Hip Hop On Deck Exclusive Interview With Rashenal
1. Rashenal how long have you been doing music?
I started making Hip Hop music when I was 15 with the first group I was in "Mysterious Independent Creatures" and ever since then I knew I was in love with making music. There is just something about creating something so expressive and free that is also so much fun. I can tell you I will definitely be making music until I'm dead haha!
2. Rashenal breakdown your style and sound?
My sound has been developed over a very long time and has also evolved quite a bit. I used to do a lot more abstract music which was fresh but also didn't allow the listener to really get to know me as a person. Also everything is about style and on every song I like to try to develop new styles, kinda funny to me some of these rappers nowadays that only have one style, when I was growing up the more styles you had the better you were. So my style is a mix of that because I still love the idea of abstract music but I also like to switch that up all the sudden and say something so direct that there is no question about the intended meaning.
3. Rashenal what do you feel you bring different to the music industry?
I feel that the industry has in a lot of ways become about fitting a certain profile in order to be accepted, which makes sense when we are talking about targeting defined markets but doesn't really make sense when it comes to making good music. Basically a lot of mainstream music is very watered down and has very little actual content. I am not at all hating on it because I enjoy a lot of that stuff too but just saying what I bring that is different is a more honest and intelligent approach to Hip Hop music where the listener can actually learn something from the music. I aspire to make major moves within the industry and I feel that things are moving towards more of a real, be yourself type direction people like Tech N9ne and many others who have spearheaded the independent approach. To me I was so happy to see the "Fragile" track become such a huge hit because it was very symbolic for me that nowadays independent artists can and I think will more and more penetrate their way into more of the mainstream audience. Especially because I think people do want for good real music more than just a Music Video Commercial for a bunch of expensive products and it is our job to make sure this music gets on their radar.
4. Rashenal you just dropped a video called Downpour. What is the concept behind the video?
"Downpour" is a great example of how I was describing my style because there are parts that are very abstract and other parts that are much more direct. The whole song is really a metaphor for someone just letting it all out and saying exactly how they feel. Basically rain clouds personified and me telling them that it is the right thing for them to do and to let it all out hence the pending Downpour. The video we wanted to shoot in the rain and here in AZ rain is scarce haha so one day it was actually raining and I hit up my video dude and we went and shot it later that night. I am very happy with the video it really captures what I wanted to show and creates a nice image of the music in your mind.
5. Rashenal If you were to do a remix for "Downpour" what three female artist would you put on the remix and why?
Wow this is a really hard question but I might as well dream right?? Lol but I would have to say I would want to reach into much more mainstream artists because eventually I would love to work with singers and them doing their magic on the hooks where I can concentrate on the verse is a recipe for radio hits. Anyway I am HUGE fans of Jhené Aiko, Skylar Grey, and Hayley Williams so I guess they would be my first choices if I could just choose anyone. Thanks for asking this question so I can mention their names in hopes they read this one day!! Haha anyway there are so many artists I want to collaborate with hopefully one day this will manifest itself into reality!
6. Rashenal you have a project called "Life Learner" what do you feel this project will bring to the music industry?
I feel it will bring a fresh perspective on what good Hip Hop is and what it can be. Like I said I really don't hate on anyone because everyone can do what they want and I will do the same. But with that said my style and content is very different and also I have been doing this a very long time so I bring a lot of experience to the table. I enjoy sharing this experience with the younger generation of fans and artists, each one teach one as they say.
7. Rashenal what is the concept behind the project?
This project has been in the making for a very long time and I was just working on it until I was ready to release it so it is a very very exciting time! To be honest it really again goes back to what I was saying before where I wanted to steer myself to make a bit less abstract music that could be more directly appreciated and understood. Also I realize when it all comes down to it, it is about who you are and this project is all about my life growing up and starting to make music etc. I wanted the listener to feel like they know me better after listening to this album and I think "Life Learner" really achieves that goal. It also is a more generic theme about learning from life experiences and making your life exactly what you want it to be.
8. Where do you see yourself in the next 5 years?
I will definitely be releasing new music/projects over the course of the next 5 years and I also plan to focus a lot more on building up the business side of our label Earsweat Records. We have been a collective for a long time and are a real business but we still have a long way to go to be operating at the capacity that I would like. Lastly with Earsweat Records we have a very very talented roster of artists that all have new projects in the works, so my album is the beginning of working to release all the rest of this material and really establish the Earsweat brand and our catalog. I absolutely love meeting new people/fans/artists and also am definitely planning to work to become more and more involved in all of the great communities here as we continue to build and grow.
Much Love & Respect to Everyone!! Peace!
P.S. Pre-Order my "Life Learner" album TODAY and get immediate download of my new "Downpour" record Thank You! https://itunes.apple.com/
~Rashenal