

He must really like the song. And then we put it out on a Wednesday and it did like 400,000 streams on a Wednesday. And I called Brian. I was like. is this usually how your music performs? And he's like, hell no, this is, this is ripping. And I was like, cool. Shot a music video. And I was like, I don't really want to spend too much. Cause I don't know how this song is going to do.

It's like $4,000. We just rented like a, the night armor. I posted that first clip from the intro of the song with the night armor. And it did a million. I like, I went out for some food with my ex at the time. And I did like a million likes on it. When I came back, when I came back and I was like, Oh, We're viral, boys. And then basically, I just shot a straight line.

And I just kept on doing the exact same TikTok for like two and a half months straight. And I grew my following on TikTok, like 2 million followers. And it's... See, this is what I mean. It's like I didn't think that song was going to explode. Yeah. And but I understand why. Because when you listen back to everything makes sense, even though none of it makes sense. But like everything makes sense.

And then get this. So Brian's big in Indonesia. And when I say Kling Klang, because I'm talking about my chain like Kling Klang, like using what is it alliteration or onomatopoeia? No.

So basically, when I say Kling Klang, it's a word in Indonesian. Wait, is Indonesia, do they speak Indonesian? Yeah, right? I'd assume. I would assume. Can we get a can we get a fact check? We got a fact check. We got a fact check. Yeah. Sorry for not understanding or not knowing. But basically, Kling Klang has meaning in their language.

And Rich Brian is like one of the biggest dudes, one of the biggest like rappers who came out of Indonesia. That's cool. That is. blew up overseas. So he's a legend there, like absolute legend. So that blew up and I was like, what are the odds? What are the odds that me just saying some onomatopoeia shit, has meaning in the language of the person I featured.

And Rich Brian and I, like, we're kind of in a similar like lane, you know what I mean? Where we're like, we're both funny guys. And it just worked out. And then everything, it just like worked out. Then 88 Rising kind of backed it. I did it on M Theory. Oh, actually, I think I get the lease. They licensed it. I get the license is up in like a couple months. Wow. Money up. That's fire.

I totally forgot about that. I'm texting my lawyer after about this. But yeah, it was just like, just worked out. Yeah. Yeah, I don't know, man. Sometimes, like, music just works. It just works. You're like, thanks. I'm glad that happened, and I'm glad that worked.

I was just like, well, wouldn't they be, if they're a partner, wouldn't they want to just be a partner and make money together immediately from dollar one? So I was like, I don't want an advance. And they were like, huh? And I was like, no, I don't want an advance because I still had my 25% of the song. And I was like, I'd rather just be making money immediately from it.

And I just raised my eyebrows. I went. But the thing is, is this trend blew up on Chinese TikTok first. Oh, so we were delayed like three weeks on North American TikTok.

with this trend because I was like I don't want to just raise my eyebrows on TikTok I feel like that's not like amazing but in Chinese TikTok I was like fuck it who cares I'm just gonna do whatever I want because in China that's like my biggest fan base and it was like popping off in China I was like cool great and then I tried it in North American TikTok and it just went viral and I was like oh sick

I don't have to do anything. And I'd be like, what TikTok am I going to do today? And I just type in filter, choose a random one, and then just do it. And then when it drops on the one, I just change the filter.

Well, so we got given that later. So when I started doing all these filters, all these filters, all these filters, it changed. Uh, I was changing them every single time. And then the last one, when we got the jungle run, it was like, Yeah, like TikTok hit us up and was like, hey, this is dope. We should give you a filter. And I was like, cool.

Yeah. That's the blessing is when social media works in your favor, it's amazing. So something I've been doing recently because I know that the concept of when social media actually works in your favor is great, but you can't rely on it anymore. So you need to be able to make your community feel like a community. So it's talking to your audience, saying dumb shit, you know, being like, like

inclusive of everyone in that follows you yeah and being like hey like this is gonna happen on this date pull up or like i'm in this city this date i'm gonna be at this place like throw a couple dollars on marketing it and like having real fan experiences that like you can offer them but it's weird because i'm such an internet act that it's like how can i do it on the internet as well so it's been a it's been a good year though we've done like a lot of damage on the internet for sure so

But they were like, well, we're going to spend like $700,000. So you're going to have to recoup that as well. And I was like, well, it'll be faster to make money from dollar one. And they were just like, huh? They were just so confused, like so perplexed. And I just remember like sitting there with a. Who's the who's the who's the head of RCA? What's his name?

I've said this story. I think this is the story that I've said the most, but I'm going to try to say it in a different way because... How could I do that? Basically, woke up one day, Yo-Yo Tokyo, a song I deleted off social media and SoundCloud because I didn't like it.

