Q. Good day, homesick! We appreciate you taking the time to speak with us. The first thing we want to know is what inspired you to pursue electronic music as an artistic medium, and how has your journey as a 20-year-old artist from Houston, Texas influenced your creative process?
A. When I first started getting into music at a young age, I discovered Skrillex, Deadmau5, and other electronic producers who I immediately connected with as a child. When I turned 15 and began creating my own music, I initially dabbled in generic rap, which wasn't very good. However, as the underground emo rap scene started to emerge, I found myself gravitating towards it, and I started creating a lot of emo rap music. At the time, I thought my music was good, so I kept pursuing it until I was around 17. Just before the world was hit by the COVID pandemic, I became fascinated with the new hyper-pop scene that was forming in the mid to late 2019. I admired the creative approaches of artists like Osquinn and Brakence, and I decided to try my hand at the genre. At first, my attempts weren't anything special, and technically speaking, I had limited knowledge about the genre. However, I had a strong desire to create it. Three years later, I found myself creating numerous songs and projects in the hyper-pop space. During this time, as COVID took over the world, I made countless friends both in real life and online. Regarding the city I'm from, I always felt disconnected from it as a child. However, as I grew older and entered my teenage years, I started attending many shows in the city whenever I had the chance. I realized that there's a unique underground and electronic scene in this city that has always influenced me in one way or another. I constantly remind myself how fortunate I am to have been born in a place that is home to countless artists and a plethora of creative individuals.
Q. Can you share some insights into your experience of making music for nearly 5 years? How has your style evolved over time, and what challenges have you faced along the way?
A. Music has always been a burning desire within me. Ever since I was a young child, I've possessed a natural inclination for creativity, whether it was designing cell phones and computers at the age of 7 or delving into graphic design at 15. By the time I was 13, I had already spent years making YouTube videos. When I began my musical journey, my initial motivation was to find an outlet for my emotions and a means to channel my energy. However, it quickly transformed into something more significant. It became an integral part of my identity, igniting a level of passion that I never anticipated achieving. As I mentioned before, my early musical attempts involved poorly recreating the styles of artists like Logic, Yung Gravy, and other eccentric rappers from the mid-2010s. But around the age of 15, I discovered my niche in emo rap and alternative hip hop. I dedicated myself to exploring these genres and experienced substantial growth along the way. Despite the progress I made, I never truly felt a deep connection to the music I was creating. I constantly yearned for it to sound better and sought to improve my skills in mixing and experimenting with different digital audio workstations (DAWs). It was during this period that my best friend also embarked on his own musical journey. His presence and support played a pivotal role in helping me find my artistic path. Over time, we became each other's creative catalysts, collaborating on each other's projects and witnessing significant growth together. Our friendship and shared love for music fueled our passion. About two years ago, we crossed paths with KLLED, a self-produced electronic artist. Our connection with KLLED grew strong, and we embarked on a journey of mutual growth. Whenever we had the opportunity, we would gather together and create music. Countless songs were released as collaborations between the three of us, with my most popular track, "dead/alive," being a product of working alongside KLLED. Recently, I have embarked on a solo exploration as an artist, venturing into other genres and riding different waves such as shoegaze, IDM, and Witchhouse. My most recent releases have been heavily influenced by these spaces, and for my next project under the name "homesick," I am eagerly seeking to blend elements of shoegaze and Witchhouse with electronic music, aiming for a unique genre fusion.
Q. Tell us more about your current project with your group of friends. What can listeners expect from this collaboration, and how does working with others impact your artistic vision?
A. In this endeavor, my closest friends, Habit and KLLED, are the ones I'm collaborating with. We've been diligently working on a new album for approximately 4-5 months. It's not quite a band, but calling it a trio also feels a bit odd. Essentially, it's just three friends coming together to create music. Describing the sound of this project is a challenge in itself. Our aim was to blend genres like pop, IDM, Synth Pop, Psychedelia, and hyper-pop. While our current creations can be categorized within these genres, the songs themselves possess a distinct uniqueness. The album as a whole explores a progressive journey of experimentation in production. At this moment, all I can share is that we hope to release the album soon. We are incredibly proud of what we've been crafting, and I genuinely hope that listeners will enjoy it as much as we do. When the time comes, I'll make sure to announce the project on my social media Platforms. When it comes to my artistic vision in collaboration, I must say that I often find myself enjoying collaborative work more than working alone. There's a certain joy in sitting down with like-minded artists and delving into the tiniest details of a song. Constructing art from the ground up alongside someone who shares the same passion as me is a truly special process. It fuels my creativity and gives me the drive to keep going, knowing that I have such kindred spirits around me.
Q. As an electronic artist, what elements or themes do you often explore in your music? Are there any particular emotions or concepts that you strive to convey through your compositions?
A. I often find myself delving into and expressing my frustrations and self-doubts through my music. It serves as an outlet for me to explore these emotions and confront them head-on. However, I always strive to infuse a sense of positivity and optimism about the future and life itself into my music. This outlook is often how I try to approach life in general. Many of my songs are deeply personal to me. Writing a song is akin to therapy for me, as it allows me to transform my struggles and journey as an artist into a story. It's important for me to convey my experiences and the lessons I've learned through my music. I'm grateful to hear that many people find my lyrics relatable. It brings me joy to know that others understand and resonate with what I'm going through, reminding them that they are not alone in their own experiences.
Q. Houston, Texas has a vibrant music scene. How has the local culture and community influenced your artistic development, and are there any notable experiences or events that have shaped your musical identity?
A. Houston is truly a fantastic place to be an artist. The local acts here pour their hearts out during performances at underground, intimate shows, creating an incredible atmosphere. It's truly awe-inspiring to witness people fully embracing the vibes and living in the moment, immersed in the music. About a year ago, I had the opportunity to play my first show at SUPER HAPPY FUNLAND, alongside a now close friend of mine, Acid Souljah. Witnessing his set and then taking the stage myself to perform my own music was an amazing and inspiring experience, albeit a bit nerve-wracking. It ignited a fire within me, and I'm eager to continue doing more shows in the future. The local scene in Houston has always held a special place in my heart, and I'm excited to witness its ongoing development and growth, just as I hope to evolve as an artist myself.
