Literal Interviews

TOO POOR BY SETHY


What does Friday the 13th mean to you? 

  Growing up, I used to think bad shit always happened 2 me on this day! Now I just feel a strong energy but my energy is stronger so I block it out :+) 

Do you believe in things like karma, luck, and destiny? 

  I’m a strong believer in karma + luck, not so sure about destiny! Haven’t experienced anything of that sort yet! :P 

Are you more cautious on the 13th? 

 You definitely won’t see me walking under any ladders or crossing a black cats path!!!! If anything, I’ll go get a cheap tattoo or light candles and take a bath in the dark! 

Do you have any rituals for the day? 

 No rituals, but spooky shit has me fucked up. If anything we’re to happen to me in any negative way I would definitely blame today!

What makes these tracks special to you? 

 These are the tracks I put on when I’m about 2 spook around in my panties with a plant on my head. Live thru me while listening ~~~~~ enjoy!

Thank you so much creating this mix!! What were some of your inspirations while creating it?

These are just some tracks I've been feeling lately and that really strike and inspire me and what I think my moistbreezy project is and where it's headed. It's the feeling of flying through the clouds, rushing through space, floating on waves, with glitter and sparkles everywhere.

There's a couple of your own original tracks included in the mix, how would you describe your music?

I feel like the music I make tends to fall on a spectrum of two moods. The lighter, poppier stuff I call "lightcore" from its nightcore influence, and on the other side of the spectrum is my heavier stuff that's more cinematic. My main goal when producing is to capture a mood or feeling, and I'm really drawn to moments that feel like they'd be point in a story.

Your aesthetic is truly one of its own, sound and style combined! What are some of the things your draw from?

I love PC music and Unicorn Kid, and I've been getting into more drum and bass and hardcore sounding stuff lately. At the end of the day, I've always been inspired by pop, and I love film scores and Disney. I'm drawn to the fantastical for sure.

Are there any musical movements you feel you could associate yourself with?

Well this project became what it is greatly from the nightcore scene! But sometimes I wish I was making music back in the era of bloghouse and electro because I really connect with the spirit of that time.

What's the year looking like for moistbreezy?

Playing a stacked show supporting Spank Rock in Feb in Brooklyn, but my goals this year are to work on some of the bigger ideas I've had, making an EP, music videos, etc. Taking it step by step for now and just trying to make a lot of new music :)

- Hey Lil Merica! Can you tell me a little about yourself?

Hey! A/S/L: 26/m/LA. Sometimes I take internet trash and make it into internet art but mostly I take trash music and make it into different trash music.

- You used to go by the name Boy Scout of America, what changed in order to create Lil Merica?

The "Boy Scout of America" thing started as a side project while I was living in Pittsburgh and playing in an indie rock band. Most of the songs for the first year or two had my own vocals on them and were actually re-worked versions of songs that were too weird for that band. Eventually I moved back to Philly (my hometown, kind of), that band fell apart and the side project became my only project. I hate my own voice so I started making more internet sample-based remix-y stuff and at that point it kind of felt like a totally different project so I decided to switch up the name. Also, I just didn't really want to have any kind of affiliation with the real Boy Scout's of America and it was a really stupid name 

(not the Lil 'Merica is much less stupid).

- What inspires you when creating the artwork behind your music?

Most of the time when i'm making artwork for my music I listen to it on loop and just build something out of shit that I feel somehow represents the vibe. Southern rap mixtapes and like hood fried chicken spot menu's are also a big inspiration. Things that look unapologetically awful. And just the internet.

- You're San Francisco based, you just made your LA debut on New Years. Whats it like going from the SF club scene, to LA?

I was in SF for a while but never really felt very "based" there (#based though for sure). I lived there for 2 years but actually only played live there once. I could never quite infiltrate that scene, it always felt like kind of a private club and I never really got the invite. I've only been in LA for a few months but I already dig the vibe here far more than the bay to be honest.

- Last year, you released a new track every month, coming down to two volumes of some killer shit. What's next for 2016?

Hey thanks! My plan for this year is to play live way more hopefully and drop new shit less frequently, I want to focus on quality over quantity this year. I've always wanted to work with rappers so that would be cool. I really want to make a real album with a physical release of some kind. And just more art. I don't know, we'll see…

Tiko Texas is a name that you can't get out your mouth. Once you get a taste, you keep wanting more. How do you keep us locked in?

I'm authentic. I'm real. I'm different. I'm not searching for acceptance. It's the God in me. I feel like people feel my golden vibes and get attached because of the honesty and the humbleness. I'm confident in myself. I push my friends and the people around me. I know we can takeover the world and we will.

You've got 2 mixtapes already out, a diss track that went viral, & a fresh new look, what are we gunna see next?

"Chanel Purse & Gold teeth", my first project was released in 2014. "281" was released in 2015. My 3rd EP, releasing early 2016. Fuck it, I'll premiere the name here.. I've never publicly announced it yet. It's going to be called Gold Soul, 5 track EP that tells a story and I'm going to shoot a visual to each song on the EP. That way ppl can really get a look into my life. That way ppl can understand me more. The KFC Barstool diss track got 200,000+ listens. way more than I was expecting. I did it for fun because he was talking down on my friend for yrs, Big Sean.

What are some of your inspirations?

I'm constantly inspired. By the air we breathe. The sun. The sky. The people around me. The people I see getting it. There's too many to name but if you're grinding hard, making a change & standing up for what's right then you inspire me.

Your music has a honesty that a lot of shit out there lacks these days. What are your thoughts on mainstream music?

Thank you so much for saying that. I genuinely appreciate that. Mainstream music is brainwashed bullshit they feed us, the underground has the soul, the hunger, the real. Only reason I'd want to go mainstream, is to be a beacon of hope to those across the world. I'd want them to know you can be dark skinned educated African woman and still make it in this cold world, even if society deems you "ugly" or "not worthy". You're beautiful baby and you're worthy of it all. I just want to inspire. I just want to help.

Are there any scenes or trends that you feel you can relate to lately?

To be completely honest I don't feel like I relate to a lot of new trends. My mother is Nigerian and foreigners are very traditional and very cultured. The story behind GOLD SOUL, it comes for OLD SOUL. I'm very much with the times but I still respect Old-fashioned ways. I appreciate family time and being with a small circle of love over constantly partying with people who don't even like me or are envious of me. I don't just want everything to be authentic. I NEED it. 

What are some of the topics covered in your new track "Bringing it Back"?

"Bringing It Back" (prod. MadeInTYO) is my first single from GOLD SOUL. It talks about bringing the real back to the industry. The hook actually says:  "They said they want real, so we bringing it back." It's just me spitting about my life, my experiences, my friends, my outlook. All on a catchy rap beat. I'm premiering it for the first time with you guys and I hope you like it! My second single "Issues" (prod. NEDARB NAGROM) will drop early 2016.

What's different from your new material, compared to your first mixtape, Chanel Purse & Gold Teeth?

I've grown so much, I've had so many new experiences. I've lived in Brooklyn, I lived in LA. I've fell in love and fell out of love. I've been heartbroken only to be put back together to get broken again. "I've lost homies I knew since Ed, Edd, & Eddy. - Big Sean" I went from having 50 friends to having 1. I've started to hone in on my sound. I've started to direct all my videos. I'm more hands on now. I'm more passionate and particular with what I put out. I've really grown up since I started doing music 2 years ago and I hope it shows in the music. I hope you can relate to my raps & know Ima rare one. Real. I'm what's the game been missing.