It wasn't, no. Well, they found it. They found it because I put it out for a week and they put it on Chinese distribution platforms. Okay. And this guy danced to one of my songs during his 16th birthday that was televised across all of China.

i remember end of 2016 i had this guy hit me up his name was he was graves he got giga fucking canceled um but he was an electronic producer and he gave me my first opportunity he hit me up and was like hey let's make a song i fuck i fuck with what you're doing i'm like cool and this is like i had a little steam like i had like four thousand five thousand followers on on soundcloud and at that time as soon as you hit 10k you're like

you're kind of a thing. And I was like, I have to take this opportunity. So I wrote like six songs on the same fucking beat. Cause I was like, I can't fumble this. So I took a bunch of Adderall University and I wrote like six songs for this guy.

um it was an asian mythology samper samper uh sample um and the song is called meta shot a crazy music video to it but i didn't hear back i didn't hear back after i sent him these seven songs for like months and then i just got a contract in my email and i was like sign it cares because i was like it doesn't even matter like i would rather i would take the l financially to make sure the song comes out so

That was like my first like win. And then right nearing the time of like, I'm like, I don't know if this song is ever going to come out. And this was like four or five months after I signed on those seven songs. So this was like right during reading week where, you know, you basically just have to study for your midterms when you come back. So I was on a ton of Adderall. I was depressed.

I was like, man, I don't know if I should do this music shit anymore. Like I'm kind of like not flunking university, but I wasn't getting good enough grades for them to be like utilized afterwards. And I was like, you know, dilemma. And I got a message.

This was like literally like I woke up the next day and I was like having I remember I was crying in my basement because I don't know if I should be doing this anymore. And I woke up the next day and this dude, this this chick on Twitter doesn't follow anyone but me. It was like you're famous in China. And I'm like, huh? Like, what you mean?

So the whole day I didn't study and I was just like researching into it. And I was like, oh, like there's some numbers going on here. And then I asked a bunch of like foreign exchange students, Chinese exchange students at my university. And they were like, this is you? And I'm like, yeah. And they're like, what the fuck? You're popping.

And so hit up this dude named Luce, flew myself out to China. And then like a week later after I found out, had some popularity in china meta the song i got this contract and i was like dude everything's lining up man this is weird like it almost it almost doesn't feel real like so when it rains it pours but it always clears up and uh yeah it was like it was like a it's like a blessing like

I can't remember, but basically he put a million dollars in front of me and I was like, nah, zero. And he's like, what the fuck are you talking about? And, uh, I'm really happy I didn't sign because I think I realized that it would have been a little bit more of a nightmare. But I did make my largest career mistake and it wasn't signing at that time.

I'm sure you could get an interview with him.

Yeah, yeah. I mean, I feel like you've got to make a clip. Hey, yo, Porter Robinson.

So he basically sent me the beat and I was like, yo, I really like this beat. He's like, as if you're going to hit this shit. And I was like, this was like right when we first started talking. This was like, I was like, send me a pack. And that was like one of the songs I heard on the pack. And I... So when I write music, I like top line shit. Yeah.

So basically what it is... You remember that song that Kanye put out that was like... Of course. So basically I do that. Like I'll just say gibberish on a song. Okay. And see if it like tonally sounds good. As a melody? Yeah, as like a melody so I can find the pocket. Yeah. And I like...

briefly i spent i was like oh you know what i'll do it right now i'll send it to him see what he thinks and i just basically like hummed out melodies the whole time and structured it with like this hummed out melody and i was like you like this he's like if he's like i've never really heard like a full scratch track of like nonsense but he's like it's cool right to it so i was like cool i was like i really like it and writing to it was really really easy i don't know why

Because I had an album that I didn't spend any money marketing. And it's sitting at like 450 million streams and it's in total entirety. And if I marketed that album, it would have been way, way, way, way bigger. And I spent like $4,000 marketing it.

And sent it back in like 25, 30 minutes, the whole song. And he's like, dude, this is fire. Good job. And I'm like, okay, cool. You want the vocals? And then he processed the living shit out of my vocals because I'm not that good at singing. But yeah, the song's great. The song's great. It's like my favorite song by him. Yeah, it's like a really, really good song.

And I've been really working on making more music that is kind of not necessarily in line with that, but... I have like a charming singing voice because it's not that good. And I feel like people can kind of get down with it because it's just like a normal voice that I'm just like confident enough to like actually try to sing. And I kind of want to take a...

singing on the hook, rapping on the verses kind of vibe where it's like semi half singing. And I feel like I don't typically do that very often. Um, so yeah, that's the next album is I'm working on. It's kind of like not necessarily esoteric, but it's, I just feel like it's time that I make like really long songs and like try to... What does long mean? Five minutes. Oh, sick.

I am, H-I-M, the Gen Z M&M. That is the worst lyric I've ever heard in my entire life.

And just like have like... Because I have nothing important to say, but I can say it dope. I can say nothing dope. So... And I know that I'm confident in, like, how my voice sounds, like, processed and whatnot. And how sometimes, like, the monotoneness works on songs and complements beats. So my goal for, like, this next album is, like, really just...